SMART TUBES? CLEVER TECH, OR A SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM?

Austrian brand Tubolito has pushed their tube tech further with the new Tubo-Road SYNCD — a road inner tube with a built-in, battery-powered Bluetooth pressure sensor, streaming live pressure data straight to an app.

No doubt, it’s interesting if a little weird: the sensor wakes when your wheel spins, and you get an alert if pressure drops or spikes mid-ride, theoretically catching a slow leak before it becomes a flat. 

The tube with battery and sensor costs NT1500 each.  

If you have a flat that is repairable, you can continue to utilise system. But, if the tube is irreparable, you need to buy a whole new tube with battery and sensor.  

Sounds like an expensive hassle? We thought the same.  

And let’s be honest about what this actually solves. Most of us already know within a pedal stroke or two if something’s wrong with a tire — you just feel it. So, why would we swap out to system that has a battery inside your tube that will eventually die, that adds weight and costs way over a standard tube, and gives you one more thing to charge and pair before a ride?

Interesting engineering, sure. Necessary though? We remain to be convinced!  

One for the tech fanatics maybe! 

#CyclingTech #Tubolito #SmartTube