TalcTube is an item you'll want to carry when your bike has tube-type tires. 

When you're mounting tubed tires or making tube repairs, it's important to "lubricate" the tube so it easily slips into place inside the tire carcass.  Fit the tube without any lube you'll take one small step forward, but you'll eventually take two large steps back.  Without lube the the tube can develop a fold or a crease, which leads to a pinch, which eventually leads to a hot spot and a tube failure.  

Some riders use corn starch, baking soda, flour, or other powdery compounds when they lube their tubes, but those substitutes aren't good for the rubber because they attract and hold moisture. They get gummy, form hard crusts, and can actually damage your inner tubes.   

So how do you "lube" a tube?  One word: TALC, which is short for talcum powder.  Talc is the naturally occurring mineral magnesium silicate. Talc acts as an inert and slippery lubricant between the rubber of the inside of the tire, and the rubber of the tube itself.  Sprinkle some talc on the tube and it will happily slip into proper alignment as you inflate the tire.  No creases, no pinches, no problems.

 

Talc can be found in many cosmetics and some body powders.  Some riders carry a small shaker of sweetly scented talcum powder for the sole purpose of "lubing their tubes".  We have a slightly different approach.

TalcTube is a piece of 1/2" x 12" tygon tubing that holds about a half an ounce of industrial grade talcum powder.  That's enough for about 2 inner tubes because a little goes a long way.  Pop off one end of the TalcTube, sprinkle some talc and spread it around, then fit the inner tube inside the tire.  Easy peasy.

TalcTube fits in your TireIron BeadBrakR pouch, in your tankbag, or under the seat.  It's waterproof so you can forget about it until you need it.  When you do it's worth it's weight in gold.  In this photo you can see how we zip-tied the TalcTube to the frame.  It's there when we need it.