Tales from today's commute....

[ianrauk]

Puncture day today. On the big boys bike the Planet X, changed from the Tern folder as I am cycling all the way home this afternoon.
Heading to the station, nearly there and heard the psst, psst, psst as the wheel turned. Buggerations and botherations. Oh well, I'll have 35 minutes on the train to replace the tube in relative comfort.
Checked the tyre on the platform and there's a cm gash with a bit of glass sticking out.
On train, wheel off, innertube out. Check tyre, there's still a bit of glass stuck in there. Removed and patched the inside of tyre with a Park Tools patch, inner tube in and co2'd up.
Looks like I'll be looking for a new tyre today.
All done and dusted.

Then.. a couple of stops down the line. A roadie got on. Strange. I very rarely see other cyclists on this train. Asked him where he was going so we can work the bikes to the stops. Later then me so swapped the bikes round. Started chatting as you do. Said he had a puncture. What are the chances of that? He said he was out on a ride and hit some glass. Couldn't get the tyre off.
I said I'll give it a go. Tried my trusty Park Tools tyre levers but no joy. Hutchinson tyres on Mavic rims. Absolutely no joy. Couldn't even get the tyre in the rim well to get a lever in. One for the bike shop.

 

[Mazz]

Removed and patched the inside of tyre with a Park Tools patch, inner tube in and co2'd up.

Is the co2 cannister only good for 1 tyre inflation? Can they be recharged?

 

[fossyant]

Is the co2 cannister only good for 1 tyre inflation? Can they be recharged?

One shot and in the bin. I carry two cannisters on the commute but I've never used them - I use the pump. Mainly carried if I am in a rush and get a flat - e.g. 8:30am meeting and I'm close on timing, which is rare.

 

[Dadam]

One shot and in the bin. I carry two cannisters on the commute but I've never used them - I use the pump. Mainly carried if I am in a rush and get a flat - e.g. 8:30am meeting and I'm close on timing, which is rare.

I have a CO2 inflator I've never used*, but it's got a valve which AFAIK can shut the gas off part way until the next time it's needed.

*Actually 2, I inherited another one with a used bike that came with a bag of accessories.

 

[Mazz]

One shot and in the bin. I carry two cannisters on the commute but I've never used them - I use the pump. Mainly carried if I am in a rush and get a flat - e.g. 8:30am meeting and I'm close on timing, which is rare.

Please tell me they're universal, not Presta /Schrader specific!

 

[HLaB]

I should have cycled the first bit of my commute as it was beautiful then and I think I would have made it 80 or 90 % there before it turned wet. And I would have missed the twerp who overtook me on a one way street to instantly slam on his brakes and turn wet. If there had been any sliding when I pulled the brakes I'd been in the back of them. Fortunately my stopping distance at that point only half drenched was only about 1/2 more than if it had been dry!