Fixing a tire

Brad who? said:

Recently I picked up a nice set of Conti Grand Prix 3000 tires and I've already got a slash in
one. The slash doesn't go all the way through the tire, it looks to stop before the inner threads
but does go through the outer silica/rubber tread.

Quoted message said:

Is there any SAFE way to repair this? I the tire wasn't bulging or anything but the slash was at
least 3/4 an inch long so it made me nervous.

Your description doesn't make clear whether the slash is only in the tread or whether it goes into
the casing (structural fabric of the tire). If it is only in the tread rubber, you can fill that
with stuff called Shoe Goo (shoegoo.co.jpenOpen ↗).

Quoted message said:

One more reason to stick with cheap tires....

That is the negative approach. Most of us do well with high quality lightweight tires. How about
watching the road more carefully while riding. Consider that most bicyclists don't have your problem
and for those that do, it's a rare occurrence.

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

(Brad) may have said:

Howdy all,

Recently I picked up a nice set of Conti Grand Prix 3000 tires and I've already got a slash in one.
The slash doesn't go all the way through the tire, it looks to stop before the inner threads but
does go through the outter silica/rubber tread.

Is there any SAFE way to repair this? I the tire wasn't bulding or anything but the slash was at
least 3/4 an inch long so it made me nervous.

My approach: If you can see the cut ends of any cords or threads, a cut this long is probably
grounds to chuck the tire. If the cords or fabric plies are not cut but are exposed, filling the
gash with Shoe Goo (as Jobst Brandt suggests) may help to keep the plies from being abraded by road
crud. If the plies are not exposed, just keep riding...and watch the debris a little more closely.

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[email hidden] wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Your description doesn't make clear whether the slash is only in the tread or whether it goes into
the casing (structural fabric of the tire). If it is only in the tread rubber, you can fill that
with stuff called Shoe Goo (shoegoo.co.jpenOpen ↗).

Hmmm, maybe I will take a quick photo when I get home. The slash does not look to have gone into the
fabric. I know they sell Shoe Goo locally so maybe I'll try it out.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

One more reason to stick with cheap tires....

That is the negative approach. Most of us do well with high quality lightweight tires. How about
watching the road more carefully while riding. Consider that most bicyclists don't have your
problem and for those that do, it's a rare occurrence.

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

Haha, there is so much [censored] on the roads around here that you are bound to hit something now and
again. This is especially true when riding in a pace line where you can't see the road ahead. Most
bicyclists I know locally don't train on expensive tires because you will eventually hit a patch of
glass or road debris.

Brad said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

One more reason to stick with cheap tires....

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That is the negative approach. Most of us do well with high quality lightweight tires. How about
watching the road more carefully while riding. Consider that most bicyclists don't have your
problem and for those that do, it's a rare occurrence.

Quoted message said:

Haha, there is so much [censored] on the roads around here that you are bound to hit something now and
again. This is especially true when riding in a pace line where you can't see the road ahead. Most
bicyclists I know locally don't train on expensive tires because you will eventually hit a patch
of glass or road debris.

That's the excuse most people who get many flats give, "our roads are so full of ..." Meanwhile,
with what sort of jerks do you ride that lead a pace line into hazardous debris? In my club, guys
who do that are asked not to ride with us.

Learn how to avoid glass and thorns and get some good tires.

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

Brad <[email hidden]> wrote:

: One more reason to stick with cheap tires....

There are plenty of quality tires at a cheap price. You just have to look around. IRC Duro road tire
is very tough and priced around 12-14 dollars at nashbar.

Those expensive tires are more delicate in my opinion.

--------------------------------
Bob Masse' [email hidden]
--------------------------------

I don't know about the roads where Brad lives, I only know about the roads where I live.

Here's a situation for you. I'm riding in to work, riding up the nice wide shoulder of HY 516 close
to Seattle. Up ahead I see that some cretin has launched a 50 gal aquarium out of their pickup
(alright, I don't KNOW it was a pickup) and onto the shoulder. Should I:

A) Turn around and go home.
B) Think "Here we go again. Two weeks ago it was a TV. When there are a million pieces of glass you
can't miss them all. Even with these Turbo Armadillos, I may get a flat. Oh well, I'll try to
miss the worst of it ..."

I consistently choose "B". A couple times a year I get a flat anyway. That's life. I try to minimize
the risk by commuting on tires that'll handle abuse.

I've got nicer bikes with softer tires, but I generally wont ride through risky areas on them.
I'd feel skittish about riding up HWY 516 with Conti GP 3000s. Mostly because I wouldn't want to
ruin them.

Avoidance is not always an option.

Quoted message said:

Brad <[email hidden]> wrote:

: One more reason to stick with cheap tires....

There are plenty of quality tires at a cheap price. You just have to look around. IRC Duro road
tire is very tough and priced around 12-14 dollars at nashbar.

Those expensive tires are more delicate in my opinion.

I second that endorsement. I rode IRC Durros all winter 2 years ago through all sorts of [censored]
without a single flat. They're awful good. And the ride quality achieves mediocrity.

Tim Lines said:

I don't know about the roads where Brad lives, I only know about the roads where I live.

Here's a situation for you. I'm riding in to work, riding up the nice wide shoulder of HY 516
close to Seattle. Up ahead I see that some cretin has launched a 50 gal aquarium out of their
pickup (alright, I don't KNOW it was a pickup) and onto the shoulder. Should I:

A) Turn around and go home.
B) Think "Here we go again. Two weeks ago it was a TV. When there are a million pieces of glass
you can't miss them all. Even with these Turbo Armadillos, I may get a flat. Oh well, I'll try
to miss the worst of it ..."

I consistently choose "B". A couple times a year I get a flat anyway. That's life. I try to
minimize the risk by commuting on tires that'll handle abuse.

I've got nicer bikes with softer tires, but I generally wont ride through risky areas on them.
I'd feel skittish about riding up HWY 516 with Conti GP 3000s. Mostly because I wouldn't want to
ruin them.

Avoidance is not always an option.

I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass in front of me, I stop
and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.

--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

Per Elmsäter said:

I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass in front of me, I
stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.

Good answer! If it works for you...

Tim Lines said:

Quoted message said:

I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass in front of me, I
stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.

Quoted message said:

Good answer! If it works for you...

Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders aware of road hazards. You do as if
this is a doubtful or ineffective method. Could you explain on your perception more clearly?

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

Quoted message said:

Tim Lines said:

Quoted message said:

I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass in front of me, I
stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.

Quoted message said:

Good answer! If it works for you...

Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders aware of road hazards. You do as
if this is a doubtful or ineffective method. Could you explain on your perception more clearly?

Hmmm ... when I said "Good answer" what I actually meant was "Good answer". I don't understand
what's doubtful there.

I think if he's got an answer that works for him, that's great. I don't feel any particular need to
shove MY OWN PERSONAL FAVORITE answer down his throat and convince him of THE ONE TRUE WAY THAT MUST
BE ADHERED TO IN EVERY SITUATION.

So, I think Per is OK. He says he runs over glass ocassionally, just like everyone else does,
because he's not perfect. But he does the best he can. Good for him!

You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike around over your shoulder
all the time.

Quoted message said:

You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike around over your shoulder
all the time.

lol!

Tim Lines said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass in front of me, I
> stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.
Good answer! If it works for you...

Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders aware of road hazards. You do as
if this is a doubtful or ineffective method. Could you explain on your perception more clearly?

Quoted message said:

You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike around over your shoulder
all the time.

Does nobody just...ride AROUND the hazard?

--
Rick Onanian

Rick Onanian said:

Tim Lines said:

Quoted message said:

>> I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass in front of me, I
>> stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.
> Good answer! If it works for you...
Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders aware of road hazards. You do as
if this is a doubtful or ineffective method. Could you explain on your perception more clearly?

Quoted message said:

You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike around over your
shoulder all the time.

Does nobody just...ride AROUND the hazard?

I'm sure we all do whenever possible.
--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

"Rick Onanian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tim Lines said:

Quoted message said:

>> I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass in front of me,
>> I stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.
> Good answer! If it works for you...
Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders aware of road hazards. You do
as if this is a doubtful or ineffective method. Could you explain on your perception more
clearly?

Quoted message said:

You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike around over your
shoulder all the time.

Does nobody just...ride AROUND the hazard?

Yep. Getting off and carrying my bike is just too impratical to contemplate especially when you live
in London like I do. I'd be getting off every couple of km!!

Craig.

Rick Onanian said:

Tim Lines said:

Quoted message said:

>> I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass in front of me, I
>> stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.
>
> Good answer! If it works for you...

Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders aware of road hazards. You do as
if this is a doubtful or ineffective method. Could you explain on your perception more clearly?

Quoted message said:

You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike around over your
shoulder all the time.

Does nobody just...ride AROUND the hazard?

It depends. Let he who is without flats throw the first scone.

"Tim Lines" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:c%v%a.132274$Oz4.26598@rwcrnsc54...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Tim Lines said:

>I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass in front of me, I
>stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.

Quoted message said:

Good answer! If it works for you...

Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders aware of road hazards. You do as
if this is a doubtful or ineffective method. Could you explain on your perception more clearly?

Hmmm ... when I said "Good answer" what I actually meant was "Good answer". I don't understand
what's doubtful there.

I think if he's got an answer that works for him, that's great. I don't feel any particular need
to shove MY OWN PERSONAL FAVORITE answer down his throat and convince him of THE ONE TRUE WAY THAT
MUST BE ADHERED TO IN EVERY SITUATION.

So, I think Per is OK. He says he runs over glass ocassionally, just like everyone else does,
because he's not perfect. But he does the best he can. Good for him!

You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike around over your shoulder
all the time.

Why the shouting, Tim? Get a grip, man!

--
Robin Hubert <[email hidden]

Craig.' may have said:

"Rick Onanian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tim Lines said:

>>> I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass in front of me,
>>> I stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.
>> Good answer! If it works for you...
> Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders aware of road hazards. You do
> as if this is a doubtful or ineffective method. Could you explain on your perception more
> clearly?

Quoted message said:

You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike around over your
shoulder all the time.

Does nobody just...ride AROUND the hazard?

Yep. Getting off and carrying my bike is just too impratical to contemplate especially when you
live in London like I do. I'd be getting off every couple of km!!

Here it would be every other opossum.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

John Albergo may have said:

Rick Onanian said:

Tim Lines said:

>>> I don't understand your problem. Whenever I can clearly see an area of glass in front of me,
>>> I stop and walk across with my bike slung over my shoulder.
>>
>> Good answer! If it works for you...
>
> Oh! How wouldn't that work? This is the usual method for riders aware of road hazards. You do
> as if this is a doubtful or ineffective method. Could you explain on your perception more
> clearly?

Quoted message said:

You're probably OK too when you're not so cranky from carrying your bike around over your
shoulder all the time.

Does nobody just...ride AROUND the hazard?

It depends. Let he who is without flats throw the first scone.

Now, now, let's not start hauling out the ethnic dwarven weaponry just yet.

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My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.