Editorial
Eric Porter's Universal Tube Trick
Eric Porter
Eric is a diverse pro rider with a history of XC, DH and Slopestyle competition. He shreds on a bike and now focuses on producing stories and videos from Guatemala to Alaska and anywhere else there are shenanigans to be had.
He rides for Diamondback, Magura, POC, Clif Bar, Camelbak, Reynolds, Kenda, Deity and Fox Racing Shox. He's a delighted dad, quite possibly the second nicest guy to professionally ride bikes* and he's a consummate bike nerd.
*The crown of course belongs to Ryan Leech
The Universal Tube Size Trick
Step #1 : 29'er Tube. Valve at the bottom.
Eric happily stomped on my long held opinion that if I'm going to carry one tube in the event of a tubeless tire failure a 26" is the best choice as a universal donor. It can be stretched into a 27" or 29'er tire in a pinch and stuffing a larger tube into a smaller tire is a pain right?
Wrong. Eric's easy to use sleeve trick makes it quick and simple to re-size a 29'er tube to any size in a pinch. Your kid's 20" BMX has a flat? As long as there's a 29'er tube in the house it's all good.
Step #2 : Holding the 29'er tube in one hand Eric uses his finger to form an indentation.
Step #3 : Using a finger the tube is then gently sleeved into itself. In this way the tube can be sized down to whichever tire dimension is called for.
It's ridiculously quick and easy to do - heck, I even managed on my first try - and there are tonnes of scenarios where it will come in handy. For example, when your buddy has his 5th flat of the day riding The Whole Enchilada in Moab and no one has a 26" tube left to lend him.
For a person riding more than one wheel size it also means I can carry one size of tube in my pack without having to think about what bike I'm riding. A 29'er tube will also easily inflate to support a 29+ tire so this trick opens me up to every eventuality I see on the trail.*
*Except for Fat Bikes?
Once the tube has been sleeved down the right size it's just a matter of popping it into the tire and inflating it. Ride it home, clean it up, and throw it back in the pack for next time.
Thanks Eric!
Comments
Mammal
6 years, 3 months ago
This is outstanding information. Not very often I have one of those "Ohhhh Yeeaaaah" moments with mtb'ing anymore...
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Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
Cheers!
That's how I feel about it too. I've learned a lot of little tricks over my years working on bikes but it's been a while since I had one of these epiphany moments.
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Cr4w
6 years, 3 months ago
You can call this technique "space docking". But do not. I repeat do not look it up on Urban Dictionary.
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Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
I looked it up because you told me not to... now I'm triggered like a tall person shopping for mountain bike shorts.
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Andrew Hewitson
6 years, 3 months ago
I'm eating cold Glico curry for lunch...
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Endur-Bro
5 years, 2 months ago
I hope this isn't where E.Porter got the idea from...
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bart
6 years, 3 months ago
used to fold mine but this makes way more sense! sometimes it is just the simple things, so glad you wrote about this!
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Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
Thanks Bart!
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Andrew Major
5 years, 3 months ago
Bart, I have to say that is a KICK-ASS avatar you have!
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bart
5 years, 3 months ago
It is priceless work of art bestowed upon me by a very talented individual!
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AlanB
6 years, 3 months ago
This sucks. It totally blows my excuse for not lending a tube to the unprepared rider that flats their Canadian Tire Flyer 26er 5 miles from the trailhead. "Sorry, dude. I don't carry spare tubes that size anymore. No one does."
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Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
The best I've ever overheard on the trail:
"Sorry bro, if I give one to you then I'd have to give one to everyone else."
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Mammal
6 years, 3 months ago
That old chips commercial... Classic. The last 3 tubes I can remember using were all given to others. Serious tube-karma. One day I'm gonna double flat like a mofo and repo those thangs.
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Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
@Mammal, wow you're nice!
Way back when I used to be a sardonic jerk my saying was a tube's worth $5 in the shop, $10 at the trailhead, $15 on the trail and $20 at the top of the downhill.
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Andrew Hewitson
6 years, 3 months ago
I had to walk down John Deere last year because the dumb dumb I am got a flat two days earlier and then flatted again and I hadn't replaced the tube in my camelback. In the old days when this happened you could usually count on trail Karma from someone who had an extra tube. But EVERY single rider was like "Sorry I ride tubeless. I don't carry a tube anymore. "
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Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
Really?
How many of them had a tube strapped on their bike?
Most the guys I see with hip-packs and no packs still have a tube strapped to their rigs.
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fartymarty
5 years, 3 months ago
I haven't used a tube in a long time but still carry one. I am re-thinking this as I carry tyre plugs, patches and a small bottle of stans (plus valve screw). For my local 2-3 hour rides I think I would rather try fixing a tubeless trailside and give up and walk home rather than putting a tube in.
Saying all that I am probably going to double flat on my next ride....
Update - a few rides after my comment above I flatted on a group ride. My 60ml bottle of Stans in my waist pack saved me having to use a tube as I was low on sealant. Having never used C02 (and relying on a pump) I am now a convert especially on group rides.
I now carry a tube and tools on all rides - and of course my little bottle of Stans.
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Andrew Major
5 years, 3 months ago
I’ve lent out 4x tubes in the last ~year. All to people who should know better. Don’t be that person! Spare rubbers is everyones’ responsibility!
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fartymarty
5 years, 3 months ago
Yeah that's what is nagging in the back of my mind. The first ride I don't take a tube is when I / someone else will need it.
Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
For the record Andrew: in a pack, fannypack, pocket or 'space docked' I believe honesty is the best policy so I generally just go with: "Yes I have a tube. No I won't share it it's for me."
A stranger called me a dick on Fromme one day for politely declining to give up my backup plan - and I started having second thoughts re. Karma as I continued on my ride - so now I carry a couple small glueless patch kits. I'm happy to hand out a patch or two and get on with my ride.
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Andrew Hewitson
6 years, 3 months ago
You would have been a hero to me and my unborn children if you had showed up with a patch kit that day.
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Lacy Kemp
6 years, 3 months ago
There's a reason we joke that Porter is the best dad in mountain biking. That dude is always prepared. Awesome trick!
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Jonas Dodd
6 years, 3 months ago
This is so awesome! How about a list of everyone's best / favourite bike maintenance tricks for a future article?
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Lev
5 years, 3 months ago
I'm gonna buy a 58er tube and sleeve it to 29 and get double tube protection. Then I won't need to carry a spare.
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Kieran
6 years, 3 months ago
Neat solution.
But wouldn't it be better with a 27.5 tube? Then it could stretch to 29 more easily and less of a fold (and possibly bulge in the tire) for 26?
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Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
There's no negative to sleeving the 29'er tube - down to any size - other than weight. The tube will maybe perform differently at bottom out (sleeved area double thick) but otherwise it's all constrained by the tire.
Advantage of the 27 or 26 is a lighter tube to carry but stretching it larger is still stretching it even if by a lesser factor.
Carrying just a 27" or 26" is going to get you out but I think the sleeved 29" is going to have the best survivability?!
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Andrew Major
6 years, 3 months ago
Just have to say... if I get one more e-mail or message saying I'm wrong because Wade "The Godfather" Simmons is the nicest guy on knobby tires. I mean yeah, Wade is wicked nice - and a great dad - and always makes time - and has a charming smile - and shreds on a bike with a big grin on his face - and gets other folks stoked - and etc...
But Ryan Leech!!!
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Stephen Cuomo
6 years, 3 months ago
Genius little trick, Eric ! I am definitely going to share that with all of our bike-tube.net friends. Coincidentally, we just got a shipment of fresh 29" x 2.1-2.4" presta valve tubes, so they're back in stock. Why buy any other diameter ? ; )
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William Gaffney
6 years, 3 months ago
But.... are 29er tubes cheaper? If so I'm sold. Ill go have a look!
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Billsbutnoskills
5 years ago
Wonder if you ran sleeved in this way on non 29er bikes- would you be able to move the sleeve in the event of a puncture?
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