Biketube makes ordering tubes online a cinch when you pinch

Given the increasing popularity of tubeless road set ups and the near-universality of tubeless in mtb, this seems like an interesting time to launch a tube supply business.

I’m sorry but a quick Amazon search shows that they sell some conti tubes for 3.55… fail to see how these are the “best prices on the internet”

Wow, I never realized my $7 tubes at the local shop were such a good buy.

The sad thing is that most people don’t know how or don’t have the time to change their flats. Shops will always be open as long as they provide services for a need. Sure I can work on my car too, but often times my time with family is more important, so I take it to the shop. Same goes for the bike shop. Some of you that keep dissing shops may be decent mechanics, but I’ve seen enough people on group rides that “no what they are doing” blow out tubes by pinching the tubes, not know how to set limits on derailleurs or ever recognize that their hanger is bent. You just need to know prices on things and see if your local shop can get close to the price. If not, maybe they’re the wrong shop or maybe if you shopped with hem some they may be willing to work with you! Having worked retail, sometimes things can be purchased from places like amazon for cheaper than some stores can get them for.

Interesting reading the comments by folks who claim to know cost of tubes these days to dealers… Guessing you worked in a shop quite a few years ago. Been in the industry for many years, still am. Even bulk tubes (as these obviously are – unboxed) cost a dealer close to $2.25 – $2.50 each for smaller sizes, 29’er tubes close to $5 each. So depending on the tube, we sell for $4.99 to $8.99 for Boxed tubes, less if you are one of our “regulars” and get the shop discount… All the “bike shops are dead” guys, when you have forgotten (or weren’t ‘prescient’ enough to pre-order your supply of tubes, and have no good tubes and your buddies want to do the epic ride today, might just regret the lack of shops nearby where you can run down and ‘pay too much’ to have that tube NOW. While I agree that some shops gouge on tubes and supplies, many are reasonable. We have rent to pay, ourselves to pay, etc… and we don’t live extravagantly. What happens to you when your job goes away because it is cheaper to get the product or service that you provide somewhere else? I bet buying a new bike is one of the first things to go off your list – maybe even tires and other non-necessities of life. Lots of folks working in our manufacturing base experienced that the last couple of decades. Think carefully before you blow off industries and services that might be going away – yours is probably coming up in the queue soon…

60mm presta tube in 25-32c on their site says “UNABLE TO ADD ITEM Sorry, that item variant is unavailable. Please select another variant” when trying to add to cart. Seems like a pretty common tube size to not have around in stock…

The superiority complex of tubeless guys is hilarious. Yes, haha let’s compare using tubes to toe clips. Makes total sense. For me, there are more reasons to stick with tubes than go tubeless. If we are throwing shade around, to me all this fad stuff is the same. I’m guessing tubeless users also have hydro disc brakes and the very widest wheels available in their road bike. It’s OK…you don’t have to follow every trend.

With regards to this article, good luck, but there are so many places to get cheap tubes, it’s not even worth trying to compete IMO.

Always carry a tube, even on my tubeless setups, some flats need a tube to get you home.

I figured specializing in tubes on-line couldn’t be the big idea. Here’s what I was expecting: Bad day, you’ve flatted your second tube, no patches. Whip out the old smart phone put in an order and wait for the drone to drop. I could see that as a compelling model, though it’s hard to imagine the volume would be there to make it feasible.