Puncture

[Shut Up Legs]

3 punctures - what then? It can happen.

Yes, all sorts of extremely unlikely events can occur during a bike ride, but that doesn't mean we should carry tools and spare parts for every possible situation. If we got too carried away with "what-ifs", we'd never leave the house.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Yes, all sorts of extremely unlikely events can occur during a bike ride, but that doesn't mean we should carry tools and spare parts for every possible situation. If we got too carried away with "what-ifs", we'd never leave the house.

.... but a pack of Park tool or Lezyne glueless patches takes up virtually no space at all, and punctures are relatively likely events, very easily fixed. I will continue to carry two spare tubes and a puncture kit, a tyre boot, a CO2 inflator and a hand pump. I don't have the 'phone home' alternative.

 

[BrynCP]

Then squeeze the patch for a good minute onto the tube and DO NOT inflate the inner tube outside of tyre.

Maybe a daft question: but a lot of tutorials on fixing punctures recommend inflating the tube just so it holds its shape before putting it back on the wheel to avoid pinching it with the tyre. Why do you say not to inflate out of the tyre (seems to be the advice in a lot of other places too)?

 

[ianrauk]

Maybe a daft question: but a lot of tutorials on fixing punctures recommend inflating the tube just so it holds its shape before putting it back on the wheel to avoid pinching it with the tyre. Why do you say not to inflate out of the tyre (seems to be the advice in a lot of other places too)?

The patch will not stretch enough with the tube and the force will pull the patch off.
You do not need or have to inflate the tube outside of the tyre.
Of course you can add a little air, just enough not to stretch the tube/patch.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Alternatively (and this depends largely on the inner tube size you are using and if you are on a road bike or mountain bike) we partially inflate the tube (useful for finding the hole) and place the patch on with the tube slightly inflated (rubber slightly stretched). It's a useful trick on mtb inner tubes where they stretch much more. I don't find it necessary on road bike innertubes.

 

[threefingerjoe]

I always carry a spare tube AND a patch kit. The first puncture gets the tube, then I can patch the punctured tube at home. A 2nd puncture must be patched on the road. That's only happened to me, once.
Now, as to kind of patches, I consider the "peel and stick" patches to be only a temporary repair to get home. I've found some of them wrinkled and coming loose, months later. A proper "sandpaper and contact cement" patch job is permanent.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Club ride on saturday, young guy turns up late, delivered by dad in car, just as we are setting off. We wait. He has slow puncture front tyre. Will call dad on mobile if problem. After 3 or 4 miles he stops. Flat. I stop, plus another chap. Spare tube - no, tools - no, pump - no. He will call dad - no, no need to do that, we'll help. We do the right thing and I swap his tube for one of my spares and keep his old tube. Rest of group have gone on. We arrive at coffee stop 10 min late. Young guy phones father, then as we are about to leave informs me that he has arranged to play golf with father in afternoon and dad will pick him up from cafe in car, so we should carry on without him ........ you must be taking the p1ss, I thought.
I don't know that I'm going to bother in future. If someone is foolish enough to have no spare, no tools and no pump, and has a puncture maybe thats their problem and not mine, and maybe they are not welcome to ride with us either.

 

[HorTs]

I use Slime Skabs pre-glued patches. Never had a problem but I do repair at home (not that that should make a difference).

 

[BrynCP]

I don't know that I'm going to bother in future. If someone is foolish enough to have no spare, no tools and no pump, and has a puncture maybe thats their problem and not mine, and maybe they are not welcome to ride with us either.

I've been "stranded" because I had no pump (I had the rest but a bit useless). However, that was my choice and I was alone - wouldn't dream of depending on others for such basics. I can see people genuinely being in bother though, only a couple of weeks ago my pump fell off my bike and under a van.