A lesson learnt today

[paul04]

A day off work, so I went on a bike ride. 6 miles done and the bike was not feeling right, so pulled over to check the bike over, and noticed the rear tyre was almost flat.
So I thought it was sunny out, I was in no rush, just repair the puncture, rim off, tyre off, put air in inner tube found the hole, got the puncture repair kit out, the glue had never been opened, thinking how do I break the seal.
So found a little stick, broke the seal only to find the glue had gone off.
With luck I found a self seal puncture repair patch, Stuck that on the hole, inner tube back in, rim on bike, pump tyre up, and was flat within 1 minute.

So thought sod it, just stick in new tube, and carry on,
when I got home, I found out it was a snake bike puncture, and that's why it went flat again.

So lesson learnt today, check repair kit (not had to use it in 12 months)
Pump inner tube up before putting back into tyre.
I've just ordered a new self seal puncture repair kit, as I only had 1 patch. (and a new inner tube)

 

[ColinJ]

And check what caused the puncture in the first place! If it was a thorn/piece of glass/nail (whatever) through the tyre, then your replacement/fixed tube will probably puncture very quickly unless you remove the offending object.

I carry 2 or 3 spare tubes PLUS a couple of small puncture kits. It is overkill, but it means I could potentially donate a tube or kit to a stranded rider, if need-be. It also covers me for most emergencies such as multiple punctures, glue drying up and so on.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Tempting to blow the tube up to see if you've fixed it, but don't do it until it is back in the tyre. Glueless patches need to be inflated against the tyre for them to stick properly. *The most important thing is to find out what caused the puncture and remove the culprit. This is why lining up the tyre logo with the valve is useful, when you find the puncture in the tube you can relate the position to the tyre. If you don't find any evidence in that area of the tyre, either the thorn, flint, or whatever has come out, (but you can usually see damage in the tyre) or the cause is something else.
* as ColinJ points out above.
Also snake bite punctures are usually slits rather than holes, and tend to come in pairs.

 

[Pale Rider]

I carry 2 or 3 spare tubes PLUS a couple of small puncture kits. It is overkill.

Not really, it's very wise.

The overwhelmingly most likely breakdown on a bike is a puncture, particularly for a road bike.

It's also one that stops you riding, most other mechanicals can be bodged in some way to keep you going.

One tip is to occasionally check your onboard pump, if like me you don't use it regularly for checking tyre pressures.

 

[John the Canuck]

£2.25 on eBay .... 6 in a wee snap box

 

[paul04]

£2.25 on eBay .... 6 in a wee snap box

Thats what I have got from ebay today

 

[neil_merseyside]

To open a sealed tube you just reverse the cap to use the spike to pierce the seal don't you? All the tubes of anything with a foil cap I've ever had seem to have a always had a piercing spike.

 

[Biscuitfrisky]

Just ordered some of those red devil patches also.

Was carrying a large puncture repair lit, however this is more suitable.

 

[KneesUp]

Not really, it's very wise.

The overwhelmingly most likely breakdown on a bike is a puncture, particularly for a road bike.

It's also one that stops you riding, most other mechanicals can be bodged in some way to keep you going.

One tip is to occasionally check your onboard pump, if like me you don't use it regularly for checking tyre pressures.

I had a mate who had a puncture 12 miles or so from home and no kit, so he stuffed the tyre with long grass and rode it home. Probably better with a steel rim than carbon admittedly.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

Before setting off on a ride I always check the tyres for embedded pieces of flint , small stones or thorns. Surprising how many of the little rascals you find, especially if the last ride was in the wet!