n8mill wrote:
Since you want to go the butyl tube route, I would suggest 1 of 2 below options: Do you plan to use your new shiney HEDs for race day only? Do you always train on one bike? Will you remember to take your training spare tube off your bike and replace with the racing 80mm tube?
Option 1:
- Buy 80mm butyl tubes for your HEDs, buy a few extra to have as spare (put 1-2 on your bike for race day) - $10+/each
- Buy standard 42mm butyl tubes for your training wheels - $4-10/each
Option 2:
- Buy standard 42mm butyle tubes (with removable core) for both training and racing wheels - $4-10/each
- Buy valve extenders (that accept a core - not the crummy ones that don't) - $10/pair (buy an extra pair)
- Buy plumbers tape - $2
I find the 80mm tubes always seem to have an issue with the core over time (which can not be replaced), so I like the flexibility/cost of using 1 tube that's half the price of a 80mm one. I also like not having to remember to swap my race/training tubes in my flat kit - it's always ready to go. Others would prefer to not have to deal with the valve extender becoming loose over the flexibility. Something inside me dies a little when I use a 80mm race tube during a training ride. Not sure why.
Thanks for the thoughts. This is a totally new "problem" for me to have, so learning about all the ways to skin this cat is a good thing!
I have never had "training stuff" and "race stuff", I have "that stuff that's on my bike". Yep... n00b! I'm a heavy girl; there's no benefit to me spend money to save a gram here and there when I could stand to lose 50 pounds - I have things that work well enough for everything. Historically, I've done the bulk of my training and racing on my road bike, which has 700c wheels so there's no crossover of parts. Now I've had my tri bike refitted and I'm aiming to race longer this year, I will need to spend more time on it.
I have "one set does everything" tubes and tires on my tri bike at the moment. I would like, I think, to be able to train on either set of wheels - just to know what the deeper wheels feel like in different conditions. I have spares for my stock wheels. I envisage buying four 80mm tubes for my race wheels - two to use - racing and some training - and two for spares. I do have race tires, which will now go on the race wheels.
The flat kit consistency is a valid thought; I presume that even if it looks silly, an 80mm valve tube would get me home on my training wheels?
I'm concerned that if I get a flat in the middle of a race that I'm not going to know what to do in the moment with a valve extender. It feels like an extra step to wig me out that I could avoid. Is it just practice to do it on the fly? Or do you carry a longer valved tube in case you have to swap out your extended one? I'm not racing for podium, I'm participating to finish, so I'm not in the position of "one flat and it's all over" - unless it takes me so long to change a flat that I miss cutoffs ;o)