Puncture on rear wheel on electric bikes!

soundwave

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May 23, 2015
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it takes me about 1hr to get mine fitted
but does the job ;)
 

vfr400

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 12, 2011
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Basildon
That's a good idea, will try this next time.

As a matter of interest, has anyone any experience with that green slime stuff?
OK for tubeless tyres, but doesn't seem to work for tubed ones, and, like Flecc Says, it rubs salt into your wounds when you see what a mess it makes. Maybe it works sometimes because, of course, you only know when it doesn't work. The best thing by far is Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres if you don't want punctures, but they're not much good off-road.
 
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MikeFB

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Jun 25, 2020
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OK for tubeless tyres, but doesn't seem to work for tubed ones, and, like Flecc Says, it rubs salt into your wounds when you see what a mess it makes. Maybe it works sometimes because, of course, you only know when it doesn't work. The best thing by far is Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres if you don't want punctures, but they're not much good off-road.
Problem is my current tyres are 26 x 3.0. Not the easiest size to get for any make of tyre. So I'm stuck with using inner tubes and I like the wide 3.0 tyres. It sounds like my best option is to carry a repair kit and try a road side repair as described by flecc if (when) I ever get a puncture.
 

vfr400

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Jun 12, 2011
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Problem is my current tyres are 26 x 3.0. Not the easiest size to get for any make of tyre. So I'm stuck with using inner tubes and I like the wide 3.0 tyres. It sounds like my best option is to carry a repair kit and try a road side repair as described by flecc if (when) I ever get a puncture.
Everything has advantages and disadvantages.
 

WheezyRider

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Apr 20, 2020
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OK for tubeless tyres, but doesn't seem to work for tubed ones, and, like Flecc Says, it rubs salt into your wounds when you see what a mess it makes. Maybe it works sometimes because, of course, you only know when it doesn't work. The best thing by far is Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres if you don't want punctures, but they're not much good off-road.

There is an off road version with level 7 protection:


Do you really need 3 inch tyres? :)
 

WheezyRider

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Apr 20, 2020
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There is an off road version with level 7 protection:


Do you really need 3 inch tyres? :)
Also an MTB version, not quite 3 inches though...

 

WheezyRider

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Apr 20, 2020
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Tell that to the freshly cut hawthorn twigs on the tow path!
:D Yes, the only puncture I've had in the last 14 years with was due to a thorn on a 28 wide Durano Plus tyre. Thorns are worse than broken glass or even nails.

Before that thorn incident, the only trouble I had was the rubber around the valve on the inner tube perishing and the valve falling out!

I did have a piece of flint go through a Schwalbe City Jet tyre, but that's only level 3 protection, so nowhere near as good as a Marathon Plus.
 

zoros

Pedelecer
May 15, 2019
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Unhappy experience, but avoidable:

1) Don't remove the rear wheel, just unlatch the brake cable at the noodle.

2) Take the tube out on the non chain side and put a little air into it.

3) Locate the puncure and repair the tube, it's easy to ease it around between the wheel and frame tubes.

4) Replace, pump it up and relatch the brake cable.

That's how we repaired almost all bike punctures in the trade.

Also buy yourself a decent pump to carry with you. As you found, that one is useless.

I even replace tube and tyres without taking out the rear wheel, though it needs care and some skill to expand the frame and pass the tube or tyre through with the other hand:

View attachment 36729
Couldnt upturn the bike, it's bristling with fone holder / electric bell / gps data gauge.
It would take ages to loosen them and turn them round!

Couldn't fiddle with brakes - discs.

Tyres need 85psi - told by many avid bikers that repairing with a patch is not clever and often fails at this pressure. A replacement tube is the wisest solution it seems, hence why they gave me 2 x free tubes when I bought bike.
Schwalbe tyres are fitted but it looks like a very sharp object penetrated the tube but didn't stick in tyre. Surely there isn't a tyre that can protect against all punctures???

Once home, I timed myself to do it all again - 15 minutes in total.
 

nigelbb

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 19, 2019
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That lukewarm review is from 3 years ago. The tyres are pricey at £90 a pair. https://www.geckorubber.co.uk/how-to-buy---fit.html

I can recall seeing solid tyres on the market in various gaudy colours 25-30 years but they never seemed to take off. I'm tempted to try a pair of the Gecko tyres. Has anyone here used them?
 

Nealh

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Aug 7, 2014
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If one wants truly puncture proof tyres with the option for gaudy colours then look no further then the Tannus tyre.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
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Couldnt upturn the bike, it's bristling with fone holder / electric bell / gps data gauge.
Fit bar ends either outboard or inboard as I recommended and illustrated and you could turn it over.

Tyres need 85psi - told by many avid bikers that repairing with a patch is not clever and often fails at this pressure.
That is simply not true, patching done properly will withstand any pressure. The problem is that so few cyclists, however experienced, have a clue how to use patches, something we were always explaining to them when I was in the trade.

Clean the tube, sand if necessary. Apply a thin single wipe of solution to both tube and patch, even patches that claim they don't need it. Let the solution on both dry completely dull without the faintest trace of moisture or shine left. Then apply the patch and press it firmly on. The contact adhesive bond is then so strong that you can stretch the tube and the patch stretches with it, it's almost like vulcanising. And it will never let you down.


Surely there isn't a tyre that can protect against all punctures???
All punctures, no. But this Marathon Plus one from Schwalbe prevents nearly all:


.
 
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vfr400

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 12, 2011
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Basildon
Tyres need 85psi - told by many avid bikers that repairing with a patch is not clever and often fails at this pressure.
That is simply not true, patching done properly will withstand any pressure. The problem is that so few cyclists, however experienced, have a clue how to use patches, something we were always explaining to them when I was in the trade.
I was going to say exactly the same thing until Flecc beat me to it. It never ceases to amaze me how much crap is floating around to try and prevent people from using simple solutions.

The higher the pressure, the more the patch is helped to hold onto the tube because it's trapped between the tube and the tyre. At 85 psi, you wouldn't need any glue.

Two points about that. Firstly, I ride a road bike too with tyres pumped up to unbelievable pressures, and I fixed loads of puncture on them with patches. I've never not been able to fix one by patching, and I probably get one puncture every other trip on average.

Secondly, 85psi isn't mandatory. It might be an advisory or desirable pressure, but your bike will still work if you have 40 psi. Tyre pressures are nothing to get too excited about as long as you don't go too low and run the risk of pinch flats when you ride up kerbs or hit a pot-hole.
 
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