Dangit, I'm anxious!

Member

R42Pilot wrote:

The right pump will not leave you red faced. The road morph will take a tire up to 100 PSI quickly and easily. I'm not a believer in CO2. I've known guys that went out with two cartridges and ended up phoning in the troops. A good pump will never fail you.

The preglued patches are like pissing into the wind. THe stars have to be perfectly aligned and you have to do a perfect job of application or they won't stick. Why bother? If you're going to patch a tube, there nothing as sure as a properly vulcanizd patch. After a tube has been patched a few times, I replace them.. You always hope you don't have to patch on the roadside, but you go prepared to do so. It's far better to swap tubes and do your patching at home with a beer. I usually let the punctured tubes pile up and patch several at one time.

Chain breakage is rare, but it does happen. I used to carry a chain tool and used it once for something that should have never happened to start with. The chain tool found its way out of my bag. I was the kind that could darned near overhaul a bike with all the tools I carried. I found I could ride much faster with only minimalistic (and realistic) tools. Embarassed

You'll find your own comfort level with what you carry, though... Use what we say as a guideline and decide for yourself what you need and don't need.

Mark

So if I understand you right, carrying an extra tube would be preferrable, right?

Recumbent Guru

Dang, I hadn't thought about a chain tool. I did kick the chain off the Sport one time as I was shifting up to the largest chain wheel and my heel was slanted in towards it. I never thought about what would have happened if I had been up around 85 beats per minute and I'd done that hard enough to snarl it down between the rings. Time out

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BluesCat -----> beer

2008 Sun EZ Sport CX - "Bluetiful", 2001 Giant Yukon SE - "The Roadley", 1986 Batavus Course - "DutchGrl"

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Senior Member

By stuck link, I don't mean 'the chain falls off the chainring and jams next to the bottom bracket'. I mean that a link in the chain simply doesn't bend the way it's supposed to. It causes major shifting problems when the sticky link passes through the derailleur.

Like lots of things in life, sticky links shouldn't happen, but they do. Bending the chain with your fingers should work, 'til it doesn't. Stuck links often result from the chain getting smacked when the bike falls over or crashes, it tends to be more common on two wheeled bikes. Nevertheless, it can happen on a trike, or it can happen to someone you're riding with. The chain breaker isn't used to actually disassemble the chain, that's what quicklinks are for. The chainbreaker is used on nudge the offending pin back and forth 'til it behaves itself.

The foregoing assumes that you're not a complete dufus who lets their chain rust solid. In which case, you should use the chainbreaker on your own fingers.

I agree that you have to draw the line somewhere, you can't bring a whole bikeshop worth of tools with you. However, a sticky link can cripple the bike, and the tool is so small and light and the fix is so easy that for me, it's cheap insurance. I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Been there, it sucks.....

Moderator

nordmann56 wrote:

R42Pilot wrote:

The right pump will not leave you red faced. The road morph will take a tire up to 100 PSI quickly and easily. I'm not a believer in CO2. I've known guys that went out with two cartridges and ended up phoning in the troops. A good pump will never fail you.

The preglued patches are like pissing into the wind. THe stars have to be perfectly aligned and you have to do a perfect job of application or they won't stick. Why bother? If you're going to patch a tube, there nothing as sure as a properly vulcanizd patch. After a tube has been patched a few times, I replace them.. You always hope you don't have to patch on the roadside, but you go prepared to do so. It's far better to swap tubes and do your patching at home with a beer. I usually let the punctured tubes pile up and patch several at one time.

Chain breakage is rare, but it does happen. I used to carry a chain tool and used it once for something that should have never happened to start with. The chain tool found its way out of my bag. I was the kind that could darned near overhaul a bike with all the tools I carried. I found I could ride much faster with only minimalistic (and realistic) tools. Embarassed

You'll find your own comfort level with what you carry, though... Use what we say as a guideline and decide for yourself what you need and don't need.

Mark

So if I understand you right, carrying an extra tube would be preferrable, right?

Actually, you want both. If you get a second flat, you want to be able to patch. Ideally, yuo'll only get the one flat and you can patch at home.

Mark

_________________
Bicycling is my drug of choice. Followed closely by beer.

CFRR Moderator

rydabyk wrote:

Sand Spurs Evil or Very Mad

Sand spurs are Florida's answer to the tumble weed or cactus. While on a ride I had a few flats all in the same day within a mile. That day I ordered my airless tires and have left all the tools home. I still wait for my "aired" friends when they flat. thumbs up

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Mongoose Switchback Cruzbike Conversion
"Pain is only temporary, quitting is forever." Lance Armstrong
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Moderator

We had those in the midwest, or something like them. In our neck fo the woods, they're called "sand burrs". Goatheads are different; not so many spines, but they are harder and hurt way worse when you step on them. I would guess they are nastier on flats, too.

Mark

_________________
Bicycling is my drug of choice. Followed closely by beer.

Senior Member

When I lived in Boise Idaho I had to contend with goatheads. They sell a lot of Slime in Boise bike shops. It works pretty well for that. I also tried AirFree tires while in Boise. I agree with teacherbill, your overall average speed can be higher with solid tires if you don't have to stop all the time for flats. It improved my mood considerably as well. I quit using them when I got my trike, they can't handle the side forces.

Junior Member

R42Pilot wrote:

We had those in the midwest, or something like them. In our neck fo the woods, they're called "sand burrs". Goatheads are different; not so many spines, but they are harder and hurt way worse when you step on them. I would guess they are nastier on flats, too.

Mark

Goatheads are the TRUE weapons of mass destruction. If we could find a way to employ them in a military context we would fear no one and terrorists would tremble at our feet, begging for mercy. .A single goathead can puncture a tire more than once. And, just like fire ants, there is NEVER just one of the #@$#*& things. Kevlar is no match for them. I'm actually convinced that they can puncture a tractor tire, if they choose. If you are riding in goathead territory and you have to leave the pavement for any reason, be afraid.
Be VERY afraid. affraid

Moderator

Altozwei wrote:

R42Pilot wrote:

We had those in the midwest, or something like them. In our neck fo the woods, they're called "sand burrs". Goatheads are different; not so many spines, but they are harder and hurt way worse when you step on them. I would guess they are nastier on flats, too.

Mark

Goatheads are the TRUE weapons of mass destruction. If we could find a way to employ them in a military context we would fear no one and terrorists would tremble at our feet, begging for mercy. .A single goathead can puncture a tire more than once. And, just like fire ants, there is NEVER just one of the #@$#*& things. Kevlar is no match for them. I'm actually convinced that they can puncture a tractor tire, if they choose. If you are riding in goathead territory and you have to leave the pavement for any reason, be afraid.
Be VERY afraid. affraid

You don't even have to leave pavement. Those cracks in the asphalt where weeds grow through?.... Yeah goatheads. Dogs, possums every critter imaginable carries them into the street.

Mark

_________________
Bicycling is my drug of choice. Followed closely by beer.

Member

Actually, you want both. If you get a second flat, you want to be able to patch. Ideally, yuo'll only get the one flat and you can patch at home.

Mark[/quote]

IDEALLY..... I DON'T get a flat at all. Very Happy

Thank you, Mark, and all you others, for welcoming me, and for educating me. It really does mean a lot.

Toby