How Tube King Started

Tube King started from something we all know all too well: the pain of a puncture.

At the time, getting a bike tube quickly usually meant a trip to the local bike shop. It was great for convenience, but the price often seemed high, especially when I'd rather spend my money on upgrades or adventures. And that's assuming they had the right size or type of tube in stock. Otherwise, it was a case of ordering online or through specialist mail order and waiting days for it to arrive.

As every cyclist knows, when you want to ride, a day can feel like a week.

The idea behind what would eventually become Tube King started in the late 2000s, after one too many frustrating experiences trying to find the right inner tube quickly and at a reasonable price. In January 2010, the business was formally established, and I began experimenting with ways to make buying bicycle inner tubes easier, faster and more convenient.

My goal was simple: to bring together the best of all worlds — the tubes you need, delivered when you need them, at a price that represents great value.

I set about building a comprehensive range of inner tubes with detailed specifications to help cyclists find exactly what they were looking for. I made fast shipping a priority and pushed same-day dispatch as late as possible to get orders moving quickly.

In 2018, Tube King was launched as a dedicated specialist bicycle tube retailer, building on years of experience helping cyclists find the right products quickly and conveniently.

And then I decided to take things one step further.

The Story Behind Our Letterbox Inner Tubes

Back in 2010, I started experimenting with letterbox-friendly inner tube packaging.

Even if I could bring together the right product, the right price and fast delivery, there was still one advantage that local bike shops had over online retailers: convenience. Parcel delivery networks were very different back then, and missed deliveries were a common frustration.

I wanted to create a way for cyclists to receive their tubes without needing to be at home.

By developing letterbox-friendly packaging, customers no longer had to worry about coming home to a "Sorry we missed you" card or making a trip to a collection depot. Whether you needed a single BMX tube or a pack of MTB tubes, your order could be waiting for you when you got home.

Thousands of Tubes Later: Tube King Today

Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to help thousands of cyclists keep moving, but for me, everything still comes back to the same fundamentals.

Whether you're dealing with your first puncture, upgrading your setup, or stocking up for your next adventure, I aim to provide both the products and the advice you need.

Today, Tube King offers:

• A huge range of bicycle inner tubes and tyres
• Masses of sizes, types and specifications to fit lots of bike types
• A Bike Tube Finder to help you find the right tube
• Same-day dispatch on eligible orders*
• Fast shipping options
• 90-day returns
• A comprehensive knowledge base

My approach has always been simple, but it's the experience gained over many years that has helped me refine what I do and provide genuine value to cyclists.

Every day, I strive to offer the products you want, delivered when you need them, and at a price that represents great value. It sounds simple, but it's taken years of experience and continuous improvement to get right.

I know how important it is to keep you moving. I don't just want to sell you a tube — I want Tube King to support you throughout your cycling journey, from your first bike to your latest adventure.

Please feel free to have a look around. If you can't find what you're looking for or need some advice, get in touch — I'd love to hear from you.

Tube King — here for the cyclists.