When it rains, it pours

[JohnInStockie]

What a miserable week!

Found out I had a puncture in the rear wheel of my Twist whilst at work on Weds, even though I had Marathon+ on. I had noticed that the pressure kept dropping over the last few weeks from 60 down to 50. It was raining, so I didnt bother looking for it, just swapped the inner tube and checked the tyre, found a shard of metal stuck through the tyre (it was about 13mm long 1-2mm thick, no nail head, just a shard). Plucked it out and thought job well done. Had a bit of trouble with the Specialized tube Presta valve, but eventually figured out the valve needs a bit of jiggling when first used (dirty oily hands, really hate that).

Then my Cyclaire pump broke half way to pumping it up, great. Luckily a colleague had a basic pump that I could use.

All in all it took me 45 mins to do, really slow.


Thursday came and went, no problems...


Friday morning, raining again and the tyre was down again. So at 6:45 am you see me stood next to a bus stop full of people, watching me whilst I frantically try to reinflate the trye (to see if its a fast puncture, or that dodgy valve) with a 8" emergency pump (bought from Tescos for £6.94 that unbelievably comes with a pressure gauge). If anyone here has a 8" pump, they will know that inflating anything to any sort of reasonable pressure is a test of fitness, cardiac function, and tenacity. 10 mins later I was on my way to work, 10.5 miles away. It got me there (checking every couple of miles.

Friday night after work, it was raining much heavier. So I went about changing the tube again. Again checked the tyre, and found nothing. Had real trouble getting it all back together with the wheel and roller brake and the hub gears, couldnt see why (dirty oily hands again, grrrr). 1 mile home I found out why when the Reelight rear light 'fell off' in the middle of heavy traffic. This is a problem as the bracket is on the spindle, meaning that everything was now loose. Pulled over to the side safely enough, then played chicken with the traffic to find my Reelight which was remarkable undamaged, then set to work putting everything back together again in the rain.

15 minutes later, and now having got dirt and oil all over my hands, gloves, hiviz jacket and hand grips, I set off home, wet miserable and downcast, hoping to make it without another set-back. Then noticed that there was a very thin shard of metal, about 10mm long sunk into my finger, so I did find something in the tyre, I just hadnt realised, oh joy!

A bottle of wine later, I began to feel more positive, but one of those weeks you need to write off. So the question is this, does anyone have any tips for avoiding dirty oily hands and getting dirt and oil all over yourself when doing this type of thing at the roadside, it would be much appreciated?

John

 

[Ian]

You've already got the most puncture proof tyres available John, putting slime in the tubes is supposed to seal punctures but it didn't work for me. Perhaps a self sealing aerosol inflator may be worth carrying, or a basic CO2 inflator.
Some fine weather would help, at least fixing punctures in the dry is bearable.

PS: Carrying the wine in your toolkit may make the job easier

PPS: Just read Fleccs post and it reminded me I have some disposable rubber gloves in my kit, at least it keeps the hands clean.

 

[flecc]

Get some barrier cream John, then put some into a small container, preferably screw top and have it with you. Rub some into your hands before doing the job, and the dirt will wash off easily. From many engineering supplies companies, motor factors and oil companies, many mechanics use it and I always do. It protects against contact dermatitis from oils too.

There's also some hand cleaning creams for on road use that dissolve the dirt for you to rub it off with a rag. Can't remember the names of any offhand, but a cycle or motor cycle dealers may know if none of the members do. Halfords may have one, and barrier cream too probably.

Sorry to hear of your miserable week, I'm off to the New Milton show in the morning so may get my drowning then!
.

 

[JohnInStockie]

Disposable gloves, barrier cream, ok, I'll get those. I think I need to carry a large rag of somekind too to pu over the chain and cogs, as when I turned the bike over, my hiviz jacket touched the chain and thats really annoying.

Ian - Wine in the pannier - Thats good advise, next time phone a cab and drink the wine while waiting The only problem of course is pride I just cant let it lie, I MUST be self-sufficient in bike repair, or the consequences will feel like Ive failed. I just wish I knew more, but everyone I know who rides a bike knows nothing about them at all, not even how to repair a puncture, or change a tyre. They take their bikes into a bike shop for these things.

Its also really annoying as a number of car drivers made comment as they drove past... grrrr...

Thanks guys

John

 

[flecc]

Supermarkets like Sainsburys have disposable vinyl gloves dirt cheap, about £1.25 for ten, and with those you wouldn't need the other things. I lack "feel" with them though, so prefer barrier cream.

When turning the bike over, first remove the battery, then lean the bike against you with the chain the other side, lean over it and grasp the lower front fork and upper rear frame tube both on the chain side. You should find it almost turns itself over then with you able to stop it before the chain gets to you.
.

 

[JohnInStockie]

Flecc - thanks for that, but that way around I think I have off pat, its the turning the bike over from up-side down thats the problem, any tips???

Thanks

John

 

[flecc]

That can be more difficult John, but try similar though starting with the chain on your side, as it's easier to control in the early stage of the lift. Always best rehearsed in a comfortable situation before an actual event.
.

 

[Footie]

What about carrying a small packet of baby wipes for just such an emergency. They stay good for ages in re-sealable bags.
I know I could have done with some when I got a puncher on my (non-electric) mountain bike about 15 years ago. I was out cycling with my nephew’s and having discovered I had a puncher (on the rear) I stopped by a seat and set about removing the wheel and repairing it. It was at about the point where I had the tyre off and everything on the floor when I realised (much to my horror ) I had dog do-do on my hands. Not only was it on my hands but also all over the wheel, tyre, inner tube, and tools – in fact it was everywhere. My nephews thought it was hilarious. At the time I couldn’t see the funny side of it at all. Years later, I do smile (a little) to myself when I think about it.
All I can say is it’s a good job I never found out who the dog owner was
Steve

 

[JohnInStockie]

Steve - baby wipes, good idea. They come in those small travel packs too. I think I am also going to carry a large rag which I will place over the chain and crank when turned over and also use for cleaning hands. It will be better than spending a day cleaning all the clothing, gloves, tools, e.t.c.

BTW - I feel for you and that 'hounded' repair, I am glad you can smile about it now . It reminds me of a colleague of mine who when on a bike run with friends in the countryside on their MTB's, rode through rather sloppy droppings from a very large dog, only to discover that the chunky MTB tyres on her bike had 'pebble-dashed' the rider directly behind her from head to foot. After hearing that, I am always a wee bit careful about how close I get to the bike in front, just in case.

 

[JohnInStockie]

Repair Kit components

So, I currently have:-

-puncture kit
-pump
-instant inflate and seal
-2 spare inner tubes
-spanner
-multi-tool

and I need to have...

-barrier cream
-baby wipes
-large rag
-co2

any other accessories come to mind?

I know it seems like a lot, but I'd rather be over-equipped.

John

 

[flecc]

Not for the bike but for you just in case John. Some chemists lie Boots do large area cushioned plasters in sealed envelopes which can be folded. If you come off a bike the result can be an extensive and painful skin scrape, even beneath the clothing, and a covering can make the rest of the ride bearable. Just a thought, based on that known fact that if you're prepared, it never happens!
.

 

[andrewelectricbike1]

nahh

on bike
-pump/co2
-kevlar tyres with slime tube front and back
-multi-tool for pilling the nails out

at home
-new tube
-swarfega

 

[Haku]

In my multitool & puncture repair kit I put one of those lemon wipes you get with takeaway food, thankfully I haven't yet had to fix a puncture whilst out & about so I'm not sure it would work that well with oil, but at least my hands would smell of fresh lemon

A friend of mine has some hand cleaning wipes in a resealable pack which were amazing when it came to grease & grime, Fire Wipes I think they were called but the supermarket he got them from no longer sell them.
But having a quick scout around the net it appears you can get Swarfega hand wipes in a resealable pack, I might have to invest in some of those.

 

[Ian]

These latex gloves are very cheap and useful for so many tasks. Being latex they are tight fitting and you soon forget you've got them on.

 

[andrewelectricbike1]

In my multitool & puncture repair kit I put one of those lemon wipes you get with takeaway food, thankfully I haven't yet had to fix a puncture whilst out & about so I'm not sure it would work that well with oil, but at least my hands would smell of fresh lemon

A friend of mine has some hand cleaning wipes in a resealable pack which were amazing when it came to grease & grime, Fire Wipes I think they were called but the supermarket he got them from no longer sell them.
But having a quick scout around the net it appears you can get Swarfega hand wipes in a resealable pack, I might have to invest in some of those.

swarfega wipes what a great idea! I live about 3 miles from the Deb factory, but I bet I could only buy it by the drum

 

[JohnInStockie]

But having a quick scout around the net it appears you can get Swarfega hand wipes in a resealable pack, I might have to invest in some of those.

Haku, thanks for a great tip. I discovered that those wipes give you 20 wipes for £2.99 + £2.00 p+p which isnt bad. I then discovered the 'Tufenega' wipes on Ebay which are similar and give you 40 wipes per pack, and they were selling a case of 12 packs for £20 inc p+p.

So it was either 2 x 20 wipe packs for £10, or 12 x 40 wipes for £20....So I know have LOTS of wipes . What I am going to do is take 4 or 5 and put the in a sealable sandwich bag in the bottom of my pack.

So I now have the barrier cream and the wipes for next time

EDIT: Tested out the deb wipes and barrier cream today, brilliant! After cleaning the chain and using the wipes my hands were spotlessy clean.

 

[JohnInStockie]

M+ Puncture no.3

Hi Guys

Just an update, had puncture no. 3 in my M+ on Thursday (thats 3 in 3 months). This time it was a large staple On the way home in rush hour traffic, some kids pointing and laughing as they drove past, actually made me smile....ended up using the seal and flate stuff which got me the remaining 6 miles home.

I am now ordering the kevlar tyre tape from wiggle .....

John

 

[flecc]

That's amazing John, you seem to be alone in suffering these punctures on Marathon Plus. I've never had one, despite thousands of miles on them and the oldest one at four years now. Not because my area isn't prone to punctures, I was driven mad by their frequency formerly and my trailer's 16" wheels without MPs have continued to be punctured regularly.

However, even the trailer punctures have greatly reduced now, largely I think due to the current street cleaning contractor in Croydon (Cleanaway) having a program of thorough manual street sweeping in the old fashioned way, man/broom/bin trolley.

Once that kevlar tape is in John, there'll be hardly any room for a tube!
.

 

[JohnInStockie]

No room for a tube! Maybe I do need to go tubeless....what do you think of those tubeless conversion jobbies, do they work? Is it better to be tubeless and use the Slime stuff?

 

[flecc]

I've never tried tubeless on bikes John, partly because I've never had any success with slime and it's derivatives. They don't cure all situations, and anything less than 100% reliable when on the road is no good to me. The old fashioned tube and patch, together with being able to repair punctures/swap tube very quickly due to experience, is always reliable.