Inner Tubes Misery

[Paulson]

I have just spent 2 hours changing over from my winter marathon pluses to my skinnier Gatorskins.  In the process, and using a new pair of Park Tool tyre levers, I have managed to puncture three perfectly good inner tubes.  Is this a record?

Each time I had put the wheel back on the bike, re fixed the brake noodles and the rohloff qr's, before pumping up and hearing the 'hssssssssss'.  The air was blue!!!

The last half hour has been spent with a tube of rubber solution glue and patches, although I understand it is the vogue these days not to bother fixing punctured tubes....

The new tyre levers are now in the bin, because like a bad workman, I can blame them if I want to!

[ThousandYardStare]

Not quite sure how you're managing that, Paulson! Did you check the inside of the tyre for nasties? Or could you be damaging the valves (presta?) with the pump? Only other thing I can think of is that you've bought a dodgy batch of tubes...

And who's throwing away tubes after a single puncture?!? Laziness...landfills......ludicrous.

[Paulson]

The tyre levers have a pointed shape to them - each time I holed the tube by pinching it against the rim.  Ironically, after all my struggling, I eventually got both tyres on by hand without the levers.....

I agree re chucking away holed tubes.  I think I read it in Cycling Plus - bit of a 'nouveau' roadie habit apparently, personally it's always been second nature to me to keep repairing tubes until they are unusable. 

I'd darn my socks as well if I could be bothered.....

[ThousandYardStare]

Pointed tyre levers? Good thinking, Park! Schwalbe will be bringing out a line of square tyres next.

Glad you're sorted now.

I can't be bothered to repair my darn socks either.

[rualexander]

Using levers to help with putting tyres on can lead to this kind of problem, it's too easy to pinch the tube. Best to stick with putting tyres on with your hands and thumbs if possible, and just use the levers for getting the tyres off.

[Paulson]

Here we go, this afternoon's work:

[Crudson]

Best to stick with putting tyres on with your hands and thumbs if possible....

Hmm..unfortunately Marathon +'s don't come with free bionic thumb implants....

Hard lines Paulson [stop sniggering at the back] -
Do you stick a wee bit of air in the tube as you're offering the tyre on?
Had you been to the pub before hand?

[ThousandYardStare]

'Crudson'? Are you Paulson's nemesis?

[rualexander]

Hmm..unfortunately Marathon +'s don't come with free bionic thumb implants....

No, but normal thumbs should be enough. Have a look at Colin from Spa Cycles video here

[julk]

I find a bit of washing up liquid can help the tyre over the rim and bed it down evenly as well when inflating it.

[Relayer]

Hmm..unfortunately Marathon +'s don't come with free bionic thumb implants....

Hard lines Paulson [stop sniggering at the back] -
Do you stick a wee bit of air in the tube as you're offering the tyre on?
Had you been to the pub before hand?

I always inflate the inner tube slightly before fixing the tyre on.  I also use tyre levers, but with the tube slightly inflated I very rarely get a pinch flat.

My favourite tyre levers are here, tried Park and various others but much prefer the old fashioned metal ones!

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/icetoolz-icetoolz-steel-tyre-levers-prod17810/

And I also repair punctured tubes.

[Crudson]

'Crudson'? Are you Paulson's nemesis?

I'm also his nightmare.....and; the nadir of his nexus.

good vid-tip rual' - thanks!

[ThousandYardStare]

I'm also his nightmare.....and; the nadir of his nexus.

The nadir of his Rohloff, surely 

[il padrone]

I've always found the Michelin flat yellow plastic tyre levers to be the best for really tight tyres. Great hook to get the bead on, never pinched tubes with these. They seem flexxy, but you can lever a tight tyre by holding them close to the tyre bead.

[sloe]

Pointy levers: that's what we used to use to open beer and coke cans before the invention of the ring-pull.

HTH.


I find Schwalbe tubes consistently good btw.