http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: mending punctures? en Wed, 13 May 2026 04:24:13 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186&page=2#post-95532 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:00:31 +0000 chdot 95532@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I fix. </p> <p>But I've just counted the pile - 12. </p> <p>Not all punctured by me. </p> <p>Does include the two I damaged by failing to find that tiny bit of thorn poking through. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186&page=2#post-95527 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:10:11 +0000 Arellcat 95527@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That's what the really big patches in Tiptop repair kits are for. :-)</p> <p><em>that nostalgia-kick is less keenly felt when it's dark, windy, 3 degrees below and hailing.</em></p> <p>This happened to me once when cycling to work. It was winter and blowing a gale, and the nearest doorway for shelter was the BT computer centre on Craiglockhart Avenue. Whose doorway doesn't have a step to sit on. My fingers were numb, and my patch didn't stick because it got sleet in it. I have a feeling I walked all the way to work with a flat tyre, and mended the tube at lunchtime. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186&page=2#post-95526 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:06:50 +0000 cb 95526@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"patching them all in a big burst"</p> <p>Doesn't sound like a very effective technique if you ask me! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186&page=2#post-95524 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:37:38 +0000 wingpig 95524@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As I'm still working my way through the ten-pack of inner tubes I bought in 2003 (still two left, not including the one I donated to Wilmingtron in May last year in case his paper-thin tyres punctured again on his rush home) I currently just replace tubes and leave the punctured one dangling somewhere in the spare room in the hope that one day I'll eventually get round to collecting all the old tubes from their various locations and patching them all in a big burst. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186&page=2#post-95522 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:31:09 +0000 kaputnik 95522@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>It's not a proper inner tube if it has less than 6 patches.<br /> </em></p> <p>A tube is for life, not just for Christmas </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186&page=2#post-95519 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:02:25 +0000 SRD 95519@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I like to patch (and used to think I was half-way competent with it), but if I get a puncture between nursery and work, I am likely to take it to bike shop and have tube replaced, so I can pick it up again at the end of the day and not miss 'collection time.' </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186&page=2#post-95518 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:01:58 +0000 wee folding bike 95518@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I mend them but not right away, I wait till I have a few and patch in a batch.</p> <p>Eventually you get something you can't patch easily. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186&page=2#post-95517 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:01:05 +0000 rust 95517@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Replace then patch old tube for future replacing. </p> <p>It's not a proper inner tube if it has less than 6 patches. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95516 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:59:43 +0000 steveo 95516@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'll patch a few times then replace, though on the road side I replace and patch later. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95514 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:56:27 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 95514@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm in the 'always patch' camp. Only takes a few extra minutes and to be honest I quite like the feeling of 'mend and make do' - each one is a bit of a nostalgia trip to being taught by my dad (after using two gert big dessert spoons to lever off the tyre) how to repair a puncture.</p> <p>Though I will admit that nostalgia-kick is less keenly felt when it's dark, windy, 3 degrees below and hailing.</p> <p>I probably replace bar tape more often than tubes! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95510 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:50:44 +0000 Baldcyclist 95510@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@deckard112 I haven't patched a tube since I was 14. They are cheap, and I don't puncture that often (4 times last year I think, 5 maybe), so why do it.</p> <p>Another Presta tip... Once tyre is inflated, screw the valve almost tight, and then un-screw one half turn. Once they have been pumped up a few times and the pin bit gets bent a little bit, they can lose air when fully tightened. Not the first time I have gone out to a flat tyre with no apparent explanation. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95507 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:42:04 +0000 deckard112 95507@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Appreciate this post is specifically for repair advice but I'm curious to know if the posters here would always attempt to repair rather than replace?</p> <p>Given the relative cheapness of innertubes vs saving ones sanity/health/marriage(!)I must concede I never repair tubes these days and always carry a spare or two when out and about. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95473 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:11:07 +0000 LaidBack 95473@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>remberbuck... </p> <p>I've never done it myself and would imagine Bike Works only does if rim is suitable. So I agree - get a second opinion. TBW are fairly cautious as they see many rims thinned with brake use. </p> <p>Bikes I sell are mainly using tyres in 37mmm width and above. Rims therefore are fairly chunky. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95471 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:39:53 +0000 Arellcat 95471@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>why is one tube 18" and one 20"?</em></p> <p>Good question! I think it was more an error in my selection than something being out of stock, but hey, they both work. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95470 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:15:31 +0000 remberbuck 95470@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>LB,</p> <p>I'd never, ever attempt to drill a rim to take a Schraeder. There is a point to narrow rims having small outlets that can only take Prestas, and that is structural integrity and strength.</p> <p>As said, the trade off for cooler rims. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95466 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:34:11 +0000 LaidBack 95466@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Schraeder valves need bigger hole. Bike works could drill out for you.<br /> ICE trikes use these so I'll swap if you like. Dahon though will need quite narrow inner.</p> <p>I second the TipTop brand - can buy extra patches from shop.</p> <p>Locate puncture but always find out why. Mark the tube by ringing the hole in biro. Some holes are invisible once tyre is down. Then feel inside the tyre to see if anything is a bump on inside. These often contain a shard that becomes pointy under pressure!</p> <p>Five mins of glue drying and a decent patch centred within your biro pen mark. Roughen tube there before glueing....</p> <p>All been covered but happy to look at if you want. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95465 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:14:06 +0000 SRD 95465@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@remberbuck thanks for the tips. we found a youtube video about prestas which covered some of that, but your descrip/advice very helpful. now I'm worried though, I ordered a spare tube which says explicitly it fits the exact tyre, but with schraeder valve. will it not fit in rim? sigh.... (bet it won't fit any of the other 20" wheels we have either...). </p> <p>And thanks for the tips re checking for puncture causes. Good points. Part of my problem was that I wasn't sure if the reason the rube woul;dn't inflate was because of the pump, the valves, or punctures! </p> <p>@arellcat yes. same tyres. fun to ride on :) but why is one tube 18" and one 20"? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95462 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:27:57 +0000 remberbuck 95462@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A couple of points? Are you sure that your replacement was punctured before you put it in? The original cause may still be there, and it might not be the obvious piece of still penetrating glass. I once went through three inners before discovering that there was a tiny tear on the tyre just under the rim, which was only obvious when I changed position for inflating and saw the inner ballooning.</p> <p>And for Prestas, persevere, they are OK once you get used to them, and are the acceptable price for cooler<br /> rims. Do you make sure that there is play in the valve before trying to inflate? The obvious move is to unscrew as far as you can, but this can jam, meaning that the pump just blows back on itself. The nippple also has an unfortunate habit of snapping, particularly if you are not dead straight on when inflating. Some makes - Contis come to mind - have unscrewable valves meaning that you don't have to throw away an unpunctured inner, just replace the valve from another.</p> <p>Finally, I keep the rim ring loose until the tyre is fully up - it allows play with the tyre and rim, meaning that fit is OK. Someone said they didn't see the point of the ring, and just left them off, but after a pinch puncture on the valve, I prefer securing the tyre below the rim. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95420 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:39:07 +0000 chdot 95420@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/tin-signs-ads-misc-years/26#adqzfzqp9zrgmzmv"><img src="http://file.vintageadbrowser.com/qzfzqp9zrgmzmv.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95418 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:36:13 +0000 gembo 95418@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I always wondered about that. Presumably the repair kits manufactured in countries where Dunlop / woods tubes still about? Dunlop brand has been re activated not by original rubber company but using the D logo which I like </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95417 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:35:25 +0000 chdot 95417@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=woods+valve&amp;hl=en&amp;tbo=u&amp;tbm=isch&amp;source=univ" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=woods+valve&amp;hl=en&amp;tbo=u&amp;tbm=isch&amp;source=univ</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95415 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:31:28 +0000 chdot 95415@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Explain twice. </p> <p>People might begin to believe... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95413 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:30:21 +0000 chdot 95413@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Not sure if that is what it is for"</p> <p>Nope. </p> <p>It's for old style Woods valves where a rubber tube covers a hole and becomes the valve. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95412 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:27:25 +0000 Arellcat 95412@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Gembo, the rubber tube is for the older types of Woods valves that didn't have a spring-loaded inner core. Presta was designed for high pressure; Woods (aka Dunlop or Bicycle) was low pressure, and was more or less superceded by the Shraeder valve. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95408 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:19:45 +0000 gembo 95408@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sometimes in the puncture kit there is a little rubber pipe? If glue too localised I have used the pipe to spread over the tube. Not sure if that is what it is for. I leave a minimum of five minutes to get the tackiness. The outside temp is also a big factor. At this time of year all works better inside the house and keeping the glue and tube in a warm room before you start the procedure. Curiously for a thing I have done many many times like clockwork it can still be fraught with errors etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95407 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:18:46 +0000 Arellcat 95407@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>SRD, are they still the Conti Grand Prix tyres on your Dahon? Lovely fast things and best at 90-100 psi.</p> <p>I keep Park instant patches in my repair kit for emergency use, but have never really liked them. For permanent repairs I use only Tiptop's glue and patches. The glue does dry out if you don't use it for a couple of years, but when fresh it spreads nicely.</p> <p>Some sandpaper to roughen the area of the patch, plus a bit more. If you're in the house, scrub that bit of the tube first with citrus degreaser.</p> <p>Put the glue on. Shop tip: wrap the tube around the back of your hand, with the thing stretched just a little. Make a fist. This keeps the tube flat and steady for the glue application, and helps make sure there is no air left to creep out of the hole to create bubbles in your glue.</p> <p>I think the trick to getting an even layer on the tube is not to press down while squidging it out. I tend to be on the generous side and make sure there's a thick enough layer to stop it going off before I've covered the area. Let the glue go tacky as Insto said, but if you're doing it in the warm and dry, you can leave it for 10-15 minutes. It'll look like it's dried out by then.</p> <p>Foil off and stick the patch on. I keep a pair of tweezers in my repair kit so that I don't accidentally touch the underside of the patch. My bike has rim brakes and my fingers will be all covered with aluminium dust just from removing the tyre. It's important to press the patch down onto the tube <em>really hard</em>. Work from the centre outwards. Don't remove the cellophane until you're totally sure the patch has dried. Alternatively, just don't bother removing it.</p> <p>In lieu of talcum powder, aluminium dust works pretty well. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95401 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:43:43 +0000 wee folding bike 95401@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I found the ready stick ones don't last and a wee while later they come unstuck. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95398 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:41:20 +0000 cb 95398@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"'thin layer of solution'. This is the part I struggle with. It goes on in blobs, and with gaps. Impossible to spread to even layer."</p> <p>I've never had that problem so it sounds like a dodgy solution problem to me. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95394 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:11:22 +0000 SRD 95394@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks LB. Helios' schwalbes holding up. It's the dahon skinnies giving me grief. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9186#post-95392 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 23:49:22 +0000 LaidBack 95392@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Have another 20" tube at shop. In tmrw for tour at 10. Then out till after 2. </p>