Fixing Punctures / Puncture Repair / Exploding Tubes

I do audax riding, on those you're better off taking your time over doing a replacement than trying to do a quick repair otherwise someone is going to end up crying bitter tears into their patch kit at 2am in the driving rain on the Lincolnshire Wolds. Besides, sitting in a motorway services drinking hot coffee while patching an inner may get you some odd looks but it's good way to give your legs a good 20 minutes rest.

2am in the driving rain on the Lincolnshire Wolds.

You can't use glueless patches in the rain, full stop.

Which would probably explain the look of reverential joy on the rider's face as I tossed a spare inner at him before buggering off to a truck stop for beans on toast. My samaritaness knows bounds.

Changing a flat should be simple. Alas it appears I can't do it right.

Recently I have twice had the tube bubble out from between the rim edge and tire thread and go pop mid ride. It looks like I have done it right, but the first I notice is when I'm out riding and for a few seconds before it goes pop the ride feels a little lumpy.*

thought I would point out in case it is relevant to your situation - this happens if you are using older (non-clincher) rims, when run above a certain pressure. This problem is often seen on 27" rims which are still in use on a lot of bikes from 1970s and earlier and were generally AFAIK non-clincher (mine are).

I solved it for myself (after searching on here, credit where credits due) by just running at a lower pressure, i.e. not going over 60psi at front and 50 at rear, and have not had the problem since. Happened to me during or just after inflating, would not have wanted it to happen while riding.

The H+Son rims are hook edge rims and the Stelvios are hook beaded clinchers...with a top rated pressure of 145 PSI. I inflate to about 80 PSI so the inward pressure of the tubes exerted on the rims shouldnt cause a section of the tyre to slip off and bulge.

However i did an experiment, and the old tyres bulged at 120 PSI, with the tube showing between the bead and the rim, and the new ones didnt. Not sure what this means but there seemed to be an integral weakness with the old tyre.

Perhaps I need a non folding clinchers with wire...although my rims are hook beaded?

Unless you're in a situation where you have to combine new tyres with deep rims, in which case you may have no choice. I had to do this on Saturday, in the dark and the rain, after riding a 200k. It wasn't fun.

Out of interest, has anyone come across using milk to prevent slow punctures?

My girlfriends dad ended up with some tubs that you can't actually repair so apparently uses the old trick of putting some milk in them. It's utterly rancid when he asks me to pump them up.

If you've done 200 on them, they're not new. Get down to the gym and ask about thumb extensions, thumb and jerk, deadthumbs. 6 months and you'll be able to thumb double your body weight.

Apologies if I've missed this info, but what are the dimensions of the rim and the tyre? As well as the max pressure, is there a minimum quoted? 80 is fairly low for what I assume is a 23 or so tyre.

As per previous posts, put some air in the tube before putting it in. Helps the tube get located properly well up in the tyre. Take care with the valve stem and make sure you push it up so that the tube is not trapped under the bead. Fit tyre (best to avoid levers, almost always possible to do by hand), put some more air in, go round each side of the tyre and do a sort of push-pull-lift to ensure the tyre is well seated.
Then inflate.

Folding tyres have a kevlar or similar flexible bead. Non-folders use wire. Both are clinchers.

PSI rating and tyre size are but co-incidental bed fellows. Construction and TIP count etc are the real governesses of pressure. Whilst it is true to say that they tend to allay, there are plenty of 65 max skinny cheap tyres out there.

If you're referring to the pre-glued patches then I'm not surprised. They're only good up to about 50psi.

I heard from a few people (some on here, also a guy at TdV) that they'd used them for ages, couriering, no problems etc etc. So I've used them a couple of times with no problems, this was the first time. But I don't like the uncertainty, and it's not as if I need to save space in my bag, so I'm back to the traditional gluey fun.

My experience with the Park self-adhesive patches is that at 110-120psi they tend to fail eventually.

Now, that might be my failure to fit them properly, but when they went there was a pattern in the glue which I could only describe as looking like a wormery. It was as though the air had been exploring all the avenues of least resistance until it finally found a way out.

I don't use them any more - they're quick, but patches aren't too slow either and I've had a higher success rate with those.

Reminds me, I'm out of spare tubes.

^ great description; exactly what I saw on mine the other day.

when they went there was a pattern in the glue which I could only describe as looking like a wormery. It was as though the air had been exploring all the avenues of least resistance until it finally found a way out.
.

Do you roughen the tube before application?

Do you roughen the tube before application?

I think so - they came with sandpaper so I just assumed it ought to be used.

Instructions are for smart people

I think so - they came with sandpaper so I just assumed it ought to be used.

Instructions are for smart people

This is true.

I use the yellow spongy patches - can't remember who makes them - they stick like bastards,and have lasted ages till tyre death (even I have limits - like when they overlap) even on commuters. I do remember the green plasticky ones being crapish in the way you describe though.

'Apologies if I've missed this info, but what are the dimensions of the rim and the tyre? As well as the max pressure, is there a minimum quoted? 80 is fairly low for what I assume is a 23 or so tyre."

The tyre is a 23-622 or 700-32C and the rim is 700C. At 80PSI (at the lower range) the bead still shouldnt slip off. The BSD matches the rim. They are kevlar beaded non folding clinchers.

kevlar beaded non folding clinchers.

Eh? So what stops then folding?

This is true.

I use the yellow spongy patches - can't remember who makes them - they stick like bastards

These were transparent square ones. I said they were Park before, and I think that's the case. They came in a little square box about 20x20x4mm

Don't laugh, but now I think about it, the thick yellow ones came from Haulfrauds. They are oval.

Possibly the only things in the entire store that are any good!

I stand corrected...'folding' (it's late)

The tyre is a 23-622 or 700-32C and the rim is 700C. At 80PSI (at the lower range) the bead still shouldnt slip off

And is the rim suited to 32C tyres? Just checking - not familiar with those rims.

No, 80 psi is not going to blow the tyre off but I was thinking that too low a pressure might allow too much movement of the tyre when riding.

Danm my fat fingers...(23C)

I was plodding on in the belief my dilemma wasnt technique based and that I could change a flat in the same fashion and with the same result as many times before.....Now ready to admit defeat in my belief it could be the tools instead of the tradesman.

Thanks for the tips nontheless.

If you've done 200 on them, they're not new. Get down to the gym and ask about thumb extensions, thumb and jerk, deadthumbs. 6 months and you'll be able to thumb double your body weight.

Was a used tyre. On the way home from the 200k we were driving back along the last bit of the route up the Cat & Fiddle and came across a rider with a shagged sidewall. We happened to have a spare tyre in the van so we fitted it for him. I doubt even the strongest of thumbs could have gotten this tyre onto the rims.

Temp can make a huge difference to type pliability. Things that roll off the thumbs onto the rim on a warm summer's day can be a complete bistardo on a cold one.

Had my first experience of tubs last week...

Front went. Had a spare, but no glue. Bloke lent me tape, but basically said "don't ride it far or around corners or you'll crash and die". Tried to ignore him as was on long ride with no support.

Got flat rear. Nice man gave me a tub. Another nice man gave me glue. But after 1km I realised the valve was in wonky, causing a big bulge. Had to pull it off and reapply - got COVERED in tub glue. Hands stuck to bars for next 40km. As did dust, my hat, food...

Had to rejig the front tub too, and rear moved again. Rode last 10km with a recurrent thump, thump, thump as the valve bulge hit the road.

I'm sure tubs are fine if you're prepared, but I had a bugger of a day. My girlfriend was cutting tub glue goops out of my leg hair three days later.

Maybe that's why roadies shave their legs...