Lessons learnt

jeannot18

Went out this morning, first time in a couple of weeks. Left the car park and about 1/2 miles down did a little jump from the curb, next thing I know, flat tyre at the back.
Ok this is my first puncture on the MTB, never had problem on the road bike with fixing puncture.
I decided to replace the tube and fix it later at home. First mistake, if you have a tube with Presta valve fitted a Schrader valve won't fit in :shock: . So I decided to fix the tube, trying to get the tyre out my cheap (crappy) tyre lever breaks (Thanks Aldi), with the remaining one I managed to get the tyre and tube out, it was a double pinch, one of them being too big to fix. Putting back the back wheel one took me over 15 mins (lack of practice i guess or just plainly don't know what I am doing). Anyway managed to put the tyre back and then it is the long way back to the car pushing the bike (as the sun comes through and reminding me what a great ride it could have been).
So what I have learnt this morning: Carry the right tube, buy some decent tools and practice when you can on how to do it.
JC

nicklouse

or learn how to use tools correctly. or learn it without the need for tools


yes the valve one is a pain.

nosnevets_semaj

Get plastic tyre levers. Metal scratch your wheels. And get a good pump. Small pumps are so hard to pump a tyre well. Especially road bikes when you need more pressure.

.blitz

nicklouse wrote:

or learn how to use tools correctly. or learn it without the need for tools

At night. In the rain.

d00m

Or drill your rims so that schraeder valves fit, that way you can use either type.

Anonymous

.blitz wrote:

nicklouse wrote:

or learn how to use tools correctly. or learn it without the need for tools

At night. In the rain.

Blindfolded, whilst under enemy fire

jeannot18

It could have been worse i guess, if I would have been 6 or 7 miles away from the car park...
JC

Northwind

Never carry a tool you can't use, it guarantees you'll need to use it

jeannot18

Received my tubes (10 of them, am I tempting fate??) and some new Park tyre levers (what a difference). Bike is up and running

JC

Thewaylander

I pray i don't get punctures on my front wheel :P

Can't get the bugger off with normal tyre levels unless there are 2 of us need to get some of those nice 8" long tyre levers

weekendwonder

I got fed up with tyre levers so now I don't use them, once you get the hang of removing tyres without them it's quick and easy.

Also, carry some small cable ties with you they are great for all kinds of repairs/holding your bike together!

I used a couple on a puncture and it lasted for a month before I got round to carrying a proper repair.

:-)

Anonymous

weekendwonder wrote:

I got fed up with tyre levers so now I don't use them, once you get the hang of removing tyres without them it's quick and easy.

Depending on your tyre/rim combination.

The Northern Monkey

yeehaamcgee wrote:

weekendwonder wrote:

I got fed up with tyre levers so now I don't use them, once you get the hang of removing tyres without them it's quick and easy.

Depending on your tyre/rim combination.

It took 3 of us and 8 tyre levers to peel a dmr moto tyre off some lads dj wheel when he had a puncture

nicklouse

yeehaamcgee wrote:

weekendwonder wrote:

I got fed up with tyre levers so now I don't use them, once you get the hang of removing tyres without them it's quick and easy.

Depending on your tyre/rim combination.

nope. not found one yet.

weekendwonder

Depending on your tyre/rim combination.

The trick is to use your teeth!

Works for me ;-)

lvquestpaddler

Long way back to the car? Thought you were half a mile in? 7.5 mins at a brisk 4mph..
I'd practice walking a bit further never mind maintenance if that's too far, our collie pup gets a hilly 6 miles a day!!!

lvquestpaddler

Or did you mean 1 "OR" 2 miles? still half hour tops- flatties and trail shoes jog it?

Oberdiah

weekendwonder wrote:

Also, carry some small cable ties with you they are great for all kinds of repairs/holding your bike together!

I used a couple on a puncture and it lasted for a month before I got round to carrying a proper repair.

:-)

Ok, I've re-read this a few times but forgive me if It's obvious. How the feck did you use cable ties to fix a puncture??

Anonymous

Oberdiah wrote:

weekendwonder wrote:

Also, carry some small cable ties with you they are great for all kinds of repairs/holding your bike together!

I used a couple on a puncture and it lasted for a month before I got round to carrying a proper repair.

:-)

Ok, I've re-read this a few times but forgive me if It's obvious. How the feck did you use cable ties to fix a puncture??

I guess it could work if you cut the tube where the puncture it, then fold the ends over, and use zip ties to hole it shut.
Same idea as tying a knot I guess.

Northwind

You can use them on a ripped tyre, maybe that's what he means?

pots74

Maybe obvious but perhaps check you have the correct tyre pressure? :?

weekendwonder

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Oberdiah wrote:

weekendwonder wrote:

Also, carry some small cable ties with you they are great for all kinds of repairs/holding your bike together!

I used a couple on a puncture and it lasted for a month before I got round to carrying a proper repair.

:-)

Ok, I've re-read this a few times but forgive me if It's obvious. How the feck did you use cable ties to fix a puncture??

I guess it could work if you cut the tube where the puncture it, then fold the ends over, and use zip ties to hole it shut.
Same idea as tying a knot I guess.

I found a small hole in my rear innertube, I placed a cable tie round either side of the innertube where the hole was and tightened, then pushed the innertube and cable tie back inside the tyre and inflated.

lasted for rest of my ride and a few more weeks until I carried out a full repair. Don't dismiss the power of the cable tie! :-)

Oberdiah

Never thought of that, nice bodging!

mac_man

That is a really neat trailside bodge. Like it. Would even work on a slashed inner tube... as long as was just a single cut in one position. Must remember to get some cable ties!

felix.london

had my first puncture (of my newly rediscovered mountain biking life) last week doing a downhill run on some rough gravel track. Obviously no spare or any tools with me. Found a little house and knocked on the door to see if they had a pump (had slime tubes in) - no luck so it was a 3km walk down some seriously steep terrain with bike sliding behind & in front of me back to the car

Lesson learned. Spare tube, puncture kit, some basic tools & a some first aid now come riding with me at all times. If the puncture had happened further up (2,500m!) I'd have been in trouble - too steep to go back up and a very long walk / slide down.

Will add cable ties to my little emergency pack...