Tri again: Where is THE source for the best price on bontrager race x aero clincher tires?

Triathlon Forum
1

I ran this question a few days ago and didn’t get much love. :frowning:

So I’ll ask again!

Where/what is THE source for the best price on bontrager race x aero clincher tires and latex tubes (btw, what is the recommendation for which latex tube: Michelin; Vredestein; Other ).

Thanks again…I think.

Ivan

2

The only sources that I’ve seen are the Bontrager/Trek website for online purchase or a LBS that carries the tires. I’ve seen no difference between the Michelin (18/20) and the Vred (18/25). The Vred has a removeable valve stem while the Michelin does not.

3

I searched to but came up empty handed. You can try ebay.

4

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/elvis/elvis.wav
.

5

http://www.entertonement.com/clips/msxwmhknlr--Thank-all-the-wonderful-peopleElvis-Presley-Rock-and-Roll-category-
.

6

If you don’t mind waiting a bit (7-10 days), here’s the best deal I’ve been able to find:

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/107774.html
.

7

Wow! Great price, but shipping is $50! The net effect is a wash. Bummer.

Thanks for the link, anyhoo.

Ivan

8

Not sure where you saw that, but I ordered a pair of tires last month and the cost for shipping was 10 pounds, which is a little under $17 at the current exchange rate. Just checked my credit card account for you, and my total cost for two tires with shipping was $84.29.

9

This is their overseas orders shipping charge page: http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/region.html

A pair of tyres is 30 gbp to ship to North America. That translates roughly to $49 and change.

10

Wow - nice find - actually a better price for the same tire ??

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/114511.html

The listed weight (180 grams) indicates that these are the newer light weight fast ones.

They also carry the RXL Pro clinchers and tubulars at good prices as well.

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/107771.html

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/107772.html

They also have Michelin Latex tubes - a bit pricey though.

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/112894.html

Get some friends together and order several to reduce the shipping cost per piece.

11

Challenge Latex tubes, removable core, inexpensive (especially at wholesale!) Any LBS with a Hawley catalog should be able to order some though they are out of stock more often than not. I was a bit skeptical cause they are inexpensive and unknown but have rolled 500 miles so far on a set with no issues. Valve extenders seal well. I can definitely feel the 3 watts of savings during my races even through my super fast Specialized Armadillo’s.

Dave Luscan
www.endorphinfitness.com

12

Thanks, I’ll look into them.

13

Hey, you don’t have to believe me. I’m happy to have this great deal all to myself. :slight_smile:

14

Al,
Roughly how many extra watts would using the 22/23 Mich latex tubes in the Bontrager aero TT 19 tires take compared to the 18/20 latex tubes?

I can see from your data that it doesn’t seem to make much difference in Mich pro 2 light 23 tires. (0.3w).

Thanks.

15

Al,
Roughly how many extra watts would using the 22/23 Mich latex tubes in the Bontrager aero TT 19 tires take compared to the 18/20 latex tubes?

I can see from your data that it doesn’t seem to make much difference in Mich pro 2 light 23 tires. (0.3w).

Thanks.

Well first of all you’d be hard pressed to stuff the (22/23) size tube in the aero wing 19’s (:-). Jens really discovered the difference between the 18/20 and 22/23 Michelin latex tubes. My tests confirmed his result. It’s approximately 1 watt for both wheels on a real road with surface roughness. Not sure why the difference in the Michelin tubes - I don’t see any difference between the Vreds (both older thick and newer thin wall which are both sized as 18/25 IIRC) compared to the Michelin 18/20. Maybe the green pigment has something to do with it ?? The small 18/20 Michelin tubes seem to work just fine in the larger size 23 tires. Haven’t tested the Challenge latex tubes but I’d think that they would be fine based on Dave’s input.

16

Thanks. Thought I was going to have a wild goose chase finding the 18-20 tubes and then found I bought some 6 months ago and forgot about them. Just ordered the aero tires and am looking forward to using them on my Hed3s.
Cheers.

17

Ugh. WHere were you 2 weeks ago when I needed this post? You owe me a few hours of my life, and some replacement tubes, as I did try ( and eventually, with 3rd party help, a trip to a bike shop, different rim tape, 6 hands, tools and multiple tubes) get the bigger tubes into that tire. A terrible all around experience - I had a heck of a time sourcing latex tubes at all, too

18

Sorry for your bad experience. You probably don’t want to hear this but I’d get some of the 18/20 tubes and replace the 22/23. I’d bet that the 22/23 might be folded over in some manner which might adversely affect it’s reliabilty and rolling resistance. I don’t have any concrete evidence but just a suggestion.

19

I warned people about this about 4 months ago about posters here had the nerve to disagree! with me!! :wink:

Ugh. WHere were you 2 weeks ago when I needed this post? You owe me a few hours of my life, and some replacement tubes, as I did try ( and eventually, with 3rd party help, a trip to a bike shop, different rim tape, 6 hands, tools and multiple tubes) get the bigger tubes into that tire. A terrible all around experience - I had a heck of a time sourcing latex tubes at all, too

20

I’ve seen Latex “18/23” tubes. Challenge Light I think. 40mm valve as I recall.

Is this right, an 18-23?
Anybody use one in a 20mm tire? Challenge or other.