Punctures - how to get home without tyre removal?

[Katherine]

A taxi would seem to be the best option if in a situation where the puncture couldn't be fixed on the spot and adverse weather or distance made walking to home with your bike unviable. But I am wondering how many taxi drivers would be reluctant to take the bike in their vehicle due to the potential of accidental scratching or staining from chain oil? Would you always mention when phoning for the taxi that there is your bike to transport?

I would definitely request a taxi capable of taking a bike. I have a plastic bag to cover the saddle at cafe stops when it's raining, which could go over the chain if necessary. Especially if both wheels had to be removed.

 

[Blue Hills]

Peel back tyre
Stuff in grass
End story

Have you actually ever used this old supposed tip?
Forgive me, but I have extreme doubts about it to say the least.

 

[Tin Pot]

Have you actually ever used this old supposed tip?
Forgive me, but I have extreme doubts about it to say the least.

No way! But I suppose I do have it as a last resort option. Saw it in GCN a while back:



View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gwO7f1wxUzM

 

[Blue Hills]

The muppet shouldn't have packed so lightly, thinking he could stuff everything in a back pocket/up his arse. Two spare tubes, puncture repair kit, good levers, spare laces if tyre hard to fit, proper pump that doesn't have ambitions to be a piece of jewellry.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

The muppet shouldn't have packed so lightly, thinking he could stuff everything in a back pocket/up his arse. Two spare tubes, puncture repair kit, good levers, spare laces if tyre hard to fit, proper pump that doesn't have ambitions to be a piece of jewellry.

Yeah, but he'd need some sort of saddlebag to keep his kit in, and that wouldn't look "pro" on a road bike. Then think of all that extra weight he'd have to carry. It might cost him an extra ten seconds over a 20 mile ride, cant be doing with anything that might slow a roadie down.... Remember the correct order of cycling priorities; appearance first, weight reduction second, practicality last.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Good morning!
Mod Note:
How is disparaging roadies going to help the OP?
OP's problem is arthritis, a trailer full of bike tools won't make it easier for them to change an inner.
Back on topic, please, be nice.
End Mod Note.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Thanks, Pat. But we've established the options (listed - some of which could be adopted in combination).
Not quite sure why you think we should still stay on topic when it's reached 'maturity'. I think roadies are a hardy enough bunch to cope with (aka ignore) 'kitchen sinkers' criticism of their stereotypical inclination to put clean lines over sensible tool/spares provision.
1) Tyres extremely resistant to puncturing.
2) Solid tyres
3) Tubeless tyres (with recognised pros and cons)
4) VAR lever (practised with and carried)
5) Resort to recovery rather than mend (Taxi, ETA or 'personal recovery operator')
6) Wear non-road cleat shoes and be prepared to walk
7) Hitch, with or without bike.
I'd add a further suggestion which is to accept 'normal' puncture chances but choose a rim/tyre combination which is at the easy end of the rim/clincher fit spectrum. This pinned thread "Difficulty in installing tyres? RANKINGS" on another site offers a list.

 

[confusedcyclist]

Disadvantage is tubeless can be a fiddle to set up and it doesn't always work.

OP, You may well benefit from tubeless tyres, because once setup right, they require minimal fuss. HOWEVER the above stands true. I want to stress I got a good 8 months trouble free commuting, doing 100 miles a week on a pair of tubeless tyres. Look at the kind of abuse they can withstand here:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2OqwuhNGfg


The major downside is the sealant needs to be topped up and replaced relatively often, every 4-6 months as a bare minimum I think. It can be injected with a special kit by removing presta valve cores, or simply poured into a partially seated tyre. I don't have the kit and valve core removers, so I do it the simple way. You could out source the task given your aversion to fiddly stuff.

However, if you have problems setting up tubeless tyres, they can be a real headache, sometimes taking a few attempts to get a good seal. Funnily enough, my first installation went very smoothly, I was up and running after the first attempt, all with virgin components. I was very enthusiastic about recommending them to every Tom, Dick and Harry I met. THEN came the second attempt. After 8 months, along came the day I got a slow puncture, the tyre was out of sealant, having dried up, or otherwise used up doing its job sealing punctures as I went. Resealing the tyre that was used and dirty was not so simple! After 3 failed attempts to form the seal on the rear tyre I have reverted to using a tube in my rear wheel until I can find the time to work on the wheel again. I have a new born baby at home (I didn't when I first invested in the wheelset) so I have less time to work on bike niggles. Hence temporarily giving up and reverting to tubes. I need the bike to get to work, so it was an annoyance to get to the bike with a flat in the morning 3 days in a row. For someone with more time on their hands, it probably wouldn't be a big deal!

If you have the option, a handy friend, son, brother or friendly neighbourhood spider... er, bicycle mechanic can deal with the finger/head-achy parts and you can just focus on the riding. Being perfectly capable mechanic myself, I cannot justify out sourcing the work, I just need to find the time. So despite my own experience, I would recommend tubeless tyres to someone who can afford to get a mechanic to deal with the work, or has lackeys on hand to do the work, and you can focus on the ride.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I have used some Crivit Puncture sealant (from Lidl) spray a few times with success, to return to base if I have no other option or am in a desperate situation (e.g. it's dark, wet, my pump is playing up, my spare inner tube(s) not inflating, in a hurry.

However sometimes the puncture is too big and the stuff just oozes out the tyre.

Have you considered getting some Tannus solid tyres ?

 

[rogerzilla]

I can remove and fit most tyres without levers these days. There is a definite knack to it - it's not brute strength. M+ are difficult when new in some sizes (700 x 25 is notorious) because they're so stiff and springy that you can't keep them on the rim when trying to fit them. You seem to need three hands. It is doable, though. The wider M+ are as easy as any other tyre (700 x 47, 26 x 1.35, 26 x 1.75, 16 x 1.35...done them all!).

 

[Ajax Bay]

I can remove and fit most tyres without levers these days.

He doesn't style himself "rogerzilla" for nothing.

Have you considered getting some Tannus solid tyres ?

Now that the GCSE results are in, phew (me too), have you considered reading the earlier posts on this thread?

 

[Deleted member 35268]

He doesn't style himself "rogerzilla" for nothing.

Now that the GCSE results are in, phew (me too), have you considered reading the earlier posts on this thread?

No