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"I learned about cycling from that" (tire repair story with tips).
Hola from hot and windy San Diego
Had a flat today. I used one old trick and came up with what is, for me, a new trick. Old Trick: When installing a tire, make sure an obvious mark on the outside of the tire lines up with valve stem. For example, when I last pulled my front tire on, I made sure the "x" in the 700x38 tire size was right next to the valve stem. Then, when it flatted today, I was able to measure the distance from valve to puncture in the tube and easily find and extract the perpetrator (piece of broken beer bottle). New (for me) Trick: Ready to inflate a tire with a minipump? lay wheel horizonally, so the pump is vertical. Now take your multitool (sheathed, if it has a sheath), a book or even a wooden alphabet block and use it to support the head of the pump. This does two things that I can think of. The first is to relive some of the stress and strain on the tube's valve stem. The second is the pumper can use more of their body weight on the pump. It'll probably still take the same number of strokes to inflate the tire (unless you've got a really leaky pump head). However, using body weight as well as upper body strength makes the individual strokes potentially much quicker, easier, or even possible when pressure is high ... but ... not ... quite ... (grunt) .... there ... yet. What did I miss or get wrong? Robert Leone |
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"I learned about cycling from that" (tire repair story with tips).
: : Old Trick: When installing a tire, make sure an obvious mark on the : outside of the tire lines up with valve stem. For example, when I last : pulled my front tire on, I made sure the "x" in the 700x38 tire size : was right next to the valve stem. Then, when it flatted today, I was : able to measure the distance from valve to puncture in the tube and : easily find and extract the perpetrator (piece of broken beer bottle). It has long been the standard when putting a tire on to put the manufacturer's bright, colored logo next to the valve. If you look at any new bike at a bike shop, you'll see every one of them is set up like that. Seems to me that the logo is quicker and easier to find that the X in the 700 x 38 which would be black on black..... : New (for me) Trick: Ready to inflate a tire with a minipump? lay wheel : horizonally, so the pump is vertical. Now take your multitool : (sheathed, if it has a sheath), a book or even a wooden alphabet block : and use it to support the head of the pump. This does two things that I : can think of. The first is to relive some of the stress and strain on : the tube's valve stem. The second is the pumper can use more of their : body weight on the pump. It'll probably still take the same number of : strokes to inflate the tire (unless you've got a really leaky pump : head). However, using body weight as well as upper body strength makes : the individual strokes potentially much quicker, easier, or even : possible when pressure is high ... but ... not ... quite ... (grunt) : ... there ... yet. : : What did I miss or get wrong? Well, if you had a Topeak Road Morph, you wouldn't have had to do everything in your second paragraph. That's why they are so highly recommended.... Pat in TX |
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"I learned about cycling from that" (tire repair story with tips).
Hi Pat:
Pat wrote: It has long been the standard when putting a tire on to put the manufacturer's bright, colored logo next to the valve. If you look at any new bike at a bike shop, you'll see every one of them is set up like that. Seems to me that the logo is quicker and easier to find that the X in the 700 x 38 which would be black on black..... I've had the bright logo stickers fall or wear off a few times, including the current front tire that was the subject of this post. I'll keep this in mind for when it's not my bike I'm fixing. Thanks! SNIP Well, if you had a Topeak Road Morph, you wouldn't have had to do everything in your second paragraph. That's why they are so highly recommended.... I don't think Topeak Road Morphs were on the market when I set up the patch kit for this bike. Not sure one would fit in the already-crammed bke rack trunk, either. Thanks for the advice. I may consider the Road Morph for my next bike -- if I don't go with a Zefal frame pump. Pat in TX |
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"I learned about cycling from that" (tire repair story with tips).
I just use a full length pump with a medium width barrel. Pums |faster,
reaches full pressure with less effort, and comes in quite handy when being chased by that unfenced dog. - - Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman" "May you have the winds at your back, And a really low gear for the hills!" Chris'Z Corner http://www.geocities.com/czcorner |
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"I learned about cycling from that" (tire repair story with tips).
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"I learned about cycling from that" (tire repair story with tips).
(Chris Zacho "The Wheelman") wrote:
I just use a full length pump with a medium width barrel. Pums |faster, reaches full pressure with less effort, and comes in quite handy when being chased by that unfenced dog. A great argument against mini-pumps if ever there was one. Not only do they make you look like an overwound wind-up toy when trying to inflate a tire, the only possible way they'll stop a charging dog is if it has to stop to laugh at you. OTOH, I suppose you could choke a dog with one... Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles http://www.habcycles.com Home of the $795 ti frame |
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