This being a kickstarter makes it a non-starter for me but it looks pretty promising: Hopefully they work great and become popular.
This being a kickstarter makes it a non-starter for me but it looks pretty promising: Hopefully they work great and become popular.
Depends how often you typically have to replace that $7 tube. Also depends on distances you travel.
While a $7 tube once a year is a much better price, that number skews if you happen to need to walk miles when it goes.
A tube often lasts me ten years and I always have an extra tube in my frame bag, because it’s way easier than patching a flat.
I also do have most important tools, tube AND repair kit with me all times but you do realize that’s not majority of the people. A grandma could ride with the same tires for 20 years (mine did) and never having a flat during those years could definitely be worth it.
I’ve never had a flat. It’s just a matter of being prepared for the one or two times in my entire life I get one.
Tires like this significantly shift the cost/benefit analysis of biking in the first place, they’re just not practical for the vast majority of users.
This specific type might be too expensive, but there’s been a lot of work in non-pneumatic tires for bicycles as well as for heavier vehicles for some time. Wouldn’t be surprised if they at some point would make their way to affordable commuter