Tag: inner tubes

Hip to Be Square

Michelin has taken a cue from that old (and somewhat not so cool) Huey Lewis song “Hip to be Square,” but in this case square could be the new round. The Protek Max inner tubes, which we first heard about almost two years ago, feature a square profile and textured bumps that can help keep riders roller after a puncture.

These work along with a sealant and react in compression when punctured, and this reaction reportedly helps the tube close around any holes. The new tubes will be available this spring for around $13 and will be available for Presta and Schrader valves. How cool is that?

Michelin Protek Max Official Website

Made in America: Alchemy Goods

There is an old saying that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Seattle-based Alchemy Goods essentially operates on that principal, and it creates new products from what many of us would likely just toss in the garbage.

This includes inner tubes, and to date the company has reclaimed more than 182,000 tubes from across the country and used these to make durable products including messenger bags and belts. Alchemy Goods has also partnered with REI bike shops and Trek retailers to obtain the tubes – ensuring that bike shops that do accept tubes actually have somewhere to send them.

On each product that Alchemy Goods produces it stitches a tiny number in the upper right hand corner, and while small it has a big significance – as it represents the percent by weight of upcycled material that goes into each product. The company strives to make this numbers as high as possible by incorporating as much upcycled material as they can. Continue reading Made in America: Alchemy Goods

Seal of Approve To Puncture Resistant Tubes

Nothing can ruin a nice ride in the woods like a puncture. If you’re like too many riders that could mean having to walk back to the car, or worse home as you probably didn’t bring a spare. But Michelin’s new Protek Max inner tubes could actually change this, offering a tube that promises to be more resistant to punctures and could hold air pressure if punctured!

The Protek Max features a “bumpy” service that creates a compressive force in the tube wall, and thus doesn’t want to stretch when there is a puncture. Instead with a small puncture there is compression, and thus the tube will retain its tire pressure and not lose air – at least not so quickly.

The Protek tubes will be available in 700×35-47c and 26×1.4-2.125-inch sizes, and will retail for $8.99. Both Presta and Scharder will be available – but sorry, for now it will be those who venture off road who will get the puncture-free treatment. Hopefully we’ll see a road version down the road.

Michelin Bicycle USA Protek Max Official Website

[Via BikeRadar.com: Michelin’s new Wild Race’R tire and Protek Max inner tube]