Heavy bike, 28mm tyre, which tube?

[drubie]

My tandem buddy and I recently picked up a trek t100 to find a little more speed compared to his heavy 26" Apollo.

Anyway, our first ride was a bit of a disaster with three flats on the front in the space of 5km. I had installed some new Maxxis refuse 28mm tyres, when I bought them the LBS handed me stock 23mm tubes and said they'd be fine.

The back one seems OK, but the front one was major trouble. The rim tape had squirmed around exposing spoke hole edges etc. I replaced the rim tape but I think the tubes might be marginal in this application.

I have tossed a 27 1/4 (700x32) in the front for a test ride but what does everyone else use?

[Mike Ayling]

I have used 23mmtubes in a 28mm tyre for years without any ill effects.

Sounds like the rim tape or lack thereof is your problem but you should be able to determine whether the punctures are on the inside or outside diameter of the tube.

Mike

[drubie]

I have used 23mmtubes in a 28mm tyre for years without any ill effects.

Sounds like the rim tape or lack thereof is your problem but you should be able to determine whether the punctures are on the inside or outside diameter of the tube.

Mike

Hmmm - I just repaired both of those tubes and sure enough, both are punctured on the inside and both in roughly the same spot. Might have just been the dodgy rim tape after all (fingers crossed!).

[jacks1071]

We run 28's on our tandem and wider tubes to match the tyres are preferable. I've had the odd split from using 19-25mm tubes and they also don't hold their pressure as well.

Not a big deal either way but if you are buying some, I'd go for the wider ones.

[LG]

yep - 23mm tubes in my 28mm tyre commuting bike for the last few years, no problem.

[drubie]

We run 28's on our tandem and wider tubes to match the tyres are preferable. I've had the odd split from using 19-25mm tubes and they also don't hold their pressure as well.

Not a big deal either way but if you are buying some, I'd go for the wider ones.

We had a successful ride on Thursday after I replaced the rim tape and put the 32mm tube in there. I think the bigger tubes offer a slightly higher margin of safety over the narrow ones - I'm a bit paranoid about losing the front on a tandem since I'm the dude responsible for any crashes