Alex or Dave - Slime and Slime tubes?

[Bill]

Here is a question I have been wandering. Is the Slime Inner tubes or the slime additive worth using? Is the heavier duty inner tube better then the pre-mentioned? Reason I asked this is, because all I see the slime doing is making the bike heavier then need be. The general bike usually weighs around 50-70lbs, why make it heavier?
Thanks ,<br />
Bill

[Alex Ramon]

Hi Bill,
Slime is messy stuff and doesn't work too well. The best thing to do is always replace the tube. Patch kits and products like slime are meant to get you home in an emergency. Not sure about the weight issue...

[Bill]

Ok, thanks for the input. I'll stear clear of those. When I have in the past replaced any inner tube it was with a &quot;Heavy Duty&quot; or &quot;Dupont Kevlar &quot; type tube.

[DaveM]

The stuff works ok if you are in one of the areas where very thin, fine thorns are common. But a waste of time for urban riding. Kevlar belted tires will stop most stuff.
I'll respectfully disagree with Alex about patches. Properly applied, they will hold for years. Usually you're patching by the side of the road in a rush so you don't give the glue a minute or two to set up properly before applying the patch and another minute or two to bond before putting air in the tube. I like to carry a spare for a quick change and then take the popped one home for patching.