BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
RTi Sports, well known as an ergonomics and plastics expert, with brands Ergon, Terry, and Ca Go, has launched Aeron – a complete collection of TPU AirTubes.
Calling on more than 20 years of experience Aeron AirTubes are engineered by cycling enthusiasts and leading TPU specialists and offer a lighter, stronger, faster, and more sustainable solution than traditional butyl tubes.
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) offers significant performance advantages, including lower weight — approximately two-thirds lighter than butyl tubes — and reduced rolling resistance. Aeron also highlights that AirTubes have superior air retention, high puncture protection, and a smaller packed size for easy storage.
Whilst other brands have introduced TPU tubes to the market, RTi Sports points out that Aeron AirTubes promise improved reliability, achieved through a unique manufacturing procedure and quality control, making its offering strongly appealing for cyclists seeking reliability and sustainability.
Franc Arnold, founder of RTi Sports GmbH comments: “Aeron will bring about a new era in the bicycle tube segment and stamp the end for the old butyl tube. RTi Sports’ engineering and manufacturing prowess gives us a unique ability to bring this superior product to market.”
As a brand Aeron is uniquely positioned, concentrating all of its engineering efforts on only the TPU product space – making no compromises in its focus as a TPU pioneer. With improved size, weight, rolling resistance, and puncture protection, when compared to butyl – Aeron aims to take the bicycle tube to a new level.
The brand has tubes available in a variety of sizes, covering MTB, Road, Gravel and Urban bikes (with its City/Tour range), all made in Austria.
What is Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)?
Thermoplastics are plastics that deform when heated and solidify when they cool down. Due to its elasticity, TPU is often used as an impact modifier in products such as helmets, protective packaging, vibration-damping products and seals.
- TPU has long been used in manufacturing for the automotive, transport, aerospace, sports equipment and medical device industries.
- TPU combines the high durability of plastic parts with the elasticity of rubber, making it the ideal material for applications that require repeated bending or compression of parts.
- TPU also has excellent abrasion resistance and is therefore used in applications with high friction (e.g. interior components of vehicles) or for electrical cables and insulation.
