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  • Also technique play a roles, so here’s what I usually do.

    Fit one side of the tyres bead in first.

    Inflated inner tube and fit it in, enough so it get inside the tyres.

    Installing the other side of the tyres bead; start 180 degrees from valve and work your way up toward the valve both side.

    When it start to get tough, deflate the inner tube, repeat, deflate etc.

    When it get impossible, go back and check if all the tyres bead is sitting in the middle of the rims as well letting all the air out and push the valve inward to move the inner tube deeper inside the tyres (this prevent it from getting pinched between rims and tyres).

    If all bead is in centre of rims, repeat, check and repeat etc.

    If the last tiny bit still doesn’t work, then you can use the tyre bead.

    Lastly, very very stupid question, if the tyres is 28c and your inner tube is 28-32, then swap for 23-28, better a little small than a little big.

  • technique

    Dismissed that being the issue if 5 people had a go I'd expect one of them to know the tricks.

    When fitting the second side of the tyre, put wheel on ground and 'stretch' the tyre towards the ground, so you're getting slack right at the last section. Then have SuperThumbs™ and finish the job. Also grabbing from the other side with finger tips to roll it over helps. It's easier to show this than describe it in words though.

  • Last week I was with a couple of others on a ride when I went over an enormous pothole next to Biggin Hill airport which was obscured by standing water (has since been filled). Puncture + buckled wheel. We managed to get the tyre off (took about 25 minutes mind and claimed the life of 3 levers), but couldn't get it back on. A stranger stopped to help us, he looked super experienced but he also couldn't get it on. Then a second person stopped to help. We were doing all the right things like massaging the tyre, making sure it's seated in the middle of the rims etc but it was just so bloody difficult. Eventually through brute force it went on, we must have been trying to sort it out for about an hour and a half in total. And then exactly the same thing happened yesterday, but from a little bit of glass in the other tyre. Again, I was with experienced, strong-handed (LOL) cyclists who had never experienced anything like it.

    I've ridden with a variety of wheels / tyres and have always managed to remove and re-fit a tyre myself. I know there are combos which make it harder but there is no way I'd be able to do this particular combo myself.

    ANYWAY fingers crossed different tape helps otherwise they're going in the bin

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