Noob question - puncture repairs

JoeSoap76
JoeSoap76 Posts: 109
edited June 2008 in Commuting chat
Hi,

Sorry - this is probably a daft question but..

Got my first puncture today in many, many years. It's been so long, in fact, that this was the first I had to fix myself instead of just taking the bike inside, handing it to a parent and finding something else to do instead.

So, the inside of the tyre has been checked for sharps, a new inner tube installed, inflated, back on the bike... happy with that (perhaps in ignorance?). But there's a small slit in the tyre where the puncture occured.

It's maybe 3-4mm long and barely visible (you'd have to know it was there).

Question is, should I be doing something about this? Is my tyre now a danger - or at least in danger of more punctures?

You know what would be nice? Some evening classes or a Saturday class in routine bicycle maintenance. Sure, I can read all the books telling me how to do it (and I've read quite a few) but there's still that doubt in my mind whether I'm doing it 'right'... and it seems that maintaining a vehicle on which I am often doing 30mph (downhill) is something I'd want to get right. I've got a persistent squeek from the left pedal and the front forks 'creak' on hot days. Would be really nice to just go along and have somebody tell me (without patronising me) whether these are actual problems or just the way bikes are when you stick 18+ stone on the saddle. And if they are problems, explain how to fix them.

*sigh* If wishes were ponies....

Comments

  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    It'll probably be OK as is. If the tube starts to pop out through the slit when it''s inflated, you may need to do something.
  • Clever Pun
    Clever Pun Posts: 6,778
    will3 wrote:
    It'll probably be OK as is. If the tube starts to pop out through the slit when it''s inflated, you may need to do something.
    fix the impending puncture I suspect
    Purveyor of sonic doom

    Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
    Fixed Pista- FCN 5
    Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
  • ChrisLS
    ChrisLS Posts: 2,749
    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... ct=c007789

    ...don't know if any of these are near you Joe?
    ...all the way...'til the wheels fall off and burn...
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    Could you put super glue or flexible crack filler from a hardware shop in a small gash?
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • JoeSoap76
    JoeSoap76 Posts: 109
    ChrisLS wrote:
    ...don't know if any of these are near you Joe?
    Think I could drag myself over to the (*spit* ;)) East Coast for these, yep. Thanks :D
  • Greg T
    Greg T Posts: 3,266
    SecretSam wrote:
    Could you put super glue or flexible crack filler from a hardware shop in a small gash?

    Gnurk

    If you have a 3mm cut through to the inner I'd suggest that you are going to have the inner tube extrude through it shortly and burst (with a big bang).

    I'd bite the bullet and get new tyres.
    Fixed gear for wet weather / hairy roadie for posing in the sun.

    What would Thora Hurd do?
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    I've had tyres with 1/2" cuts that've been repaired with cloth tape/gaffer tape. Went for miles.
  • JoeSoap76
    JoeSoap76 Posts: 109
    Greg T wrote:
    If you have a 3mm cut through to the inner I'd suggest that you are going to have the inner tube extrude through it shortly and burst (with a big bang).

    I'd bite the bullet and get new tyres.
    That's what I was worried somebody would say. Guess I'm making a trip to the LBS on Saturday.

    Oh - and a little tip that I learned this afternoon... after checking the inside of the tyre for sharps, check it again! Had already used my spare inner-tube this morning after the first puncture. Got all of 100 yards away from the office when the thing went down again with a might hiss. A more thorough inspection revealed a shard of glass that I really should have spotted the first time. So now I'm running with a patched tube and no spare until the weekend. Gagh! :oops:

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