Fucking bike tires

[roadriverrail]

A few weeks back, a jagged bit of shrapnel made mincemeat of one of my bike's inner tubes, and this inspired me to go to my local bike shop and discuss puncture-proof tires. Something I've really grown to understand as my commute gets longer is just how much commuting is different from other forms of cycling. I am essentially required to ride

Comments

[darth_qonfused]

I bumped into my bike guru at our local coffee watering hole a few hours after my rear derailleur cable sheared within my shifter. He pointed out two things that he never leaves the house without anymore: a tyvek envelope and a ziptie. The ziptie can be used in spots where the derailleur cable breaks to keep the gear in something sensible to get you home, and the tyvek can be used to further protect the tube from within a punctured tire.

[roadriverrail]

What is a tyvek envelope?

Also, out of curiosity, what would you recommend in this situation? I've got a tube with a known hole but I have some Skabs I can use to patch it. I've got a mystery tube on the bike and I don't know why it lost pressure. I've got one more CO2 charge, but the last one likely over-inflated my tube.

[darth_qonfused]

Tyvek is the wrapping material that goes around some houses, on the outside next to the insulation. Also it's the stuff that club/event bracelets and USPS priority mail envelopes are made from.

No hand pump? If you don't have one, I'd suggest hanging onto that last C02 cartridge like it was the mother load... Most scabs will completely cure in about 5 minutes or so. You'd be safe hanging onto that tube for now, and keeping your fingers crossed on your way home, then be sure to get a hand or floor pump...

My guru said that he had a friend who wound up having to pack his tire solid with grass to ride the 10 miles back to their car after he flatted. He said it was both slow and bumpy, but they didn't break the rim (magically enough). I can't recommend highly enough the ToPeak Mini Morph. If I only had 1 pump: this would be it...if you need to reinvest.

As far as the mystery tube: I'd make sure that nancyblue is aware of the situation with the tubes and be sure that she can sag you if required (or be sure your route takes you by at least

[secretsoflife]

maybe this is just a toronto thing, but i've been biking here as my main mode of transportation for 7 years without ever getting a flat. i've ridden a 10-speed with road tires, a hybrid with slicks, a cruiser with nubby tires, and most recently a mountain bike, over the years. it might be that living downtown there are a lot of parked cars which means i tend to not bike next to the kerb as much... not dismissing that bike stuff can be crap, but it does also sound like you've had a run of bad luck :/

what is it with bike shop people though, seriousl? i was discussing this with pretentiousgit the other day, who despite her username is neither pretentious nor a git, and we just basically spent a half hour telling douchebag bike repair stories. wtf. it honestly boggles my mind.

[darth_qonfused]

I think the problem is that most bike mechanics don't really have any formal training. The mechanic my wife and I take our steeds to also is a machinist/frame builder/engineer...though before that I took my first bike to a place around the corner from my office. That place couldn't even correctly diagnose what the problem was with my wife's bike, let alone fix it. 5 minutes at the other place, and the bike was working better than new. I think it really is all in who you take it to...

[secretsoflife]

i've had decent luck with the skills of the bike mechanics i've been to over the years, though i now fix my own; it's more the attitude that weirds me out.

[roadriverrail]

I'm not talking about mechanical competence when I complain about the attitudes at an LBS. I'm talking about the complete inability to keep their heads in the game. For example, my LBS in Ft. Lauderdale would never tell me when they expected a repair or service to be complete but would tell me they'd call when the bike was ready. Then they wouldn't call. For days. I'd finally call them to ask what was taking so long, and they'd tell me the bike was ready days ago and express surprise that I didn't call them sooner.

Evolution Bicycles here in Cupertino...they apparently can't track special orders without the manager. He's on vacation. Result...nobody really knows where my rather necessary tires are, and they should have been here well over a week ago.