tire levers & slime

Random User said:

Hello,

I am frustrated by flat tires and struggling to mount tires on (narrow)
rims. I
am wondering if the following fancier tire levers will help:

1 the Park Tool TL-10,
2 the Kool Stop Bead Jack,
3 the Crank Brothers Speed Lever, and
4 the Quick Stick.

Another question. Do tubes made by Slime work well in minimizing
punctures?

TIA.

-Mike

I can only speak to #4. The Quik Stik is great for mountain bike
wheels, but well-nigh impossible to use on narrow road wheels. The head
is just too big to fit between a tight bead and the seat of the rim.
Once you do finagle the head under the bead, excessive pressure will
tear the head right off.

The Crank Bros. lever looks cool and seems to be smartly designed, but
I haven't used it.

Best tire levers I can recommend are the cheap Dutch-made "Sport"
levers, the black ones in the red slide case, marketed in the US by
Kool-Stop. Use them in a set - get one under the bead but don't try to
flip it over. Once you have the second one under the bead, flip them
both over together and clip one to the spokes, and slide the other one
around the wheel. Works every time for me, on the tightest beads I've
encountered.

Although I would be interested to try the Soma steel core levers...

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Random User said:

Hello,

I am frustrated by flat tires and struggling to mount tires on (narrow)
rims. I
am wondering if the following fancier tire levers will help:

1 the Park Tool TL-10,
2 the Kool Stop Bead Jack,
3 the Crank Brothers Speed Lever, and
4 the Quick Stick.

Another question. Do tubes made by Slime work well in minimizing
punctures?

No.

--
Michael Press

Random User said:

Hello,

I am frustrated by flat tires and struggling to mount tires on (narrow)
rims. I
am wondering if the following fancier tire levers will help:

1 the Park Tool TL-10,
2 the Kool Stop Bead Jack,
3 the Crank Brothers Speed Lever, and
4 the Quick Stick.

Another question. Do tubes made by Slime work well in minimizing
punctures?

TIA.

-Mike

Dear Mike,

You'll get a good deal of mixed advice about the levers and
the Slime tubes.

Concerning tire levers, I find that it's easier to use my
hands, but my rim and tire combination may be looser.
Sometimes it helps people to go over the details of the
process, since it's next to impossible to remove a tire the
wrong way.

Recently, Tim McNamara, Paul Kassel, Peter Creswell, and
Ozark Bicycle all praised the Crank Bros. lever on RBT, and
Simon Brooke said that he even gave it to friends as a gift
on a recumbent newsgroup.

Concerning Slime tubes . . .

If you carry a small paper clip hooked through your tool bag
zipper to help poke stubborn thorns out of your tires
because the metal tongue on a watch-band is too clumsy, then
Slime tubes are worth trying.

But unless you're pulling goathead thorns out of your tires
fairly often, I doubt that Slime tubes will help. They've
worked well for me on pinhole punctures, but not for larger
rock-chip cuts.

It's annoying when a little green Slime sprays out with a
dramatic whoosh-whoosh-whoosh through a larger hole, but it
seems worthwhile when I pull a tube out and find a few wisps
of those tiny white fibers sticking out innocently, here and
there, plugging several pinholes that may have been there
for a dozen rides.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

In article <[email hidden]>,

Random User () said:

Hello,

I am frustrated by flat tires and struggling to mount tires on (narrow)
rims. I
am wondering if the following fancier tire levers will help:

1 the Park Tool TL-10,

Haven't seen one of those before, but as they say "Not a take-along tire
lever, the TL-10 is a heavy-duty tire tool designed for use in the
shop" it's of limited use when the P+nct+r+ Fairy strikes in the middle
of the night.

Quoted message said:

3 the Crank Brothers Speed Lever, and

Had one. It broke. Not impressed.

I've recently acquired one of these:

<URL:http://www.bikeplus.co.uk/graphics/var%20Tool.th.jpg>

as the Schwalbe Marathon Slick / Alex DV15 combo on my trike are the
most recalcitrant tyres to fit that I have ever encountered.
Fortunately I haven't yet been obliged to use it.

Quoted message said:

Another question. Do tubes made by Slime work well in minimizing
punctures?

I Slimed the trike's tubes back in January and have not had to fix a
p+nct+r+ since. And the green goop has definitely sealed at least one.
With Schwalbe Presta valves, the core is removable, so
one isn't tied to Slime's own-brand.

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger
Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger Badger

Dave Larrington said:

Had one. It broke. Not impressed.

I've recently acquired one of these:

<URL:http://www.bikeplus.co.uk/graphics/var%20Tool.th.jpg>

That tool is great.

Quoted message said:

as the Schwalbe Marathon Slick / Alex DV15 combo on my trike are the
most recalcitrant tyres to fit that I have ever encountered.

I read on a website selling the Schwalbe Marathon that they get a
little looser after being on a rim for awhile. Have you noticed that?

JT

****************************
Remove "remove" to reply
Visit http://www.jt10000.com
****************************

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

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I am frustrated by flat tires and struggling to mount tires on (narrow)
rims. I
am wondering if the following fancier tire levers will help:

1 the Park Tool TL-10,
2 the Kool Stop Bead Jack,
3 the Crank Brothers Speed Lever, and
4 the Quick Stick.

Another question. Do tubes made by Slime work well in minimizing
punctures?

TIA.

-Mike

I think when I first started pulling or putting tires on my wheels, it was
harder than I thought. But after a while it got a lot easier.
There is probably something in your technique that is missing, needed or not
being done per se.
But I don't know what you might be doing or not doing.
Later it will become a lot easier. Heck for some tire rim combinations you
don't even need tire levers.
I had to put new700c32 tires on my commuter bike this last Sunday, and I
didn't even need to use levers. But I discovered that one of the front brake
arm springs had broken, so i had to jury rig it until I can get a new set of
front brakes for the commuter bike. But that is another story.

Anyway, Slime sort of maybe works. Basically if you ride on lower pressure
tires and live in a area where there are lots of thorns or goatheads, it
does make it work like you have a slow leak, so you can just pump up the
tire more often. So it works on little tiny holes, not big ones, and it
doesn't work well at all under high pressures, say over 50psi. The next
major problem is they use something like ethyline Glycol (antifreeze stuff)
as a solvent for the SLIME like stuff. The solvent dissolves the glue used
to hold on patches if you can even get the patch to stick on to where the
slime was oozing out of the tube. Thus patches don't work on tubes with
Slime in them.

If you ride in a area where you have a severe goathead problem or lots of
glass, sharp debris and such things, it may be worth it to consider the
airless tubes, or AirFree Tires instead. These are solid tubes and or tires
that cannot go flat from punctures. they have their own disadvantages, but
in such conditions the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

In article <[email hidden]>, John Forrest

Tomlinson () said:

I read on a website selling the Schwalbe Marathon that they get a
little looser after being on a rim for awhile. Have you noticed that?

The previous set got to the stage where I could /just/ get the rear one
back on by hand, but the right one continued to need persuasion until
the day it died. The left was unvisited by the P+nct+r+ Fairy for the
duration of its career.

On the current set; one p+nct+r+ after ~400 km and no call to remove any
of them since (~1500 km since then).

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
Three blind mice, see how they run. Is this /really/ the best way to
test shampoo?

John Forrest Tomlinson said:

Dave Larrington said:

Had one. It broke. Not impressed.

I've recently acquired one of these:

<URL:http://www.bikeplus.co.uk/graphics/var%20Tool.th.jpg>

That tool is great.

Second that. I've been running an incredibly tight Michelin tire &
Campy rim combination for some years, but the Var tool works every time.
If you have a problem with it flexing on you, grip the sides together
while levering.

Mark

On 24 Apr 2006 21:11:46 -0700, "Random User" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I am frustrated by flat tires and struggling to mount tires on (narrow)
rims. I
am wondering if the following fancier tire levers will help:

1 the Park Tool TL-10,
2 the Kool Stop Bead Jack,
3 the Crank Brothers Speed Lever, and
4 the Quick Stick.

Another question. Do tubes made by Slime work well in minimizing
punctures?

I've tried the Crank Bros Speed lever; it works well for me,
particularly if the tire bead it wet.

Slime-equipped tubes get punctured just as easily and often as any
other; they just mask many of the punctures via the sealant. If what
you seek to avoid is flats, then Slimed tubes can help, but be aware
that they can be a challenge to reinflate; sometimes the fibers in the
Slime will foul the valve.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Earl Bollinger said:

If you ride in a area where you have a severe goathead problem or lots of
glass, sharp debris and such things, it may be worth it to consider the
airless tubes, or AirFree Tires instead. These are solid tubes and or tires
that cannot go flat from punctures. they have their own disadvantages, but
in such conditions the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Sometimes, for some people; your mileage may vary. (I have it on
personal reference from one who lives in such an area that in his
opinion, the hassles he encountered with the foam tube replacements
made fixing flats seem like a positively enjoyable experience.)
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

In article <[email hidden]>, Werehatrack

() said:

Earl Bollinger said:

If you ride in a area where you have a severe goathead problem or lots of
glass, sharp debris and such things, it may be worth it to consider the
airless tubes, or AirFree Tires instead. These are solid tubes and or tires
that cannot go flat from punctures. they have their own disadvantages, but
in such conditions the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Sometimes, for some people; your mileage may vary. (I have it on
personal reference from one who lives in such an area that in his
opinion, the hassles he encountered with the foam tube replacements
made fixing flats seem like a positively enjoyable experience.)

Quite. I read one review of one variety of airless tyre which went
something like:

"I would rather have three flats a week for the rest of my life than
have to go through the the effort of fitting those things again"

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
The sixth student said, "I ride my bicycle because I want people to look
up to me and say 'Wow! He looks really good up there!' The teacher
replied: 'Go away, Fabrizio!'"

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I am frustrated by flat tires and struggling to mount tires on (narrow)
rims. I
am wondering if the following fancier tire levers will help:

1 the Park Tool TL-10,
2 the Kool Stop Bead Jack,
3 the Crank Brothers Speed Lever, and
4 the Quick Stick.

Another question. Do tubes made by Slime work well in minimizing
punctures?

What does work are VAR tire levers.
http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=79386658826&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Tire%2
0and%20Tube&tc=Tire%20Levers&item_id=VR-425

----------------
Alex

nylon

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I am frustrated by flat tires and struggling to mount tires on (narrow)
rims. I
am wondering if the following fancier tire levers will help:

1 the Park Tool TL-10,
2 the Kool Stop Bead Jack,
3 the Crank Brothers Speed Lever, and
4 the Quick Stick.

Another question. Do tubes made by Slime work well in minimizing
punctures?

TIA.

-Mike

I think when I first started pulling or putting tires on my wheels, it was
harder than I thought. But after a while it got a lot easier.
There is probably something in your technique that is missing, needed or

not

Quoted message said:

being done per se.
But I don't know what you might be doing or not doing.
Later it will become a lot easier. Heck for some tire rim combinations you
don't even need tire levers.
I had to put new700c32 tires on my commuter bike this last Sunday, and I
didn't even need to use levers. But I discovered that one of the front

brake

Quoted message said:

arm springs had broken, so i had to jury rig it until I can get a new set

of

Quoted message said:

front brakes for the commuter bike. But that is another story.

Anyway, Slime sort of maybe works. Basically if you ride on lower pressure
tires and live in a area where there are lots of thorns or goatheads, it
does make it work like you have a slow leak, so you can just pump up the
tire more often. So it works on little tiny holes, not big ones, and it
doesn't work well at all under high pressures, say over 50psi. The next
major problem is they use something like ethyline Glycol (antifreeze

stuff)

Quoted message said:

as a solvent for the SLIME like stuff. The solvent dissolves the glue used
to hold on patches if you can even get the patch to stick on to where the
slime was oozing out of the tube. Thus patches don't work on tubes with
Slime in them.

If you ride in a area where you have a severe goathead problem or lots of
glass, sharp debris and such things, it may be worth it to consider the
airless tubes, or AirFree Tires instead. These are solid tubes and or

tires

Quoted message said:

that cannot go flat from punctures. they have their own disadvantages, but
in such conditions the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

I use slime all the time. Run over 50 PSI, never had a patch come loose, or
had any problem getting patches to stick.

Carl F said:

It's annoying when a little green Slime sprays out with a
dramatic whoosh-whoosh-whoosh through a larger hole, but it
seems worthwhile when I pull a tube out and find a few wisps
of those tiny white fibers sticking out innocently, here and
there, plugging several pinholes that may have been there
for a dozen rides.

I concur. Another thing I like about Slime is it's slimy green
fluorescent color. Even if it doesn't fix the flat, it makes it easy to
find on the tube prior to patching. Also easy to find the location on
the tire to assist in the removal of the puncturer. I suspect the
difference between people who praise Slime & those who damn it, is the
typical size of their punctures. People in goat head country probably
like it more than thoes in nail & glass country.

Regards, John

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

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I am frustrated by flat tires and struggling to mount tires on (narrow)
rims. I
am wondering if the following fancier tire levers will help:

1 the Park Tool TL-10,
2 the Kool Stop Bead Jack,
3 the Crank Brothers Speed Lever, and
4 the Quick Stick.

Another question. Do tubes made by Slime work well in minimizing
punctures?

TIA.

-Mike

I'm in the Quick Stick camp. I use them with several bikes, MTB, Cross and a
couple of road bikes. One in each bike bag and one on the work bench.
Occasionally a very tight road tire can be a challenge to get started but
after lots of years of using the Quick Stick I don't seem to need anything
else.
***Some rim and tire combinations may simply be almost impossible regardless
of technique or tool. If it is so difficult that it would break a quick
stick then it's not a combination that I would leave home with.
Bill

search for - DIY Tire Removal 2 - tech archives using the search box
at upper right.

slime tubes work with slime liners but not as well without liners as
liners mate flat with tubes and capture ooozing ahhh
oooooooooooooziiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg slime real flat film like
thus definitely enhancing the flatproofness.
the tube/liners can save you from a bad hi speed crash
search for - specialized from google, pick components or parts then
tubes.
wal's slime tubes work well but are flimsy in the rubber.
crc silison spray before mounting works well for mount-dismount and
lubes the up and down at the tire/rim intresection

Random User said:

I am frustrated by flat tires and struggling to mount tires on (narrow)
rims. I
am wondering if the following fancier tire levers will help:

1 the Park Tool TL-10,
2 the Kool Stop Bead Jack,
3 the Crank Brothers Speed Lever, and
4 the Quick Stick.

I never leave home without a Quick Stick, but what do I know? I grew up
using whatever was handy, be it a finger[1], screw driver, chisel,
wooden stick[2], valve stem from an old tube, etc. I also don't get a
whole lot of punctures. Some say that the Quick Stick is too hard for
various road tire/rim combinations. That may be true but, I say that
even in this worst-case scenario you will realize that you have a
problem while mounting a new tire in the safe and secure confines of
your workshop. You won't be surprised by the issue when it leaves you
stranded beside the road. I suppose that if you mount a new tire on a
hot day, and then get a puncture on a cold day, the use of a Quick Stick
might become more difficult, but the same could be said about any tire
removal "tool".

[1] No pun intended.

[2] I don't actually recall, or recommend, using a stick, but I thought
I might as well mention it as a possibility.
--
Greg Estep

the big deal here is not tearing out the rubber or whatever the
manufacturer spread on the tire bead when forcing the bead out over the
rim's edge
not speed but careful tender gentle coaxing dismounting
the silicone premount lube helps avoid ripout on your new $35 roadrunner