In the current cycling sector, technologies appears to progress every year and gives all of us a brand new, space age invention which makes any number of bicycle lighter, quicker and pumped packed with new developments in science. Something that’s virtually identical ever since the creation of the bicycle, somehow is the inner tube. Some top end bikes are now using tubular tyres where inner tube is sewn into the tyre. Some even use a tubeless system where no inner tube is included whatsoever. The vast majority of us continue to be more acquainted with the very fact the inside the tyre is a simple yet effective butyl rubber inner tube.
A few of the most popular tyre/tube manufacturer’s have moved into trying to make the conventional inner tube much better by using such ingredients as latex. This may lessen the weight but simultaneously reduces its functionality. Latex tubes tend to weep as time passes so could be regarded as a bit of trouble if you need to pump them up after leaving them standing.
Not so long ago, there was 3 varieties of valve. Schreader (Car type), Presta and woods/Dunlop. Woods valves, also known as Dunlop valves are almost wiped out in today’s market but they’re still commonly used throughout Europe, mainly on hybrid and electric bikes. Most people will opt to use Presta valves since they are much easier to release air pressure, particularly when on the bike and even more so when wearing gloves! The small brass ball’s that make up the valve are much easier to use.
I have spent a long time within the cycling industry and the inner tube hasn’t really changed. Many people have introduced light tubes for the more concerned cyclist but at the end of the day the inner tube is still the same. As long as the bulk of the market continues to manufacture clincher tyres for most of bikes, which they will due to cost, then every cyclist needs to have a stash of inner tubes tucked away somewhere.
If it ain’t broke don’t correct it strategy? Quite possibly.
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