Just want to order bike tubes online, just....
September 2, 2024 3:10 PM Subscribe
Okay, so I am not the sharpest marble here. I want to order a couple of tubes for rapid delivery. I have copied the information from the existing tube and...I am having trouble matching it to the available tubes.
I am currently repairing a tube labeled "Specialized city-urban 700x28-38c". It has a Presta valve. When I look at tubes on the Specialized site, they don't seem to have the same one available currently, and I was hoping in any case to have another brand overnighted from Amazon before heading out to a local store to buy some off the shelf. (I'm a little iffy about how well this patch is going to hold, all things considered.)
And I cannot figure out which tube is the right size because they are all labeled things like "fits 700x35/36/38 and that seems confusing.
This is not actually the most ridiculous question I have ever asked here (that was probably the herring one, or maybe the Excel one, or possibly one of the health ones) but it is on the list.
Would someone who buys bike tubes link me to an online source (including but not necessarily Amazon) for a non-Specialized tube that will fit my bike? I have bought tubes in the past, I swear, but I was able to brand match or else buying in store.
I was riding my great new used bike and there was a tack! Luckily it was in the tire just right to hold until I got home, but I am still very cross.
I am currently repairing a tube labeled "Specialized city-urban 700x28-38c". It has a Presta valve. When I look at tubes on the Specialized site, they don't seem to have the same one available currently, and I was hoping in any case to have another brand overnighted from Amazon before heading out to a local store to buy some off the shelf. (I'm a little iffy about how well this patch is going to hold, all things considered.)
And I cannot figure out which tube is the right size because they are all labeled things like "fits 700x35/36/38 and that seems confusing.
This is not actually the most ridiculous question I have ever asked here (that was probably the herring one, or maybe the Excel one, or possibly one of the health ones) but it is on the list.
Would someone who buys bike tubes link me to an online source (including but not necessarily Amazon) for a non-Specialized tube that will fit my bike? I have bought tubes in the past, I swear, but I was able to brand match or else buying in store.
I was riding my great new used bike and there was a tack! Luckily it was in the tire just right to hold until I got home, but I am still very cross.
Yeah the tires are the things with the fixed size. When the tubes inflate they stretch to fill the tires, so that's why the tubes have the range on them - that's the sizes of tires that they can fit in and can get big enough to fill. 28 to 38 is a bigger range than most tubes I've seen, so I'm not surprised you're having trouble finding more that advertise that range.
posted by aubilenon at 3:41 PM on September 2 [1 favorite]
posted by aubilenon at 3:41 PM on September 2 [1 favorite]
If we're talking about the Diamondback Insight from a previous question, it's got 700x32c tires, and these are one example of many that would fit it.
posted by aubilenon at 3:49 PM on September 2 [1 favorite]
posted by aubilenon at 3:49 PM on September 2 [1 favorite]
I'm fairly certain the Specialized 'city-urban' tube you've got is just their 'Standard Presta Valve Tube'. The part number for your size is 030-0306 if you want to search for it on other retailers' sites. Note that they make it with two valve stem lengths: the standard 40mm and a longer 48mm, so you might want to check yours just to be sure.
fwiw, I'd add that I too have experienced what some of the commenters have mentioned about this tube, which is a slow leak problem with the valve.
A lot of riders have opted for wider tires over the past several years, and this tube covers a pretty common range of sizes. You should be able to find lots of other manufacturers that make it.
posted by theory at 3:49 PM on September 2 [1 favorite]
fwiw, I'd add that I too have experienced what some of the commenters have mentioned about this tube, which is a slow leak problem with the valve.
A lot of riders have opted for wider tires over the past several years, and this tube covers a pretty common range of sizes. You should be able to find lots of other manufacturers that make it.
posted by theory at 3:49 PM on September 2 [1 favorite]
Bicycle tubes are especially confusing for a variety of reasons. Don't feel bad you can't quite figure them out.
posted by flug at 5:25 PM on September 2
posted by flug at 5:25 PM on September 2
Yes to getting tubes that have a range that includes your tire size, but honestly, as long as you have the diameter right, it's likely ok. I've used a road 23-25 in a 32 and it was fine.
Note, pretty much all presta valve tubes slowly lose air and I check and reflate every presta tire I have weekly if I'm riding regularly. If I'm not riding regularly, I top it off before I ride
posted by advicepig at 6:17 PM on September 2
Note, pretty much all presta valve tubes slowly lose air and I check and reflate every presta tire I have weekly if I'm riding regularly. If I'm not riding regularly, I top it off before I ride
posted by advicepig at 6:17 PM on September 2
Seconding the Schwalbe SV17 recommendation from box, above.
If the old tube was punctured by a tack, you can also get a patch kit and patch it. A single tack puncture is easy to patch. As long as you clean the area around the puncture properly, score it with sandpaper (included in the patch kit), apply the fluid in an even, thin layer, and press the patch on carefully, the patched tube will last just as long as a new tube.
If all that sounds complicated, visit your local bike shop and ask for a tutorial on how to patch a tube. If you buy the patch kit from them, they'll probably do it for free.
posted by brianogilvie at 3:42 PM on September 4
If the old tube was punctured by a tack, you can also get a patch kit and patch it. A single tack puncture is easy to patch. As long as you clean the area around the puncture properly, score it with sandpaper (included in the patch kit), apply the fluid in an even, thin layer, and press the patch on carefully, the patched tube will last just as long as a new tube.
If all that sounds complicated, visit your local bike shop and ask for a tutorial on how to patch a tube. If you buy the patch kit from them, they'll probably do it for free.
posted by brianogilvie at 3:42 PM on September 4
> Note, pretty much all presta valve tubes slowly lose air and I check and reflate every presta tire I have weekly if I'm riding regularly. If I'm not riding regularly, I top it off before I ride
All butyl (synthetic rubber) tubes will slowly lose air. So will latex and TPU tubes, but more slowly.
If your Presta valve tubes are losing air more quickly than your Schrader valve tubes, the valve core might have loosened up. Get a valve core wrench (Park VC-1 is one option) and tighten them up.
posted by brianogilvie at 3:45 PM on September 4
All butyl (synthetic rubber) tubes will slowly lose air. So will latex and TPU tubes, but more slowly.
If your Presta valve tubes are losing air more quickly than your Schrader valve tubes, the valve core might have loosened up. Get a valve core wrench (Park VC-1 is one option) and tighten them up.
posted by brianogilvie at 3:45 PM on September 4
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The tube you mention fits road bike sized tires (700) with widths between 28 and 38mm, so your tire should be somewhere in that range.
posted by ssg at 3:23 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]