Just had a puncture - can't really blame the bike for giving way to a half-inch nail, but its annoying anyway.
I was wondering if anyone could comment on the value of "Slime" and similar sealants.
Only tried them once myself, and wasn't impressed - they stuck the tube to the inside of the tyre and turned a small hole into a rip. I had to scrap the tube instead of repair it. I was wondering if thing's have improved since then (I was in the LBS, buying a replacement tube and was tempted by the tubes pre-filled with sealant). Do they work as advertised now?
I had a set of Tufo tubular/clincher Hi-Carbon tires on my bike; the front got a 10 mm cut and the sealant wouldn't hold. Of course, ten mm is a pretty big cut on a bike tire. I replaced the front tire with an old Veloflex Pave. The rear Tufo was pierced by a small (approx 3 mm) flint or limestone. The sealant didn't hold on that one either. Tufo says their flats are rideable... the flatted front was just too wiggly. The rear, however, was rideable at 10 mph or less. I got back home, and ordered a set of Vittoria EVO CX's. I've used the old CX tires before, and they are tough. I think the Tufo sealant loses effectiveness after a year or so. Slime tubes? great for squirting green gunk across a room. I tried them, but ended up not using them for long. I still have a set of Tufo S33 tubies; and as soon as the spares I got from yellowjersey.org are stretched, I'll be back on the tubies with two sets of Tufo Extreme tape in my saddlepack, and two Clement Futura CX's over my shoulders. Tres retro. Stay Cool, Tom
Not nearly that well, but good enough for me. Their value is proportional to the inconvenience of fixing a flat. If you're one of those super-mechanics who can fix a flat in three minutes without getting dirty, then a tyre sealant is not for you. At the other extreme, if you're like me and it takes twenty minutes and you get filthy and you're running late on your morning commute, then they're a godsend.
-- "Bicycling is a healthy and manly pursuit with much to recommend it, and, unlike other foolish crazes, it has not died out." -- The Daily Telegraph (1877)
I tend to ride "close" to home (within 15 miles or so) so don't normally bother with a pump or tools - based on the reply below they might have saved me yesterday's eight mile walk. Will give them a try when my stock of new spare tubes is exhausted.
"LioNiNoiL_a t_Y a h 0 0_d 0 t_c 0 m" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:cFZGe.29718$bp.11083@fed1read03...
Quoted message said:
Bob Huntley asked:
Quoted message said:
Do they work as advertised now?
Not nearly that well, but good enough for me. Their value is proportional to the inconvenience of fixing a flat. If you're one of those super-mechanics who can fix a flat in three minutes without getting dirty, then a tyre sealant is not for you. At the other extreme, if you're like me and it takes twenty minutes and you get filthy and you're running late on your morning commute, then they're a godsend.
-- "Bicycling is a healthy and manly pursuit with much to recommend it, and, unlike other foolish crazes, it has not died out." -- The Daily Telegraph (1877)
Hi all, sorry to drag up an old thread. I install OKO puncture prevention sealant as a business and although I have 100% uptime on larger vehicles I have personally not used the bicycle grade sealant. For my own research I would love to test the product and would offer to do half a dozen or so installations for free. So if any of you live in the midlands perhaps we could arrange a single meeting point and a live test? I would also like to support this forum if an admin or mod would like to point the way. Thanks. tyre-safe.co
