first puncture

keef66

I know some people are superstitious about putting the word puncture in a post, but I'm not one of them. Yet.
I've spent just over a year on the bike now, and despite my fears about skinny tyres, have remained blissfully puncture-free until Sunday, when I suddenly found myself running on the rear rim.
I always go out equipped for such an eventuality, but I'd been dreading it because I'd read horror stories on here about how difficult it could be getting some tyres on and off some wheels. And tiny, undetectable sharp things puncturing the new tube, and of tubes being pinched and bursting on re-inflation.

Anyway, the experience turned out to be completely painless. I'd flatted just opposite a sunny village green, complete with bench, pond and ducks, and deviod of the asbo crowd who congregate there in the evenings. Tools out, bike upside down, brief spin of the rear wheel revealed a large thorn, no doubt the result of some enthusiastic hedge cutting. This pulled out cleanly, and nothing else was obvious from the outside.
Tyre came off with only brief use of one tyre lever, and the inside revealed nothing sharp on detailed examination. Pumping up the flat tube revealed only the one hole, so I felt confident fitting the spare tube. Bit of air in to help seat it in the tyre, then got the tyre back on easily using just my hands. Back up to 90 psi in a minute or so with the road morph pump. Celebratory fig roll and a couple of jelly babies, and off again into the afternoon sunshine.

I can't recommend enough the combination of 25mm Conti 4 seasons tyres, Shimano RS10 wheels, and the Road Morph pump with gauge.

And next time I'll remember before setting off again, that I'd shifted to the smallest sprocket in order to get the rear wheel out easily.

hopper1

You must alsao remember to repair the old tube, or buy another, before your next ride...

keef66

I have already fixed it! Wife accused me of bringing the bike inside when all I had was the tube, pump and repair kit.

This was the point I realised how old my patches are. The foil came off the sticky side OK, but once glued to the tube I couldn't get the paper backing off the patch without peeling up the feathered edges.

Anyone reccommend an esy-peel patch?

DVV

Rema Tip-Top. You crack the plastic backign down a perforated line and peel off.

keef66

Cheers! Sounds perfect.

(I'm also going to get another tube, just in case)

Headhuunter

If the feather edges are peeling when you pull the backing off a patch it usually means the rubber solution/glue wasn't dry enough before you whacked the patch on. I've had patches for years and years and they've been fine to use. You just have to make sure that after spreading the glue on the tube, you wait for about a minute or so before sticking the patch on. Rubber solution/glue needs a bit of time before it becomes tacky enough to stick the patch to.

balthazar

Well done. My one suggestion to you however, is that you don't turn the bike upside down to work on it. Your saddle, stem, brake levers, and trip computer will thank you for learning to remove and refit wheels without inverting the bike.

keef66

No harm done, all on spongy green grass. Computer safe as I still haven't bought one.

If I keep the bike the right way up, doesn't that mean the chain's dragging on the ground though??

balthazar

keef66 wrote:

No harm done, all on spongy green grass. Computer safe as I still haven't bought one.

If I keep the bike the right way up, doesn't that mean the chain's dragging on the ground though??

The chain can end up on the ground, unless you lay the wheel-less bike carefully on it's side. I usually look for a convenient tree branch or bush to hang the bike by its saddle, or find a bit of wood or road flotsam to sit the rear mech and chain on.

It's more a code of practice thing; working on an upside-down bike is a habit to get out of.

fishyweb

keef66 wrote:

This was the point I realised how old my patches are. The foil came off the sticky side OK, but once glued to the tube I couldn't get the paper backing off the patch without peeling up the feathered edges.

Is there a sound reason why the paper / plastic backing needs to be removed from the patch, once the patch has stuck to the tube?

In the past, I've left the backing on, to reduce the likelihood of any spots of rubber solution subsequently sticking to the inside of the tyre and to avoid peeling the patch off again if the solution was not quite set. Can't really think of a reason why doing this might be problematic, but I'd be interested in your pearls of wisdom.

keef66

I always assumed the patch needs to stretch with the tube when inflated and the paper might stop it doing so ??

markos1963

Not so lucky for me today, 3 punctures in 40 miles! On my single speed so had to undo track nuts and loosen off the rear mudguard. Only had one tube as well so had to repair puntures at the roadside, bugger!

keef66

Bugger indeed! Were the offending items like mine in any way connected with hedge trimming?

markos1963

Mainly the remains of thousands of horse chestnuts and acorns!

keef66

You need to have a pig trotting along in front of you at this time of year then!

markos1963

keef66 wrote:

You need to have a pig trotting along in front of you at this time of year then!

instead of the one riding it!

hopper1

markos1963 wrote:

keef66 wrote:

You need to have a pig trotting along in front of you at this time of year then!

instead of the one riding it!

In this wind, I'd be lucky to keep up with the pig!

keef66

And keep some charcoal and barbecue sauce in your jersey pocket for emergencies!

Jynxman

Well, although haven't ever had a puncture on my new bike of 3 months I had the unfortunate problem of popping the valve when pumping it up the other day! Like you, I hadn't needed to change the inner tubes before. So, like with my old bike, I set to work. Levers in and hopefully with just a little pressue the wire would simply pop out. But no! .. a bit more preassure and ... Snap!!! half a tyre lever in my hand. A bit of easing and stuff and using tyre lever 2 and 3 together just managed to get the wire out with a lot of pressure. Thought I would damage the rim but luckily not. Then the dreaded problem of valve length! my new rims were deeper than my old ones and the new tube valve was too short *sob*. So off I walked to the LBS half a mile away with bike in one hand and whell in the other, and obtained 2 long valve tubes ... Phew!

Now for getting the tyre back on. Inner tube in, bit of air, give the tyre a wiggle and .. no way jose! that tyre just didn't want to go. So let's hope no one is looking as I bring out the levers to try to force it on... nope, not gonna work. *sob again* Luckily but embarassingly the bike shop man was watching and came to my rescue, made me look like a right plum but wiggling it a bit more than me around the rim and edging it over with his thumbs! It felt a bit like when your gran opens the jam jar lid you just can't get off. So I pumped it up and POP!!! .... back into shop I go with a blown valve!

keef66

That's just the kind of story I'd been reading!