Bike Tyre Slime - advice please

armyknife

The chore of having to fix a puncture whilst out is over-rated; it's not really something to fear.

If you carry a spare tub and/or repair kit, you can get used to dealing with the minor problem punctures really are, that'll build your confidence and encourage you to prepare for and deal with other bike repairs/mechanical whilst out and about.

Once you get that confidence, you won't have to reply on somewhat heavy armoured tyres, which depending on what type of cyclist you are can be bit of a 'drag'. Though your mileage will vary on that issue.

On the subject of marathon plus on folders, I put some on a Dahon and was never comfortable with the trade-offs; eventually put on some slightly soft balloon tyres, as recommended by the local bike shop, and it transformed the handling and fun I had out of the bike.

fred246

I made the big mistake of purchasing a bike with a Shimano Nexus hub. Removing the rear wheel on that to fix a puncture was a real pain. Having to turn a locking ring after matching yellow and red circles up (the paint quickly wore off!). That's when I got obsessed with trying to prevent punctures. Happily I have now binned all my Nexus stuff and changing wheels is a lot easier. I have commuted to work now for 10 years on Marathon Plus and never had a puncture on the way - had 2 on the way home though. I am sure mending a puncture when you will be late for work in the pouring rain can't be pleasant - OK if you're a Sunday morning cyclist going round in circles.

yorkie2

Norman_Castle wrote: »

These http://www.schwalbetires.com/flat-less are described as flat less.

Agreed.

Forget slime; use Marathon Plus.

No punctures for me since I switched to Marathon Plus. And yes, I have gone over glass etc and would have got a puncture with my old tyres, I'm sure!

Keep_pedalling

I regularly do day rides of 100-200km and would never use Marathon pluses they are simply to slow, and are overkill for road riding where the need for puncture protection in the sidewalls is not really needed.

My steel tourer is fitted with Panaracer pesela tour guards, plenty of protection under the tread but nice supple thin sidewalls giving a very comfortable ride with a reasonable balance between puncture protection and rolling resistance. I have only had 2 punctures in around 10,000 miles of riding using those, and one of those was a thorn through the sidewall on a short section of off road track

I'm using Michelin Pro4 Endurance slicks on my CF Cannodale Synaps, but I've only ridden about 700 miles on those so far.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/tyres/michelin-pro4-endurance-tyres

All tyres are a compromise between comfort, puncture resistance and rolling resistance. For endurance riding comfort is my top priority.

ohreally

Goodadvice75 wrote: »

New biker alert

Don't you mean cyclist?

Huskyrunner

i have too agree re slime a waste of time gunks valves up it doesnt do what it says on the tin.

I use a mountain bike 4 mornings a week too get home from work riding on a mix of roads and trails. Imo you would be better you with heavy duty inner tubes, these are slightly thicker than normal tubes. Kenda sell them, make sure you keep your tyre pressures at the right level too, and ride light ie no bunny hopping off curbs etc

[Deleted User]

Just carry a spare tube and a couple of tyre levers and a small pump of course, and mend the puncture at home. The only thing to remember is to locate and remove the object which caused the puncture in the tyre, such as a thorn or piece of glass, very carefully before you install the new tube or you ` re walking home because it will puncture again if you don`t.

Ballard

I am hopeless at fixing a flat tyre. I can eventually do it but it takes me forever (well, about half an hour!). In a way I feel that I should practice but that seems a daft thing to do when I don't have a problem.

I have to say that the cycling community is great, though. I was walking my bike five miles home with a flat last year when someone stopped and fixed it in five minutes. I had all of the gear on me but was worried that I would somehow be left unable to get the wheel back on and would really be stumped.

Watching that guy help me has given me confidence to fix the next one myself but I bet that it'll take me longer than a few minutes.

This post will make me look a right idiot but I'm not that bad. I'm just not particularly dexterous.

daivid

Ballard wrote: »

I feel that I should practice but that seems a daft thing to do when I don't have a problem.

I quite agree but a bit of practice in the warm will reduce the discomfort of a puncture in the wind and rain. Simply making sure all you need is where you think it is can be a big help, if you use a saddle bag have the tyre levers where you can get them 1st, then spare inner-tube, then gas pump (if you use one) nothing worse than digging though everything else to get to the one thing you need imo.

Norman_Castle

Ballard wrote: »

I have to say that the cycling community is great, though. I was walking my bike five miles home with a flat last year when someone stopped and fixed it in five minutes. I had all of the gear on me but was worried that I would somehow be left unable to get the wheel back on and would really be stumped.

I had a puncture a few years ago. My tube of glue was punctured and completely empty. Does it evaporate?. I hailed a passing cyclist :rotfl:and borrowed their glue. At home my spare tube of glue was also empty but unopened!. I use sticky patches now. Hopefully they won't lose their stickiness for no reason.
When I mend punctures I don't normally take the wheel off. I turn the bike over, undo the brake and lever the tyre off with the wheel on the bike.