I Can Hardly Believe It*****

[jimmyengland1000]

I think a lot of our anecdotal comments re puncture repair aerosols really does depend on what kind of puncture too. My scooter tyre stayed inflated for a year....others don't etc but maybe my scooter puncture was a small one and I don;t think any product will fix large holes, tears or sidewall punctures. Personally, for all the weight that's involved in carrying an aerosol, I think it's worth it. Without it, you might be 25 miles from home with no chance of a repair (unless you're carrying the necessary tools and puncture repair kit etc)... at least with a little aerosol, you stand at least some chance of getting back, so I personally think it's worth it.

By the way, a few years ago, I worked as a cycle bod for a holiday company in France. The site was in a pine forest and the 20 bikes got at least one puncture each a day from pine needles. I found some Kevlar inserts which slipped between the tube and the tyre. After 2 weeks of non-stop punctures prior to that, a puncture became a rarity. Are these things available here?

 

[Ian]

II found some Kevlar inserts which slipped between the tube and the tyre. After 2 weeks of non-stop punctures prior to that, a puncture became a rarity. Are these things available here?

They do sell something like that in Decathlon stores, and no doubt other shops as well. The stuff in Decathlon is about a tenner a wheel though and personally I'd rather put that tenner towards Marathon plus tyres.

 

[john]

Search for "Slime Tyre Liner". I use these and they seem to work very well.

 

[flecc]

I think a lot of our anecdotal comments re puncture repair aerosols really does depend on what kind of puncture too.

The puncture repair liquids seem to work better on larger tyres like car and motorbike ones.

I think the ratio of solution to air in the tube may be critical, sufficient being needed to partially thicken the solution after insertion, so increasing it's capability of thickening in time when it exudes from a puncture wound.

In the failures I've experienced, the solution appears to be as liquid as when it was inserted, thickening taking place too late after the escape from the tube and tyre.
.

 

[frank9755]

Here you are Frank, the cheapest around, RRP is £26.99, this one at £17.99:

AllTerrain Cycles
.

Thanks Flecc; I tried them and unfortunately they are sold out. At that price I'm not surprised! Seems like a good site so I've bookmarked them and will go back next time I need anything.

I've had a ring round the local bike shops and managed to track down some. More expensive than online though - £50 a pair. Lucky to get those as not many shops seem to sell them, and I think it would be too risky to rely on the Kendas for another week.

My experience mirrors everyone else's:
c.2,000 miles in last 6 months on two bikes with Marathon plus - no punctures
Kendas which came with Powacycle - c.300 miles to first puncture
Wisper Kendas - 160 miles to first puncture.
Have used aerosols to reflate - only ever as a temporary measure on a bike but with much better results on a scooter.

Now I'd never use anything but Marathon Plus. Apart from the obvious gain from not changing punctures, its great to have confidence that your tires can cope with anything. A small example. Yesterday I was on my way in to work through stationary rush hour traffic. There was a wide central gap between carriageways, with chevrons, where the motorbikes usually go. I made to go down there as it was clear, but at the last instant I thought about the risk of debris, decided I needed to protect the Kendas and cut back to go inside. I had a near miss with a road bike aiming for that gap at high speed. Completely my fault (although he was going too fast) but it would not have happened if I hadn't had poor tyres!

Frank

 

[john]

Flecc,

I didn't mean the liquid, but solid liners that you put between the tube and the tyre. Here is a link Evans Cycles: Product: Slime Tyre Liners - 26 inch MTB twin pack

I cycle down a farm track with lots of hawthorn and they keep the thorns out of my tubes very effectively.

John

 

[flecc]

Thanks for the clarification John, liners are indeed very effective, and if the M+ and similar weren't available, that's certainly what I'd use.
.

 

[richard]

Thanks for that link John re:tyre liners. very timely !
I collected a slow puncture on the way home this afternoon on my Liv(kenda's) so I ordered straight away.

Flecc you have made me curious now, why is it we get more punctures in the wet?

 

[flecc]

Flecc you have made me curious now, why is it we get more punctures in the wet?

Water is the best lubricant for rubber Richard. Try cutting rubber with a knife and it binds. Wet the knife and it floats through with comparative ease.

Sadly that means that in the wet, sharp objects find the route into a tyre much easier, which I learnt to my cost in that first job. I always groaned inwardly when it was wet through the morning rush hour as I went to work, knowing how the bikes would pour in for puncture repair. That was in the fifties when almost everyone rode bikes to work.
.

 

[Jeremy]

Another contributory factor might be the amount of extra debris on the roads after heavy rain. Looking at the state of the roads around here, following the torrential rain recently, it's clear that there is an awful lot of stuff that has been washed out of the roadside hedges etc.

It never ceases to surprise me just how quickly a road surface can break up as a result of surface water and heavy traffic. The road I use on the way to work has acquired several new potholes in the space of the past two or three days as a result of this, although it's fair to say that it was not in pristine condition previously.

Jeremy

 

[frank9755]

The rain point is interesting.

Yesterday when I set off in heavy rain I thought to myself I'm pleased that it's raining as it might make my Kendas more slippery and hence slip away from puncture-causing objects! Clearly I was wrong. Nevetheless, the Kendas survived what I hope is their final journey; Marathon Plusses are in the garage waiting to be fitted!

 

[Cyclezee]

More woe, my son borrowed my Kalkhoff Agattu today. First time he had ridden it, came back about an hour later with a smashed mirror Trying to squeeze through a tight gap he hit a concrete post with the mirror, but no other damage fortunately. Really annoying thing was it was a Cateye 500G and I only fitted it a week ago, cost me £8.99. Anybody know where I can get an unbreakable one that doesen't cost the earth?

John

 

[flecc]

That's both bikes he's done for John. You'll have to ground him!

Just as well you don't own a Lamborghini.
.

 

[Cyclezee]

This is starting to get ridiculous, this morning my son was riding to work at around 5.30 am on the Wisper 905se. He skidded on ice, fell off and smashed the Blackburn handlebar mirror I had fitted
He has now broken 2 mirrors in 1 week, is this a record and will he have 14 years bad luck?
The good side is the mirror seems to have taken all the impact (apart from his shins) and there is no other damage to the bike, the glass wasn't even broken this time
Does anyone know where I can get bullet proof, unbreakable mirrors

John

 

[HarryB]

Not sure if these are any less breakable but they do say impact resistant. Certainly a bit cheaper than the similar Cateye 500G

CYCLE BIKE MOTORBIKE HANDLEBAR MOUNTED MIRROR on eBay, also Mirrors, Cycling Accessories, Cycling, Sporting Goods (end time 19-Dec-07 20:02:32 GMT)

PS they appear to have sold out but might be worth contacting them to see if they have or are getting more stock.

 

[Cyclezee]

Thanks Harry, I was thinking about one of these Spokey Joe Fun Animal Mirror Bear - Discount Bicycles Limited

Maybe then he won't want to ride the bike?

John

 

[HarryB]

No but I don't think you will want to either

 

[Cyclezee]

Ah, hadn't thought about that one Harry. You have a point there.
I'm thinking about buying these Raleigh Bikes of Nottingham - Home - Products - Parts and Accessories - View Accessories Range - Accessory Details but not sure how many to get

John

 

[frank9755]

Can you fit a bar end mirror on a bike with a twist throttle?
How?

Frank

 

[HarryB]

Ah, hadn't thought about that one Harry. You have a point there.
I'm thinking about buying these Raleigh Bikes of Nottingham - Home - Products - Parts and Accessories - View Accessories Range - Accessory Details but not sure how many to get

John

Not sure that it looks very robust so you have to ban the son from riding with them (I think it is called tough love) - doesn't look as neat as the Cateye either.

As for fitting a mirror on a twist grip - does that mean it is on the right side? It could be done but you would have to cut off the end of the grip or better do the Flecc split throttle mod that works quite well. I have used these Shimano Comfort D00 grips per pair to do the mod as they have a natural split where you can cut so it all looks very neat once finished.