Brompton puncture. a record 21 minutes and only one broken lever

[jay clock]

Rather worryingly (due to no obvious cause) I woke up to a soft rear Brompton tyre (Schwalbe Marathons) today. Pumped up hard with track pump but by the time I arrived in Clapham on the train it was unrideably soft again. So I set my timer and 21 minutes later I was back in business. Last time took me 45. This time I photographed the rear mech to be sure how to refit

Only one broken lever (not sure of brand but got more of my fave Tacx ones on order) and no obvious thorn or glass (and in any case I think it was ok last night and I had not used it since Friday). I am now worried due to the unknown cause and keep checking it.......

 

[Full Metal Sprocket]

I wouldn't know how to fix one and yes I have a Brompton.

 

[jay clock]

I wouldn't know how to fix one and yes I have a Brompton.

I bought the bike 14 months ago and have had four punctures.

Week 1 on the standard Brompton tyre which I immediately changed for the Schwalbe Marathons.

Two mid year which were both caused by the odd shape rims allowing the rim tape to shift

Latest one for no known reason.

The alternative was take a train ride pushing the bike, so glad I went for the repair job!

 

[StuartG]

<Touch Wood> 9 years, one replacement rear tyre and awaiting her first tube visit. Standard Brompton Tyres (original green stripe and now white reflective) and original factory fitted tubes. Used to put in 80 psi, now 90 psi. Its travelled thousands of miles in the UK and France/Belgium/Spain and not always on the finest surfaces. Luck or what?</Touch Wood>

 

[The Jogger]

This saves me starting a thread with my tyre question, hope you don't mind JC

I have noticed I have to pump the tyres up every couple of weeks.as they seem to lose a bit of pressure, is this normal, I don't need to do it on my other bikes.

Incidentally I said to MrsJ this morning I think I'll take the trek to work today, her reply, no take the Brompton, she seems to think it's safer,as in slower, smaller etc? She also wants one when we move to Spain next year.

 

[jefmcg]

I had Marathon+ on my folder, got 3 punctures in <short span of time>. So got rid of the M+ and replaced it and put old tyre in shed. No further problems. When that tyre wore out, I put the M+ back on. Same tyre as before, same rim. No further problems. I rode on the M+ until it was showing more green than black and finally I had a flat. And it turned out that flat was a badly repaired tube, nothing to do with the tyre.

These things sometimes just happen.

 

[jefmcg]

Oh, what a pain!

Remind me never to buy a Brompton.

 

[The Jogger]

on watching that, I'll be taking mine to the nearest bike shop.

 

[oldwheels]

Just back from holiday with Brompton. On last day about one mile from campsite got a flat. Weather threatening so walked back and just got inside in time before deluge. Easy to get Brompton tyre off. Puncture was a small slit on spoke side of tube. Very slight misalignment of rim tape in same area so put a couple of turns of insulating tape over whole thing and fitted new tube . Relatively easy to put on tyre again. Since I was inside in the dry this was fairly painless but have not ridden any distance since. But was this badly fitted in the first place or did the tape move? Since new this bike has done about 900 miles some on rather unsuitable surfaces such as rough forest trails! Don't see how this could affect rim tape tho'. Had a similar problem on a new MB some time ago with inner area punctures. Fixed that with rim tape.At least if same happens on other wheel should be easier to fix a front wheel. The video I have seen before and it was helpful.

 

[jay clock]

Just back from holiday with Brompton. On last day about one mile from campsite got a flat. Weather threatening so walked back and just got inside in time before deluge. Easy to get Brompton tyre off. Puncture was a small slit on spoke side of tube. Very slight misalignment of rim tape in same area so put a couple of turns of insulating tape over whole thing and fitted new tube . Relatively easy to put on tyre again. Since I was inside in the dry this was fairly painless but have not ridden any distance since. But was this badly fitted in the first place or did the tape move? Since new this bike has done about 900 miles some on rather unsuitable surfaces such as rough forest trails! Don't see how this could affect rim tape tho'. Had a similar problem on a new MB some time ago with inner area punctures. Fixed that with rim tape.At least if same happens on other wheel should be easier to fix a front wheel. The video I have seen before and it was helpful.

I had the same issue with rim tape. On both wheels. The issue is that the design of the rim is a narrowish U shape rather than a flat based valley if that makes sense. So when you use rim tape approx 1cm wide in it it does not sit centrally but moves around a little. My solution one at a time when I got a flat was a couple of turns of electrical tape

 

[oldwheels]

I do not see what is so complicated in rear wheel removal. Watching the video again 2 things occur to me.One is if you just slaken off the lock nut a minimal amount on the gear change then unscrew the cable it is a simple matter to refit until tight and will still be in sync. Screw the rod back in just finger tight then slacken off so the chain will run on the rollers and not on its side,if that makes sense. I never undo the brake cable to refit the wheel. I slacken off one brake block and remove if necessary. Easy to refit and no worries about the cable slipping under tension. This all applies to most bikes with SA hubs and not just Bromptons.

 

[cnb]

Just watched the video...And that has curtailed any thoughts i had about treating myself to a Brompton...I very rarely get punctures, but when i do its always peeing down and freezing...That rear wheel looks too much of a faff...Ah well!! the other dream is a Moulton TSR.....

 

[Blue Hills]

It's not a great problem in practice cnb.

At least not in populated areas.

The bike folds. Put it on a bus. Fix at leisure.

i always carry a copy of the rear wheel removal instructions with me.

It might be a significant problem if it was your only bike, but not otherwise.

The usual thing applies as with any bike - regularly inspect your tyres for debris working its way in and you will massively reduce the number of punctures.

 

[Glow worm]

I wish I'd watched that vid before attempting to fix my Brompton rear puncture. I've just almost thrown the thing in a skip!
What a total faff.

 

[srw]

@jay clock - the only tyre levers I've ever found that reliably won't break on a Brompton/M+ combo are the solid metal variety. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure why they've gone out of fashion.

@The Jogger - yes, my Brompton does seem to lose air more quickly than other bikes. Or perhaps slight under-inflation is just more noticeable with the smaller wheels.