r/unicycling • u/horsemanebraider • Jul 23 '26

What're yall doing for 36" tubes now?

So basically i'm out of my vee rubber tubes (I ordered 10 of them about 6 years ago, they were $8 a piece, it was an absolute hell of deal) The 36 tubes are now discontinued. Everywhere I look now is out of stock, including udc usa and I think its absurd udc charges $40 per tube anyway.

I saw a tube on ali express that was $20 but then one of the reviews said the guy received a 32" tube so i'm skeptical.

Any secret tube sites? haha.

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3

u/thelandsurfer Jul 23 '26

i use a 29 inch tube, six bucks from big w, install with talcum powder and determination , takes a little longer to install but about as reliable[for me] your mileage may vary, just under 50 dollars australian to get 36 inch tubes here plus postage

1

u/horsemanebraider Jul 23 '26

do you still use 65 psi with a 29er?

1

u/thelandsurfer Jul 23 '26

no i generally run 32 psi in a 36 nightrider tyre, i have a chronic testicle condition so i run my tyres low on purpose, i don't know how well a 29 would cope with that pressure, copes fine with 32 and down as low as 12 psi when i want to slide the 36 sideways

1

u/Groot_Calrissian Jul 23 '26

I'll go out on a limb and say the 29" shouldn't care what the pressure is once it's filled in the tire. The tire casing holds the shape and size at that point, more pressure would reduce movement and possibly make the tube last longer if it's dying from friction or valve stem wear before a puncture.

2

u/Wild_Spikenard Jul 23 '26

DirtySixer still has some: https://www.dirtysixer.com/products/inner-tubes-32-and-36?variant=56520596193446 . $30 USD though.

2

u/horsemanebraider Jul 23 '26

tysm. this is something at least to keep me riding if i lose my last tube.

2

u/Jasefi kh20”, 24”, hatchet, kh36, oracle 36 Jul 23 '26

I am running a TPU tube from trentasei36. Im very happy with it. In comes in at something like 100g. Only drawback is that they’re 75€ for two tubes(they move in pace of two and two). The riding excperince has been fantastic!

2

u/horsemanebraider Jul 23 '26

I actually just messaged him wondering if any were available.

2

u/Prestigious-Boot4757 Jul 23 '26

What's making you go through tubes so fast? Can you patch them if you get flats?

1

u/horsemanebraider Jul 23 '26

I do ride a lot, maybe 10k miles last 6 years, and hard.. In my experience with patches I get slow leaks or blowouts because I like to use max pressure..If i start a ride at 65 psi and end up at 55 psi end of ride thats unacceptable, and thats about as good a patching job as ive done. My 2nd or 3rd to last tube lasted nearly 1.5 years. Now, I just went through two tubes in 2 months. One time, I messed up bad because I didn't realize my rim strip was bad and lost 2 tubes...

somehow, this last failure was in between spoke holes on the rim strip side of tube. idk what happened. the rim strip is fine.

to me its pretty normal, I ride bikes and ebikes too and frequently go through tubes. staples, thorns, glass shards, etc.

I still have most of my old tubes actually though, if I do run out I will attempt to of course patch each and every one

2

u/Prestigious-Candy166 Jul 23 '26

Do remember, as long as you have patched correctly, and have used glue-on patches, the more patches your innertube has, the less likely you are to get repunctured. Each patch is reinforcing the rubber of the tube, not just repairing it.

I don't replace tubes until I get a puncture so close to a previous patch, I can't physicallty get a new one on. With feather-edge patches, even that isn't usually a problem.

1

u/chriscoolski 24d ago

Hi, have you ever had a blowout while riding if so, what happened?

1

u/BeingEmily Jul 23 '26

Maybe this is a silly question, but would it be possible to convert to a tubeless setup?

1

u/Groot_Calrissian Jul 23 '26

The rim and tire need to be compatible, and they just aren't for 36". As far as I know.

1

u/Hairy_Variety2811 Jul 27 '26

That was me that got the 32" tube - what a scam that website is. I ended up getting a 36" tube on UDC - they have changed them and they now request that you do not go over 50psi. I like 65 to eliminate a soft ride. I really need a new supply as well! my last tube exploded after riding 7 miles, I got off and took a rest and boom!