Tubular repair hell

gabrielevans

I am in hell right now.
Flatted a very expensive Continental Competition tubular tire (latex inner tube) the other day, and at the same time realised I had no idea what to do. Standard phone call to a relative, begging to come and pick me up, ensued.

It's now a week later and the tubular hasn't mended itself. My main race of the season is in two weeks and all the online shops are helpfully sold out of Vittoria Pit Stop.

I am completely desperate, any help on repairing it would be much appreciated.
(I am competent with bikes but completely new to tubulars and have never used a sewing needle in my life.)

imposter2.0

Buy Cycling Weekly and look at the small ads - there are now a couple of people offering tubular repairs. Meanwhile, buy a new one, so you will at least have a spare - which if you are running tubs then you should have had anyway.

crankycrank

YouTube is your friend. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IqAX2Hvrks And this from Mr. Jobst Brandt http://sheldonbrown.com/brandt/tubular-repair.html

cycleclinic

for pit stop you may want to give me a bell. I have plenty. As for tubs always keep spares. I have three spare stretched and preglued tubs all folded up on my bikes ready as spares. On one bike I carry two spares tube and a tin of pit stop.
I need a bigger saddle bag or a tighter folding tub than the vittorio Pave for my other tubular bike.

I should start stocking tubs really given I use them. They can be repaired yourself but I have had good service from a chap in yorkshire. Do a google search for tubular repair and he comes up.

ugo.santalucia

If it's a small puncture (check with a pump) and Richmond is handy for you, bring it over and I'll fix it for you. I do fix basic punctures, but I don't have the material to do thread reinforcement if you have a large tear.
Otherwise there is a guy on ebay that does it for £16.
The man in Yorkshire mentioned earlier, Pete Burgin passed away a few months ago

sungod

fwiw i've found tufo extreme works better than pitstop, plenty in stock at wiggle

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tufo-extreme-tyre-sealant/

but unless it's only a small hole it'd be better to patch it, diy isn't difficult, or as above have someone do it (and maybe show you how)

Monty Dog

Agree on Tufo Extreme - used some on a brand new CX tub cut by glass leaving a 3mm cut. Needed a full bottle but its still going 2 years later. FWIW riding without a spare is a bit foolhardy.

StillGoing

Superglue and Tufo sealant.

smoggysteve

http://www.cycle-basar.de/Reifen-Schlaeuche/Zubehoer/Vittoria-Pit-Stop-Reifendichtmittel-75ml.html

http://www.cycle-basar.de/Reifen-Schlaeuche/Zubehoer/Tufo-Extreme-Sealant-Dichtgel-50-ml.html

http://www.cycle-basar.de/Reifen-Schlaeuche/Zubehoer/Vittoria-Pit-Stop-Race-TNT-Evo-Latex-Pannenfluessigkeit.html

Take your pick. All 3 are in stock and you would get it within the week. I got some of the Tufo Extreme a few months ago. Was delivered in 2 days. I know it costs a bit more to deliver to UK but at least you would get it before your race.

dennisn

gabrielevans wrote:

I am in hell right now.
Flatted a very expensive Continental Competition tubular tire (latex inner tube) the other day, and at the same time realised I had no idea what to do. Standard phone call to a relative, begging to come and pick me up, ensued.

It's now a week later and the tubular hasn't mended itself. My main race of the season is in two weeks and all the online shops are helpfully sold out of Vittoria Pit Stop.

I am completely desperate, any help on repairing it would be much appreciated.
(I am competent with bikes but completely new to tubulars and have never used a sewing needle in my life.)

FWIW your first mistake appear to be NOT carrying a spare.

Second mistake appears to be running race tires for training.

Third mistake appears to be owning only two tires and or unwilling to buy new ones.

Advice? Don't pay so much for tires and you won't be so distraught when you flat one.
Or man up and buy more tires. You can't make it with ony two tires, especially tubulars.
Search around and you'll likely find someone who repairs tubulars for a living.
AND CARRY A SPARE!!!!!

ugo.santalucia

Considering how much he seems to care about the advice given, he's probably not so desperate after all...

JackPozzi

If it's helpful to anyone, Steve Vaughan is doing tub repairs following the sad loss of Pete Burgin

Website here http://tubular-repairs.co.uk/

ugo.santalucia

JackPozzi wrote:

If it's helpful to anyone, Steve Vaughan is doing tub repairs following the sad loss of Pete Burgin

Website here http://tubular-repairs.co.uk/

Good to know, but Pete Burgin told me off in a note for having tried to repair a tub using exactly the same stitching pattern as Steve Vaughan shows on his website... I have since moved to a crossed pattern :shock:

sungod

that pic of the stitching is the one from the yellowjersey website, seems to have been, er, borrowed

http://www.yellowjersey.org/tubfix.html

+1 for crossed

gabrielevans

Thanks for all the replies guys, ordered some Tufo sealant which turned up in the post today and so far seems to be holding the pressure.

Pretty sure I've torn a section of the basetape while removing the tub, does anyone forsee any problems which could arise from this? It seems very secure but obviously wouldn't want it rolling off on a high speed corner.

I realise there are a lot of people who swear by tubulars, but to a junior on very limited funds they just seem too much of a hassle for arguably the same CRR as a top quality clincher

Many thanks again

dennisn

gabrielevans wrote:

I realise there are a lot of people who swear by tubulars, but to a junior on very limited funds they just seem too much of a hassle for arguably the same CRR as a top quality clincher

I think you've hit the nail right on the head there. So to speak.