Which Inner Tubes - Heavy Rider

Chubby Rider

Hi,

As some of you may have read from my other posts I have just taken up riding to help with weight loss, I treated myself to a Giant Defy 2 and upgraded the tyres to Conti 4000s and went with a Brooks seat for comfort. So far so good I am getting out and riding (even in todays rain) and have dropped a few kgs. I currently weigh about 137kg.

One thing i have started to think about is inner tube choice. My back always looks as if its flat. Not surprising with my weight I suppose but was wondering if a different tube would be better for me. I have been running my rear at 110psi.

Comfort and confidence are my current main priorities so a heavier duty tube, if they exist, may be of interest if it is going to make a difference. Weight saving not that important.

So has anyone got any recommendations that may be of use.

P_Tucker

Er, try pumping a few extra psi in? What its made of is irrelevant.

rpd_steve

As above, the thickness, or weight of the tube makes no differance to the ride or how 'flat' it looks - thats all down to the pressure. IF your on the larger side I would be running more like 130 in the rear.

The issue is that comfort needs lower pressures - which causes pinch flats. To solve both you really need to move to 25mm tyres. That said up your pressures to 110 front and 130 rear ans see if your happy with the ride.

Chubby Rider

Thanks,

The tyres I have on are 25mm but I think the max pressure is 120psi.

When I first fitted the tyres I pumped them upto 115, but they had a huge blow out after about 3 mins of finishing inflating them so now worried about putting too much air in.

sungod

as above, tube doesn't really matter, but a heavier/tougher tyre might be better

this page has recommendations for tandem tyre selection where weight is comparable...

http://www.precisiontandems.com/arttiresbymark.htm

there's also a pressure chart...

http://www.precisiontandems.com/photos_ ... chartx.jpg

...which suggests you'd need to be around 140psi with 25mm tyres, but that's going to exceed the manufacturer's rated maximum, so it'd be better to stick to the maximum embossed on the tyre sidewall

at lower pressure, the main risk will be pinch flats, so watch out for potholes, sunken/raised ironwork etc.

getting more than 120psi into a tyre will usually need a track pump (or an mtb shock pump and valve adapter, but it'll take ages)

keep an eye on the wheels, if they start going out of true, or you notice any spokes distinctly looser than others, get the wheel trued/checked

the blow out you mention was almost certainly caused by nipping the tube between the tyre and rim, it's easy to do, the trapped bit of tube gradually inflates, pushing between tyre and rim until it reaches the outside and goes bang - if you inflate the tube a bit (so that it's firm but not bulging) before fitting it into the tyre and getting the tyre onto the rim it'll reduce the chance of nipping the tube