Proper Commuter

[BSRU]

Have Schwalbe Marathons on my bike now too - so far 8 weeks and no punctures after averaging about 1 a month! Excellent tyres - just watch the cornering to start off with. I notice a difference in grip when I lean the bike to far (don't know if anyone else notices this?).

I used to use M+'s but changed to Conti GP4 Seasons, far superior grip especially in the rain, not a harsh ride like the M+'s and 4 Conti's weigh less than 1 M+. I tried the M+'s again after 9 months on the Conti's and it was an awful exeprience and within a few days I gave up the M+'s. I would rather risk the odd puncture than having to ride on such dreadful tyres, in my opinion.

 

[scouserinlondon]

I realised today that I don't know where the hell my tyre levers have gone, I'm praying the Fairy stays away today.

 

[subaqua]

I realised today that I don't know where the hell my tyre levers have gone, I'm praying the Fairy stays away today.

steal some teaspoons from the office

 

[beatlejuice]

The M+ arrived yesterday and was fitted. I just got it on without breaking my plastic tyre levers. The ride feels different. I take note of comment about them being troublesome in the wet. I took a dislike to being thrown off motorbikes in the wet and am not keen to repeat the experience! Of course if I had a headtouch/light then it would a) make me more visible to a potential SMIDSY and b) make fixing the bike in the dark a lot easier. Is there a trick to getting used inner tubes to fold up to the same size has the come when new?

 

[scouserinlondon]

steal some teaspoons from the office

ha ha, that's not a bad idea I can just imagine the company wide email 'can the person who keeps taking spoons and returning them bent and oily please stop'

 

[GrasB]

However you really only pass the test if you get a PUNCTURE and fix it in the dark whilst it's howling a gale and bucketing down with freezing rain...

I thought it was changing a tube in the morning with air temps in the -10C range after water had got between the bead & rim from a previous trip or washing the bike. So you're stuck with a tyre frozen to the rim & you have to slowly crack the ice seal cm by cm without gloves on.

Is there a trick to getting used inner tubes to fold up to the same size has the come when new?

For presta tubes stretch, & mean stretch with a good amount of tension, the tube between your hands with the valve in one hand & the opposite end of the tube hooked over your thumb. Holding the valve open slowly wrap the tube around the hand opposite the valve making sure you keep the tube nice n' tight as you wrap it around your hand. Once you've got the tube fully wrapped around your hand tighten the valve up. The tube should be almost completely vacated of air so pop a valve cap on the valve & wrap it around the valve stem.

 

[beatlejuice]

Thanks GrasB. Success, I now have a much compacted inner tube which I hope will just waste space in my panner for ever more.

 

[cyberknight]

Using a bike light which you have to hold with your teeth.

Just take the magichsine off the bars and rest it on the floor

 

[I like Skol]

Thanks GrasB. Success, I now have a much compacted inner tube which I hope will just waste space in my panner for ever more.

Take two and waste twice the space

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

I had my 4th or 5th puncture the other week in about 2500 miles, although this particuler one
would be classed as a true "right of passage".

I'd set off into a headwind at 5am, arriving at my "turning point", ready for lunch.
Then realised the rear was going down.
Tyre off, puncture repaired (rather than fitting the spare tube), then while the tube was hanging out the tyre
(letting the patch cure) i decided to have lunch.
After that, tyre re-assembled, pumped up ... then i realised the tyre was covered in horse droppings.

At least it wasn't dark/cold/wet/windy.