Tag: bike tubes
Recycle all those old tires and tubes
by Bob_Thompson on Jun.16, 2010, under Guestbook
I’ve got all sorts of old patched tubes. I don’t like throwing out punctured tubes. It seems a waste even if I know they are toast as far as biking goes.
If I were in India, Laos or Vietnam I would give them away and they all would be used for something. An old bike tube is the bungee cord of choice in Vietnam and Laos. In India I have seen old tubes converted into wheel liners. In Burma, a lady patiently waited in the sun for 20 minutes for an old tube she knew that I would toss.
You could make them into something. I bought a cool case for my iPhone made out of old tubes. And I know Julie S told me she used an old tube as weatherstripping for her chicken coop. However, I don’t have the talent or inclination to make anything very cool and I don’t have any chickens. The only thing I have used the tubes for is to cut them into rubber bands. For that purpose though, one tube might last you a lifetime.
I have the solution now though: recycle them. Apparently you will soon be able to drop your old tubes and tires off at some designated Performance Bike stores and they will be recycled into rubberized asphalt or something similar by Liberty Tire Recycling. That’s good by me.
None of the designated stores is very convenient, but I’m going to find a way.
I hope you do too.
Here is the info:
And, while I am at it, here are some cool ideas for re-use.
How about a bike tire belt?
A tube could make decent suspenders too!
How about a bike tire chair:
Make sure all thorns removed!
If you have a sewing machine, you could also make yourself a wallet:
http://www.instructables.com/id/bike-innertube-wallet/
Too bad Guchi (sic) doesn't make tubes....
