inner tubes a-poppin'

I have been using regular Schrader inner tubes in my freestyle 20" uni,
and I've had at least four of them pop in the last few months. Today I
changed one tube and the replacement popped as well. I ride at 85psi, and
I have a feeling I need to get a high-performance inner tube. Is this the
case, or is there a different likely cause of the problems?

Stone, D

David Stone wrote:
*I have been using regular Schrader inner tubes in my freestyle 20"
uni, and I've had at least four of them pop in the last few months.
Today I changed one tube and the replacement popped as well. I ride at
85psi, and I have a feeling I need to get a high-performance inner
tube. Is this the case, or is there a different likely cause of the
problems?

Stone, D

*

It could be a rim strip that is not properly covering the spoke holes.
Rubber rim strips are notorious for moving around and exposing the spoke
holes. If you have a rubber or plastic rim strip replace it with Velox
rim tape. Velox is a cloth tape with adhesive so it sticks to the rim
and doesn't move around. It's the best stuff. Any bike shop will have
the stuff.

Velox comes in different widths. Get the widest size that will fit in
the bottom of the rim and properly cover the spoke holes.

Another problem could be a sharp sliver of metal inside the rim. When
the spoke holes are drilled in the rim it can leave sharp chips of metal
that hang on to a spoke hole. That sliver of metal can break free and
start poking holes in your tube. You can try fishing out the sliver or
you can take the rim to a bike shop and they can blow out the chip with
compressed air.

But I'll bet it's a bad rim strip.


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Actually, I have the Velox rim cloth, so it's probably a spoke. I forgot
to mention that the tube breaks seem to come on the INSIDE (not the outer
part) of the tube, so it's likely a spoke.

David