How much time would latex save over butyl over a 2:30 bike split in a 1/2 IM. Trying to figure out if it’s worth switching tubes. Zipp disc rear 1080 front.
How much time would latex save over butyl over a 2:30 bike split in a 1/2 IM. Trying to figure out if it’s worth switching tubes. Zipp disc rear 1080 front.
The rolling resistance demand difference is ~ 5 watts which would be ~ 45 seconds (5 watts ~ 0.5 sec per km).
It’s not just about time. They feel better, too. Like, I had to check the first few times because it felt like I was riding on a lot less air pressure. Not slower, just…softer. Hard to explain, but I love rolling on latex tubes (with PR3s).
Thanks for the info.
I have to agree… I never really though they would make much of a difference - until I tried them both on my crit bike and my TT bike. Definitely recommend them without hesitation…
Isn’t that ~5w per tire for ~10w total?
Isn’t that ~5w per tire for ~10w total?
It’s ~ 2 watts per wheel at 100 lb load per wheel at 25 mph on a very smooth surface. On a real road the rolling resistance would be ~ 5 watts for both wheels assuming a 200 lb rider & bike at 25 mph.
How much time would latex save over butyl over a 2:30 bike split in a 1/2 IM. Trying to figure out if it’s worth switching tubes. Zipp disc rear 1080 front.
A negative amount, if you get a “surprise” flat as a result. I may have just had a couple of bad ones. They do “feel” faster when inflated though
How much time would latex save over butyl over a 2:30 bike split in a 1/2 IM. Trying to figure out if it’s worth switching tubes. Zipp disc rear 1080 front.
A negative amount, if you get a “surprise” flat as a result. I may have just had a couple of bad ones. They do “feel” faster when inflated though
Agreed, any tube can slow you down if you do not install it properly. Latex tubes are no more likely to puncture than butyl otherwise. Slightly more care and attention is required to make sure they are, not much.
How much time would latex save over butyl over a 2:30 bike split in a 1/2 IM. Trying to figure out if it’s worth switching tubes. Zipp disc rear 1080 front.
A negative amount, if you get a “surprise” flat as a result. I may have just had a couple of bad ones. They do “feel” faster when inflated though
Agreed, any tube can slow you down if you do not install it properly. Latex tubes are no more likely to puncture than butyl otherwise. Slightly more care and attention is required to make sure they are, not much.
Well when they dont slip a bead, and they get a hole near the joint that is facing the bed of the rim vs the carcass, I dont think thats an installation error. Others have reported this problem as well. I am switching to Vittorias to see if they are better. That said, they also seem to be less forgiving of hasty installation and lack of prep than butyl tubes
is switching any one thing really worth it? probably not. but if you do 100 things, then that adds up to some real time.
If you’re interested (and wealthy) enough to run a disc and 1080, you probably ought to clean up the rest of the (cheap and easy to fix) leaks in your game.
Poorly made tubes will be slow no matter what the material. I did have a couple latex tubes that were bad out of the box similar to what you describe. They were the challenge red ones which I wanted to likes as the removable valve core would have made life easy. 2 out of 4 being bad was too much for me though and I went back to the green Michelin ones which have been great. I have had lots of bad butyl tubes over the years as well.
my two cents. Cut 17 min off my IM bike split, but that was due to training and bike upgrades more than tubes. However, this was my first IM in three attempts with no flats, and my first on latex. Small sample size…latex is better.
I’ve had a similar experience with the Michelins. Great when they hold air. Can only use for a few months and have to do preventative replacement and hope that hole near the valve hole on the tube doesn’t show up during a race.
Panaracer makes a tube, r’air that is butyl but supposedly made differently, very light, strong, flexible… I queried here a few days ago on usage, but nobody replied.
Perhaps an experiment is warranted with these:
R’AIR
Road and MTB Tube
The R’Air tube gives you all the ride advantages of latex with all the functionality of butyl. Patch it with a regular butyl patch kit. Try a set on you bicycle to understand why the feel and ride of latex rules.
TUBE SIZEWEIGHTVALVE/LENGTH20 x 1.2554g.Presta 32mm20 x 1-1/858g.Presta 32mm26 x 1.75-2.10150g.Presta 32mm26 x 1.75-2.10151g.Presta 48mm700 x 18-23c65g.Presta 32mm700 x 18-23c66g.Presta 48mm700 x 18-23c67g.Presta 60mm700 x 31 - 35c112g.Presta 32mm700 x 31 - 35c113g.
TUBE SIZEWEIGHTVALVE/LENGTH20 x 1.2554g.Presta 32mm20 x 1-1/858g.Presta 32mm26 x 1.75-2.10150g.Presta 32mm26 x 1.75-2.10151g.Presta 48mm700 x 18-23c65g.Presta 32mm700 x 18-23c66g.Presta 48mm700 x 18-23c67g.Presta 60mm700 x 31 - 35c112g.Presta 32mm700 x 31 - 35c113g.Presta 48mm26 x 1.0-1.2570g.Presta 32mm26 x 1.0-1.2571g.
66 grams
How much time would latex save over butyl over a 2:30 bike split in a 1/2 IM. Trying to figure out if it’s worth switching tubes. Zipp disc rear 1080 front.
The rolling resistance demand difference is ~ 5 watts which would be ~ 45 seconds (5 watts ~ 0.5 sec per km).
What thickness butyl tubes do you use for your tests? Did you ever do any tests of thick butyl vs. thin butyl? I gotta think the thinner would be faster. Mostly asking because of my wife who uses 650 wheels and I’ve never seen latex in that size. On her bike we use relatively light tubes but not the superlight ones because they don’t seem reliable.
As long as you’re willing take a bit of extra care on installation, no reason not to use latex. Why not gain every advantage? With latex it’s very important to check carefully to make sure you don’t get the tube pinched when you install.
Make sure you carry butyl spare tubes. Latex is harder to install in the field and bleeds CO2 much faster than butyl.
Where is the best place to buy them?
Removeable core or extenders?
I’ve been using Michelins for last year with extenders on my Zipp 404s.
What about the super light butyl tubes? Like the Continental Supersonic road tube for example. How would that fair against latex? Although the price is even higher, but is it better? Or have some other advantage?
the thinner tubes are better but not as good as latex.
advantages? not sure. they start to share some of the same disadvantages to a lesser degree, just like the performance. air will bleed quicker, more care needed when installing, more care needed with rim tape.
What about the super light butyl tubes? Like the Continental Supersonic road tube for example. How would that fair against latex? Although the price is even higher, but is it better? Or have some other advantage?