LBS sells a ton of Pyramids as generic replacement tubes in all sizes. Seems that some folks only criteria is that they hold air and are cheap.

I've always run a premium brand like the Conti Race700. For just a bit more money, I get a nice, durable, lighter weight tube (approx 100g) and the exact threaded length VS I want.

With Santa bringing me a new wheelset & tires (M28A2 & GP4000), could I just as well now move to the Conti Ultralight tube (approx 70g) and expect the same servicibility?

What type tubes do you like and why? How do you balance price, service & weight?

I always buy regular butyl tubes in packs of ten. I can't see using ultra light weight tubes for general riding. I ride lousy roads and use 700x25 tires with butyl tubes and seldom have flats. I used Performance tubes until they changed suppliers, I could get them for about $2.00 a tube when I sale. If you check with your LBS they might give you a discount if you buy tubes in bulk. I'm now using Torelli tubes, Michelin A-1's are my fav, but they did not carry them.

Regular!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For about 20 years, I used Specialized Turbo lightweight tubes and they were great. A couple of years ago however, they had a bad batch and the tubes would fail at the valve stem.

Specialized recognized this and came out with a "new and improved" version last year. It's the one with only part of the stem threaded.

Late this season, I decided to try latex tubes again (for the third time) so I bought some Michelin AirComp Latex tubes. So far, I have had absolutely no problems and I swear they ride better than butyl tubes. Of course when you invest $10 in a tube, you'll think that no matter what!

According to Uncle Al over on roadbikerider.com, latex tubes can be patched with REMA patches. I'll try that when I eventually get a flat. That's one reason I decided to try them again as I can't afford to throw flatted tubes away.

I pretty much buy whatever's on sale. I don't repair tubes, just replace them, so I just stock up when they are cheap.

I buy regular old Continentals when I can get them, mainly out of habit. Occasionally, like when REI has a six-pack of generics on sale for 12 bucks, I'll use those, and to be honest I don't think I notice any difference in feel, weight or durability. But I still buy Contis if they're available.

LBS sells a ton of Pyramids as generic replacement tubes in all sizes. Seems that some folks only criteria is that they hold air and are cheap.

I've always run a premium brand like the Conti Race700. For just a bit more money, I get a nice, durable, lighter weight tube (approx 100g) and the exact threaded length VS I want.

With Santa bringing me a new wheelset & tires (M28A2 & GP4000), could I just as well now move to the Conti Ultralight tube (approx 70g) and expect the same servicibility?

What type tubes do you like and why? How do you balance price, service & weight?
I use Conti Supersonic Tube.
It weighs about 50 grams and hold the air pretty well.
No puntures either (knock on wood) but bit pricy...

I use lightweight...Michelin's or whatever Performance has ~$4 on sale. The flats I tend to get, it wouldn't matter on tube thickness...brad nail, nail, screws... To me, the 25-30g less seems to add a bit more to a lively feel but is is ever so subtle. I am curious what a 50g tube may feel like now. ;)

Performance has heavy duty thorn resistant tubes that I use. The rubber is very very thick, twice as thick as a regular tube. Problem is, they are difficult to mount and they don't fold up in the palm of your hand like a regular tube does.

I'll take two regulars sprinkled with baby powder, please. Oh. And hold the schraders.

It's an inner tube for heaven's sake; either it holds air or it doesn't. IMHO, unless you are racing or doing serious sports touring type stuff, any benefit to high zoot tubes (actual, perceived, or completely imaginary) is not worth the up-charge.

I tend to buy whatever the LBS has in stock six at a time and prep them as follows:

Generous dusting with talc. This make them far easier to install.
Folded the appropriate length for my under seat bag.
Wrapped tightly with plastic wrap. This keeps them pristine until they are needed.

I throw the wrapped tubes in my tool box so that they are ready to reload my under seat bags.

So you guys cut all the stitches on the tire and remove the inner tube to replace it with a non stock tube? I don't get it. I only remove a few stitches so I can patch the tube then sew the tire back up. Am I missing something here? You guys don't run some kind of system that has separate tires and tubes do you?

Seriously, tires are my life (as in what pays the bills) go with butyl and don't touch the latex unless you really can prove you need them. If that's the case why are you using clinchers in the first place?

Cam

Cam, yes, I use clinchers as do most of the people on this forum. While there a couple of posts in this thread that pertain to tubulars, as I read it, all of the discussion about changing tubes pertains to clinchers.

as I read it, all of the discussion about changing tubes pertains to clinchers.

The comment about the tubulars wasn't really serious. In fact if you read the part after I said "seriously" I 100% agreed with your original comments. I also like the wrapping in plastic wrap. I may try that on my mountain bike tubes.

Cam

I'll read more carefully next time.

The plastic wrap trick works like a charm. The only downside is having your riding buddies tease you about being an anal retentive freak (usually when they are borrowing a tube).

What kind of plastic wrap? You mean like Saran Wrap? I've been using zip lock bags for a long, long time. Two tubes just fit in a sandwich sized bag. I just sprinkle baby powder in the bag, then - in go the tubes.

Any decent plastic food wrap will do. My favorite is Reynolds Plastic Wrap...

......... I've been using zip lock bags for a long, long time. Two tubes just fit in a sandwich sized bag. I just sprinkle baby powder in the bag, then - in go the tubes.

The last Specialized Turbo tubes I bought were in zip lock bags AND pre-talced. All inside the box, of course.