The issue came up here about a week ago, but no real discussion of it.
I have talked to two LBS one loves it and the other hates it with equal passion.
What say ye?
I’ve heard better things about Specialized Airlock. I’ve used Slime’s prefilled tubes to good effect. Some people claim it won’t seal very well.
Airlock got a VASTLY superior review in an independent study. Google for it…
That’s it… I was just about to post it myself…
Do folks really flat so often that Slime or Airlock (the latter seeming to be the MUCH better product, according to that review) is even necessary???
I just don’t get it. I don’t even flat all that often on my mtb, and much less often on the roadie. I assume you were asking re: road or tri bike usage.
I could see where you might want that in the winter, since changing a flat when yer fingers are so numb you can’t feel them really really sucks (he says, from experience). But otherwise, it seems like quite a bit of extra hassle, expense, and yes, a slight weight penalty (for the weenies) vs. just running regular tubes, and changing that (hopefully infrequent - and I hope I haven’t just jinxed myself) flat, if and when it occurs.
All that being said, I think I might get some airlock tubes for my AR teammate - that dude flats in every race we do.
“Do folks really flat so often that Slime or Airlock (the latter seeming to be the MUCH better product, according to that review) is even necessary???”
Yup. I really do. I had one stretch where I flatted at least once a ride. I wear gloves, scrub the tires if I can’t avoid obvious debris. (no pinch flats as I usually found the reason) I switched to mr. tuffies, which are not an option on the elites I now have, and had great results. Weight not being as much of an issue with me as actually not having flats.
I read the review and the Specialized really seems to be the way to go.
If it’s raining or I am riding off road, yes. If one lives in an area with a goathead thorns or cactus, one isn’t going far off road without getting quite a few of those in the tires.
I flatted last week and used the “Seal and Flate” to pump and seal a tube. It was 9.00 and it stayed pumped for 2 days…
Is the other stuff a permanent fix?
I live in Boise Id where the goat heads are horrible. Not so much of a problem on the road bike but mtn bike. If your off road you need it.
I once took off across a field (short cut) about 100 feet long and ended up with around 100-200 goat heads in each tire. Needless to say I had to just trash the tires and tubes to fix the problem.
Since I put it in my mountain bike tires I haven’t had a single flat…
I use slime tubes to train on, they do spin funny until you get up to speed and the slime spreads throughout the tube. I use aabout 20cc of stans no-tubes sealant in my tubulars which is lighter and doesn’t cause the woble slime does but still works.