TPU tubes cut rotating weight where it counts, and the Tubo Road from Tubolito is the brand's everyday-riding version of that idea rather than the stripped-down race tube. Tubo-ROAD-700C saves 70 g of weight compared to a standard butyl tube. That's roughly 70 grams off the rotating mass at each wheel, which is the weight you actually feel when you accelerate out of a corner or grind up a long climb. If you want the weight savings of TPU but you'd rather run it as your daily tube instead of just an emergency spare, this is the one built for that job.

The material itself does more than shave grams. Twice as much force is required to puncture the Tubo-Road-700C than with a standard inner tube. That comes from the TPU's stretch: the material is up to four times more elastic than standard inner tubes. One thing that sets this tube apart from a lot of TPU competitors is heat tolerance. Unlike many other TPU tubes, the Tubo-Road is suitable for use with both disc and rim brakes. If you're on carbon clinchers with rim brakes, that matters, since braking heat is exactly what kills tubes that aren't rated for it.

Before you order, check two things. First, the current manufacturer listing gives the fit range as all 700C racing bike tires with a width between 23 and 35 mm OR 18 and 32mm. Be sure to check the specific SKU.  Second, repairs are TPU-specific. If a puncture occurs, you can repair the inner tube using the Tubo-Patch Kit, designed specifically for TPU tubes; repair kits made for butyl rubber tubes are not compatible with Tubolitos. Toss the right patch kit in your saddle bag alongside the tube and you're covered.... Read More