Cracking the Mystery of My Fat Tire E-Bike Tube
I’ve always been a fan of two wheels and a good breeze. From the banana seat bike of my childhood to the BMX that bore every skid mark on the driveway, bikes weren’t just toys—they were freedom on wheels. Graduation brought me my first 10-speed, and I haven’t looked back since.
Now, I’ll admit—I’m no Lycra-wearing, Tour de France hopeful. My pace is more “Sunday cruise” than “suburban speed racer.” But cycling has always been my escape. It clears my mind, gets the blood moving, and reminds me that life’s problems shrink a little after a good pedal.
Even when my daughter was little, she’d ride up front, and together we’d explore the trails in Grimsby—winding through vineyards, breathing in fresh escarpment air. It’s these memories that kept me riding, even after two knee surgeries (meniscus and ACL—because why stop at one, right?).
The E-Bike Era
Enter the E-bike. A little boost for the legs, a whole lot of joy for the soul. With my “athletic dad bod” putting a bit more pressure on those spokes (hey, honesty counts), I decided to upgrade to a fat tire bike for better support. And that’s where the real journey began.
My new ride? The Daymak Wild Goose 60V—a solid e-bike with chunky tires and just enough power to make Hamilton’s hills feel like flat roads. It’s been a game-changer.
On a beautiful ride through Hamilton’s trails, something sharp—probably nature’s version of a thumbtack—took my back tire down. Flat as a pancake. No problem, right? Just replace the tube.
That’s when I met my match: the tire size.
Decoding the Mystery: 100/90–22
Stamped on the side of the tire: 100/90–22.
So, I did what any logical Canadian does—I googled it. What I found? Confusion. Motorcycle tire specs. Forum debates. No clear answer.
I called Daymak, who were great and redirected me to their Electric Bike Depot team—also fantastic support. I was told: “It’s an odd size, probably pricey, check your local bike shop.”
So I did. Actually, I checked ten. Every call went something like:
Me: “Hi, do you carry a 100/90–22 inner tube?”
Them: “Uhh… is that a motorcycle? What kind of bike is this?”
Me: “An electric fat tire bike.”
Them: “Sorry, can’t help ya.”
Even AI didn’t save me this time (thanks for nothing, ChatGPT & Gemini). Nothing online gave me a solid answer.
Finally, Bike Hounds to the Rescue
I took the tire down to Bike Hounds in Hamilton. These guys? Legends.
The mechanic scratched his head at the 100/90–22 marking but didn’t give up. After some investigative work and a few eureka moments, he cracked the code:
100/90–22 = 26 x 4”
Turns out, the metric tire size I was quoting was just the European way of saying 26-inch diameter by 4-inch wide—your standard fat tire bike size. In Canada, that’s what you need to say.
Once we knew that, finding the inner tube became easy. Any shop worth its air pump carries 26×4 tubes, even Canadian Tire. But I’m telling you now—just skip the hassle and head straight to Bike Hounds. They care. They get it. They dig in when others don’t.
TL;DR: What Tire Tube Do You Need for a 100/90–22 Tire?
- 100/90–22 is the metric equivalent of 26×4 inches
- Search for “26×4 bike tube” or “fat tire bike tube”
- Available at most Canadian bike shops or online
- Best place in Hamilton? Bike Hounds
MOVING ON.
Cycling is personal. It’s not about speed or style—it’s about joy. And when your joy gets a flat, you just want answers. So if you’re stuck with a 100/90–22 tire and no idea what to do, now you know: You’re riding on a 26×4. And now, you know where to go.
Thanks again to Bike Hounds. And to all the heavy-duty riders, e-bikers, dad-bod cyclists, and weekend warriors—ride on.