Tube & Tire Accessories

I am a big fan of Schwalbe's Aerothan TPU tubes. They are compact, super light, and fast as hell. However, they are not puncture proof, nor are they inexpensive. Rather than throwing away a tube that costs more than $30, I'd rather repair and reuse it. This is the only patch kit that actually works with those tubes.

These patches couldn't be any easier to use. Simply find the puncture, clean the area with isopropyl alcohol, apply the glueless patch, and press it flat to remove air bubbles. Voila! The tube is good as new, and holds air perfectly. If you're running Aerothan TPU tubes, this patch kit is a must-have item. The patches also work on traditional butyl tubes, but I personally haven't tried using them on butyl. Simple, effective, and relatively inexpensive (especially compared to the price of a new TPU tube). What more can you ask for?

Now that I'm using tubeless tires, I've found it almost impossible to remove from one from the wheel rim to insert a tube if emergency puncture on the road. So I've got one of those tubeless tire plug tools, but just in case I need to add sealant, I bought this valve core remover, to add sealant through the valve. I haven't had to use it yet, and I plan to try it out at home, just to be sure I will be familiar with the process if I get stuck on the road. I don't expect there will be any issue with removing and reinserting the valve, though.

I am relatively new to tubeless. Stans seemed to me to be the standard. However, when I tried to use my KOM Cycling injector system to check and inject sealant into my tires I discovered a real problem with these valve stems. They narrow near the bottom, so the injector tube could not extend into the tire. Attempting to inject sealant simply didn't work. Lezyne Tubeless valve stems, on the other hand, do allow the injector tube to fully extend into the tire. This KOM system allows you to remove, test, and reinject sealant into the tire without having to break the tire bead seal. I had to remove the Stans and replace them with the Lezyne.

Endurance Formula performs more in line with traditional in-market sealant. According to the Orange Seal website, it effectively patches holes half the size as the original formula, but lasts over twice as long before drying out in your tire. I rode for over 50,000 miles on the Endurance formula before I finally had my first full flat, and it will be the end of the Endurance formula for me. The reason being - with the Original formula, not only did it seal everything - but it sealed a sidewall puncture on a gravel descent, and I was able to carefully ride the bike home with it, with no loss of air. There is a compromise when going to the Endurance formula. Both are great - but the description of "up to 1/4 of an inch" is actually misleading. The original claims for this were for 1/8th inch hole, which is more than adequate for most punctures. Just be sure to select the appropriate formula for your needs - there is no "one size fits all".