Puncture Gods having sport

[Euan]

So I decide it's time to fix my poor bike. Whip out repair kit
yadeyada. Check tire for damage, locate source of puncture but no
debris left in it. All good.

Put back together, pump up to 120 and settle down to some net time.

Ten minutes BANG! (Batman Style), wifey woken from nap and I potter off
to wheel.

Inspection shows an almighty rent in the inner tube near the valve. I
assume I've been a twonk and pinched the tube between the tire and the
rim. Curse. Replace inner tube lamenting another $10 down the drain,
pump to 120 and resume net time.

Five minutes later PSSSSSsssssss....

Now what?!? Tire completely flat but not exploded like the last one.
Rip off and find spoke side hole near, you guessed it, the valve.
Further inspection reveals a hole in my rim tape exposing nasty
sharpness to inner tube. Several layers of electrical tape will
hopefully do the trick.

I'm listening Puncture Gods, thank you for doing this to me in the
comfort of my own home >mutter mutter<.
--
Cheers | ~~ __@
Euan | ~~ _-\<,
Melbourne, Australia | ~ (*)/ (*)

 

[NoZX6R]

Euan wrote:
> So I decide it's time to fix my poor bike. Whip out repair kit
> yadeyada. Check tire for damage, locate source of puncture but no
> debris left in it. All good.
>
> Put back together, pump up to 120 and settle down to some net time.
>
> Ten minutes BANG! (Batman Style), wifey woken from nap and I potter off
> to wheel.
>
> Inspection shows an almighty rent in the inner tube near the valve. I
> assume I've been a twonk and pinched the tube between the tire and the
> rim. Curse. Replace inner tube lamenting another $10 down the drain,
> pump to 120 and resume net time.
>
> Five minutes later PSSSSSsssssss....
>
> Now what?!? Tire completely flat but not exploded like the last one.
> Rip off and find spoke side hole near, you guessed it, the valve.
> Further inspection reveals a hole in my rim tape exposing nasty
> sharpness to inner tube. Several layers of electrical tape will
> hopefully do the trick.
>
> I'm listening Puncture Gods, thank you for doing this to me in the
> comfort of my own home >mutter mutter<.


I wouldn't trust electrical tape to last long.

Good quality zefal or velox rim tape is only about $5. Actually, I got
some for only $2 at Abbotsford Cycles but that might've been because I
bought a load of spokes too.

--
Nick

 

[Euan]

>>>>> "NoZX6R" == NoZX6R <[email protected]> writes:

NoZX6R> I wouldn't trust electrical tape to last long.

NoZX6R> Good quality zefal or velox rim tape is only about
NoZX6R> $5. Actually, I got some for only $2 at Abbotsford Cycles
NoZX6R> but that might've been because I bought a load of spokes
NoZX6R> too.

Purely a measure to let me get to a bike shop tomorrow. I do 300km a
week so I'm not going to skimp
--
Cheers | ~~ __@
Euan | ~~ _-\<,
Melbourne, Australia | ~ (*)/ (*)

 

[jcjordan]

Managed to get 3 flats on saturday, very unhappy.

Got the first one 10km's into the ride, thanks to a small lump of glass.

60km's latter after climbing Willunga Hill, managed to get another one. The worst part was that we got splashed by some twit. If he had slowed down it would not have been a problem, guess it was our fault for not moving up the road. Had to nab a mates spare tube.

Got the last one right near where I got the first one, good thing another cyclist whom I had just met gave me a self adhesive patch. On a side note these are great they really work quick and easy (they are mad by specialised).

I really need to get a CO2 pump.

I think the puncture god took a disliking to me, I hope the new tires I purchased make the appropriate sacrafice.

 

[spook]

jcjordan wrote:
> Managed to get 3 flats on saturday, very unhappy.
>
> Got the first one 10km's into the ride, thanks to a small lump of
> glass.
>
> 60km's latter after climbing Willunga Hill, managed to get another one.
> The worst part was that we got splashed by some twit. If he had slowed
> down it would not have been a problem, guess it was our fault for not
> moving up the road. Had to nab a mates spare tube.
>
> Got the last one right near where I got the first one, good thing
> another cyclist whom I had just met gave me a self adhesive patch. On
> a side note these are great they really work quick and easy (they are
> mad by specialised).
>
> I really need to get a CO2 pump.
>
> I think the puncture god took a disliking to me, I hope the new tires I
> purchased make the appropriate sacrafice.
>

Slime, as in the makers of self healing MTB tubes make nice self
adhesive patches which are relatively cheap, about $7 for 5 from memory.
I always carry a few along with a spare tube.

I don't know about the CO2 pumps, they are one shot only (unless you
carry additional cartridges) seems like a pain in the ass if you suffer
a couple of flats on a trip.

Brett

 

[jcjordan]

Slime, as in the makers of self healing MTB tubes make nice self
adhesive patches which are relatively cheap, about $7 for 5 from memory.
I always carry a few along with a spare tube.

I don't know about the CO2 pumps, they are one shot only (unless you
carry additional cartridges) seems like a pain in the ass if you suffer
a couple of flats on a trip.

Brett

Thought about Slime but it puts weight into the tires and from what I have read does not due Road Bike tires any good.

I am considering the CO2 mainly because all when all three punctures happened it was pouring down. Figure if I carry 2 cartridges should keep me out of trouble.

 

[hippy]

Thought about Slime but it puts weight into the tires and from what I have read does not due Road Bike tires any good.

I am considering the CO2 mainly because all when all three punctures happened it was pouring down. Figure if I carry 2 cartridges should keep me out of trouble.

On a BR I watched a guy mess up his first CO2 cart and luckily the second one inflated his tyre as he only carried two carts. Pumps work. Pumps don't make gas cyclinder waste. Pumps aren't that much slower than CO2 - what's 30secs when you've already stopped to wonder why the hell your tyre is deflating, checked the tyre for glass, found it, swapped tube, etc..

hippy
"CO2, for race use only"

 

[Marx SS]

I thought CO2 set-up was for those types who do the ATB ride & toss their biddons a-la-tour De France at the end just before the Westgate Bridge.

 

[adam85]

Thought about Slime but it puts weight into the tires and from what I have read does not due Road Bike tires any good.

I am considering the CO2 mainly because all when all three punctures happened it was pouring down. Figure if I carry 2 cartridges should keep me out of trouble.

I carry two cartridges but I hate using them as they are so expensive. I had a puncture today (exactly 3 minutes after I thought...geez these cheapie grand prix S's are the best I've ever had punctures-wise), went to use the first cartridge as I was running late, and there was no gas in it Ripped off! I can just imagine taking it back for a refund:
Me "This gas cylinder was empty" (and errrmmm... here it is with a hole in the end of it)
LBS "Yeah right sure mate!"

To make it worse I must have missed the bit of glass as it was flat again just before I got to work. Lucky I've started carrying a pump in my backpack. I still don't like strapping a pump to a nice looking bike though.

 

[Tamyka Bell]

hippy wrote:
>
> jcjordan Wrote:
> > Thought about Slime but it puts weight into the tires and from what I
> > have read does not due Road Bike tires any good.
> >
> > I am considering the CO2 mainly because all when all three punctures
> > happened it was pouring down. Figure if I carry 2 cartridges should
> > keep me out of trouble.
>
> On a BR I watched a guy mess up his first CO2 cart and luckily the
> second one inflated his tyre as he only carried two carts. Pumps work.
> Pumps don't make gas cyclinder waste. Pumps aren't that much slower
> than CO2 - what's 30secs when you've already stopped to wonder why the
> hell your tyre is deflating, checked the tyre for glass, found it,
> swapped tube, etc..
>
> hippy
> "CO2, for race use only"

Or for a flat a week out from a big race - especially if you haven't
used CO2 before.

Tam

 

[PiledHigher]

hippy wrote:
>
> jcjordan Wrote:
> > Thought about Slime but it puts weight into the tires and from what I
> > have read does not due Road Bike tires any good.
> >
> > I am considering the CO2 mainly because all when all three punctures
> > happened it was pouring down. Figure if I carry 2 cartridges should
> > keep me out of trouble.
>
> On a BR I watched a guy mess up his first CO2 cart and luckily the
> second one inflated his tyre as he only carried two carts. Pumps work.
> Pumps don't make gas cyclinder waste. Pumps aren't that much slower
> than CO2 - what's 30secs when you've already stopped to wonder why the
> hell your tyre is deflating, checked the tyre for glass, found it,
> swapped tube, etc..
>
> hippy
> "CO2, for race use only"

Or for a flat a week out from a big race - especially if you haven't
used CO2 before.

Tam

For me CO2 is for races only, have used it in anger only twice (during a race) in each case I made a pretty quick change and knew that the tyre pressure was good. One each of those self supported races (M****sport & T******n ones). For road races I will usually ditch the pump and tools and through a tube and the CO2 in the jersey pocket.

Is worth using occasionally outside that for practice.

For me a good frame pump is where it is at for commuting and general riding, if its raining its very unlikely that you can't roll 100m to some shelter to do the change. C02 won't be easy to use if you get to patching a puncture either.

 

[spook]

adam85 wrote:

> To make it worse I must have missed the bit of glass as it was flat
> again just before I got to work. Lucky I've started carrying a pump in
> my backpack. I still don't like strapping a pump to a nice looking bike
> though.

I dunno, when i'm commuting i've got the pump in my pack, when I'm out
on my bike and training i just slip my little wrench forch pump which is
about 6 inches long into a pocket in the back of my jersey.

Brett

 

[Euan]

>>>>> "spook" == spook <[email protected]> writes:

spook> I dunno, when i'm commuting i've got the pump in my pack,
spook> when I'm out on my bike and training i just slip my little
spook> wrench forch pump which is about 6 inches long into a pocket
spook> in the back of my jersey.

What kind of pressure can you get with that? I use a Topeak Road Morph
and that's good for at least 120.
--
Cheers | ~~ __@
Euan | ~~ _-\<,
Melbourne, Australia | ~ (*)/ (*)

 

[spook]

Euan wrote:
>>>>>>"spook" == spook <[email protected]> writes:
>
>
> spook> I dunno, when i'm commuting i've got the pump in my pack,
> spook> when I'm out on my bike and training i just slip my little
> spook> wrench forch pump which is about 6 inches long into a pocket
> spook> in the back of my jersey.
>
> What kind of pressure can you get with that? I use a Topeak Road Morph
> and that's good for at least 120.

Not really sure as I've never filled a tire with it and then tested the
pressure with a guage. I'd hazzard a guess around 80-90psi. More than ok
on my MTB which I usually run at about 40-50 and good enough on my road
bike to finish a ride and get me home.

I've got a nice Sigma Jet something which I can get around 110 out of
(tested) but it's bigger and not really for a jersey pocket, though it's
sweet in a pack.

Brett

 

[jcjordan]

On a BR I watched a guy mess up his first CO2 cart and luckily the second one inflated his tyre as he only carried two carts. Pumps work. Pumps don't make gas cyclinder waste. Pumps aren't that much slower than CO2 - what's 30secs when you've already stopped to wonder why the hell your tyre is deflating, checked the tyre for glass, found it, swapped tube, etc..

hippy
"CO2, for race use only"

Got my self some new tires, Continental Gatorskins. They ride really well, alot nicer then the Bontrager tires that came with my Trek 1500.

You make a good point Hippy the last thing I want to do is create more landfill. I bought a new pump made by crank brothers that has a two valves, one for volume and one for high pressure. Seems to work fairly well.

 

[Euan]

>>>>> "jcjordan" == jcjordan <[email protected]> writes:

jcjordan> Got my self some new tires, Continental Gatorskins. They
jcjordan> ride really well, alot nicer then the Bontrager tires that
jcjordan> came with my Trek 1500.

I've been using Conti Gators for a couple of years now. Word of
warning, they're pretty ordinary in the wet so take care.

Other than that made up with them.
--
Cheers | ~~ __@
Euan | ~~ _-\<,
Melbourne, Australia | ~ (*)/ (*)

 

[jcjordan]

I've been using Conti Gators for a couple of years now. Word of
warning, they're pretty ordinary in the wet so take care.

they feel fairly slick, thanks for the warning

they do ride well, how long are they lasting for you

 

[Euan]

>>>>> "jcjordan" == jcjordan <[email protected]> writes:

jcjordan> they do ride well, how long are they lasting for you

Pretty good. I'm 5,000k in to my current rear and still going strong;
unfortunately I went over a pretty large bogan dropping in the first
1,000 which put a centimeter gash in it. I put some Zefal tape behind
it and it's been OK, although if I get a puncture that's the most likely
place.

I've yet to have a set wear out through normal wear, I seem to have a
habit of lacerating the bejeezus out of them before that happens.
--
Cheers | ~~ __@
Euan | ~~ _-\<,
Melbourne, Australia | ~ (*)/ (*)