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[url= http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=490356 ]interesting alternative...[/url]
Not really...
Can it still pinch puncture? YES
Can it still puncture due to a thorn? YES
Is running a tubeless system with sealant in your tyres way more likely to resist pinch punctures, and seal any thorn puncture? YES
An inner tube of any design, no matter how light it is, what it is made of, or how convenient it is to use, is fundamentally flawed. A tubeless setup is more hassle to fit in the first place for sure, but when done using reliable tried and tested components, is a far better prospect on a mountain bike. Why would car tyres be tubeless if inner tubes were fundamentally better? Inner tubes are just convenient for the masses basically!
56g? And super strong? What are they made of? Bet they will cost quite a bit.
50 dollars each apparently, if you sift that massive thread.
They're approximately 30times more resistant to punctures due to the very thin and very elastic material.
I think that'll put it on a par with tubeless conversions that we know at the moment TBH.
they definitely roll a lot faster too
Suspicious of anyone who claims this.
A [i]lot[/i] faster? Really?
Is anyone (apart from XC racers) really that bothered about these tiny weight savings these days?
The only way they can be an alternative to UST is if they are as puncture resistant, don't need sealant and can be run at low pressures.
Otherwise they will fade into obscurity like many the novel innovations of the past.
2x50g is a quarter of a pound. The actual savings over normal inner tubes are more likely to be about 100-130g each. Combined that's over half a pound on rotating weight.
If you're looking at the diminishing returns of having a light bike - (and many people do) then this is quite a substantial saving. Bikes don't get light by having a few light bits, everything has to be a bit lighter to make an appreciable difference. This is one way to achieve some more savings.
Only you can decide if the likely cost is worth the savings.
mboy,
All of those things are possible with tubless as well, pinch flats, thorn punctures, I've had and seen others running tubless have those issues.
can't you just put some lightweight sealant (such as the bontrager or hutchinson stuff rather than latex) in a lightweight inner tube for a best of all worlds solution?
i don't get this 'lower rolling resistance' stuff either. can you tell when most trails are 6" deep in mud?