And with a much smaller volume, the US team felt it was worthwhile to fill their bicycle tires with helium for the track events at the 1984 Olympics.barryh wrote:I like a challenge.khittner1 wrote: So here's what I want to know: Do we have any detailed comparisons of compressed air vs. nitrogen in tubed or tubeless tires run on Morris rims? Any "creative adapters/technological advancers and developers" with data on using helium (or for the real cutting-edge daredevils, hydrogen) to reduce an airhead's unsprung weight and improve its handling?
Volume of the tube approx. 0.5 Cu ft
Air weighs 0.085 lbs/Cu ft at atmospheric pressure
That's 0.04275 lbs
or approx 0.1 lb at 36psi
Hydrogen being 14 times lighter than air would weigh approx. 0.12 oz
You'd save approx. 1.5 oz or 40 grams per wheel using Hydrogen followed shortly after by another few grams when the hydrogen had leaked out through the tube.
One more thing on the latex tube deal--they need daily topping up in the bicycle application.