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Permalink Reply by Joe on March 2, 2009 at 10:57am

If it's local your supplyer should be able to suggest the right connector. I use the same tubing for the connector, just cut a small section, 2" or 3" and cut it lenghtwise and it should fit inside with a little persuation. Using this meathod you don't have that flat spot that you have with connectors and it doesn't add much extra weight, I might put a stapple in it but when you tape it nothing is going to move, hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by Joe on March 2, 2009 at 7:27pm

I just posted a few pictures on how to connect a hoop with scrap tubing! Check it out

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Permalink Reply by Amy Irish on March 2, 2009 at 7:46pm

Cool thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Mad Maxine on March 3, 2009 at 8:02am

Joe, you rock!

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Permalink Reply by Joe on March 5, 2009 at 5:50am

Thanx Mad Maxine,
I was riding my mountain bike the other day in the cold(about10F) and took a picture and put on the caption, Mad Max, as I had all my downhill ski clothes and gogles on!

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Permalink Reply by Mad Maxine on March 5, 2009 at 7:56am

niiice! A friend of mine from Minnesota used to make his own studded bike mountain tires using screws and duct tape. He'd ride all year 'round. You guys are nuts, but more power to you.
:D

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Permalink Reply by Mad Maxine on March 3, 2009 at 8:02am

If you buy standard connectors, try to get the ones with the beefiest barbs (ridges) you can get, that have the smallest center rings (the little ridge between both halves). The bigger the barbs, the harder the connector is to cram in the tube, but the results are better. I've used cheaper connectors with smaller barbs, and they don't stay in well.

I've also seen connectors that don't have a ring in the middle. Instead, they have a series of knobs. I suppose these could be filed off, but it doesn't seem practical.

You can heat the hoop tubing in boiling water for 10 to 20 seconds before cramming in the connector to save your hands.

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Permalink Reply by Amy Irish on March 3, 2009 at 9:22am

Thanks for the tips :)

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Permalink Reply by l "lady lamb" to the inz on March 5, 2009 at 11:40am

if you have a lowes in your community you can get the coupling in the plumbing section. depends on what size your tubing is prolly 3/4 size they are plastic grey looking things lol you may want to take a piece of your tubing in so you can match it up

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Permalink Reply by Crazy Tina on March 26, 2009 at 5:54am

Yes. My Lowes carries the black tubing outside with the garden stuff and the connectors are on a shelf right above the tubing.

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