Flat-proofing a bike

[ianrauk]

Please no.

As mentioned practice changing a tyre and get a good pump and one of these;

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/group...rtable-electric-bike-pump-currently-available

Use the hand pump to get the tube inflated and tyre seated evenly and top up to pressure with the air pump

I run a mix of Conti 500's on the 700c road bikes with tpu or latex tubes and tubeless on 650b.

Just no.

I'm not recommending anything and I wouldn't use them. The OP asked if they existed, and they do.

 

[Punkawallah]

Here’s my take on punctures. Last year I got a puncture and was six miles from home. I locked up my bike, got a bus home and then my daughter took me back to the bike with a spare wheel with tyre already fitted.
That incident was the nudge I needed to go ahead with something I had long been considering.
I paid £24 for one years breakdown cover for bikes. If I am immobilised I can phone the rescue company and they should come out and take me and my bike to my home.
#### Note. ##. I have not had the need to find out how good this service is or is not because I haven’t had another puncture since.

In that case I’d say the service was outstanding :-)

I bought an expensive waterproof for the times I go out for a few days. Haven’t used it since I bought it, so like you II found it an excellent product!

 

[Elybazza61]

I'm not recommending anything and I wouldn't use them. The OP asked if they existed, and they do.

Yeah, sorry It was meant for the OP.

 

[mickle]

1. Install puncture resistant tyres. Every brand makes them in all the sizes.
2. Keep your tyres at optimum pressure for your weight.
3. Carry a spare tube, patch kit, pump and any tools which might be required to remove the wheel. And learn how to patch and replace a tube.
4. Check your tyres periodically for sharps which might have become embedded in your tyre and remove them before they manage to penetrate the tube.

 

[fossyant]

Here’s my take on punctures. Last year I got a puncture and was six miles from home. I locked up my bike, got a bus home and then my daughter took me back to the bike with a spare wheel with tyre already fitted.

Walk/bus ride of shame. Carry a spare tube.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Sooooo

if you carry a puncture repair kit

do you have patches?
and are they self adhesive or patch and rubber solution like in the old days??

and - more importantly - if self adhesive - have you found any that last
mine have always come off a bit after a short time!

 

[Sharky]

Walk/bus ride of shame. Carry a spare tube.

On a similar note, carry a chain splitter. I've come across several bike pushers, having broken chains and broken gear hangers.

 

[Dorset Boy]

I was expecting a thread about storing a bike in a flat!

Avoid riding in the gutter, through crap and through puddles wherever possible is a good start.
Punctures are inevitable, unfortunately, so know how to replace a tube roadside.
Electric mini pumps are great.
Buy decent tyres - Gatorskins are an awful ride. Things like the GP5000 AS TR are far, far, far nicer and offer decent protection.

 

[Dadam]

Sooooo

if you carry a puncture repair kit

do you have patches?
and are they self adhesive or patch and rubber solution like in the old days??

and - more importantly - if self adhesive - have you found any that last
mine have always come off a bit after a short time!

Yes. Mainly with rubber solution, but sometimes just with self adhesive patches. I've never had to use either on a ride, I've just been able to change the tube and fix at home. And I've always used the rubber solution at home so can't answer your last question.

 

[Anthony-C]

do you have patches?
and - more importantly - if self adhesive - have you found any that last

Yes the self adhesive Duuti ones from AliExpress have been permanent, unlike some unbranded ones from there.

 

[presta]

One puncture how often?

If it's one a year, you're doing well, why worry about it. If it's four in a day, you'll run out of spare tubes if you don't repair them at the roadside.

 

[ianrauk]

Sooooo

if you carry a puncture repair kit

do you have patches?
and are they self adhesive or patch and rubber solution like in the old days??

and - more importantly - if self adhesive - have you found any that last
mine have always come off a bit after a short time!

If they have come off after a bit of time then I suggest that it's user error.
When repairing a tube with a self adhesive patch. You need to prepare the tube for fixing as if you were using old fashion glue, ie scrub and clean before applying a patch. Once applied you need to press the patch very firmly down for at least 30 seconds minimum to a minute and do not inflate the tube outside of the tyre.
You then shouldn't have any problem with them.
I've had Park Tools patches last years with no problems.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Be back in fashion soon. I remember TT'ing on my Wolber Profil 18mm rims and 18mm tubs at 130 PSI. Fast. The wheels weighed next to nothing and no fancy carbon.

Only amongst racers. Throughout the 80s my tyres were 32mm or wider. Well my 27 x 1 1/4 were technically about 31.75mm. My 24 x 1 3/8 being 34.9mm.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

If they have come off after a bit of time then I suggest that it's user error.
When repairing a tube with a self adhesive patch. You need to prepare the tube for fixing as if you were using old fashion glue, ie scrub and clean before applying a patch. Once applied you need to press the patch very firmly down for at least 30 seconds minimum to a minute and do not inflate the tube outside of the tyre.
You then shouldn't have any problem with them.
I've had Park Tools patches last years with no problems.

Hmm

I have had problems with them
OK - if I have just got a puncture by the side of a muddy path in the rain then I might well have rushed it
but when I found it was leaking I was at home and in a sunny garden

so I cleaned it and all that - and did it properly
including pressing it firmly for ages and letting it "set" before putting proper pressure in it

and it still leaked after a few more days

probably a duff brand I suppose

 

[Sharky]

Yes. Mainly with rubber solution, but sometimes just with self adhesive patches. I've never had to use either on a ride, I've just been able to change the tube and fix at home. And I've always used the rubber solution at home so can't answer your last question.

I'm the opposite, I'll always try and fix by the road side.
When I get a puncture, I try and find the cause and check the inside of the tyre for thorns etc.
Once found, it's easy to slap a patch on it there and then. And the best way of testing a repair, is to put it back on the bike, saving the good tube for another day.