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From: John B. <slocombjb@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: First flat in a looooong time
Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2025 21:03:39 +0700
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On Wed, 2 Apr 2025 07:42:25 -0500, AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org> wrote:

>On 4/2/2025 7:30 AM, John B. wrote:
>> On Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:54:58 +0200, Wolfgang Strobl
>> <news51@mystrobl.de> wrote:
>> 
>>> Am Tue, 1 Apr 2025 23:20:38 -0400 schrieb Frank Krygowski
>>> <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net>:
>>>
>>>> On 4/1/2025 2:19 PM, Wolfgang Strobl wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Many years ago, when commuting each work day by bike, I got a flat now
>>>>> an then, too. Most often, I just patched the tube and continued my
>>>>> commute. My record was something like a bit more than seven minutes,
>>>>> from removing the tire to pumping up.  Ideal conditions, sunny morning,
>>>>> a a clean place to do the repair, a somewhat soft tire that I could
>>>>> remove with my bare hands, an easily found small puncture and, last but
>>>>> not least, a fresh repair kit from TipTop.
>>>>
>>>> While it didn't involve patching a tube, many years ago our bike club
>>>> put on a family-themed event in our local large metropark. Besides a
>>>> selection of rides there was a big picnic with multiple games and contests.
>>>>
>>>> One game was a "flat fixing contest." Again, no tube patching, but the
>>>> contestants had to start with a deflated front tire; remove the wheel,
>>>> remove the tube from the tire, re-install the tube and tire, pump the
>>>> tire up to an acceptable pressure (around 100 psi in those days),
>>>> install the wheel and re-set the brakes.
>>>>
>>>> The winner was the guy who was (and probably is still) considered the
>>>> best bike mechanic in our area. As I recall, it was back when "Quik
>>>> Sticks" were new on the market, which gave him an advantage over classic
>>>> tire irons; but it was still impressive to watch. He did the job in less
>>>> than a minute, IIRC.
>>>
>>> Impossible, when using a Rema TipTop patching set from that time.  Those
>>> sold nowadays are advertised with "there is no need to wait until the
>>> SVS vulcanization fluid dries because the inner tube patch can be fitted
>>> immediately after the coat of fluid has been applied".  Those sets from
>>> twenty or more years ago recommended to wait about five minutes before
>>> applying the patch to the prepared tube.  The applied contact adhesive
>>> had to be dry before the patch was pressed on; the higher the contact
>>> pressure, the better the patch held.
>>>
>>> <https://www.bike-discount.de/en/rema-tip-top-repair-kit-tt-04>
>>>
>>> On a hot day in summer, half as much was good enough. But no way to
>>> complete the whole process including patching in less then five minutes.
>>> This is because the necessary roughening and cleaning of the tube with
>>> sandpaper also takes time.
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On other occasions, I just
>>>>> mounted a new tube and patched at home, later.
>>>>
>>>> That's my standard procedure. It's so much easier in my shop, with the
>>>> necessary tools (including dowels for sanding anvils) all ready to go.
>>>
>>> Sure. But sometimes, you have to patch on the road, for example when you
>>> get a second flat and don't carry a another tube. Happened to me a few
>>> years ago.
>>>
>>>>
>>>> BTW, last week I helped a young woman resurrect her mountain bike,
>>>> unused for five years, so she can begin riding to work. She told me she
>>>> needed new inner tubes because the old ones wouldn't hold air.
>>>>
>>>> Turns out she'd borrowed a Schrader mini pump. She didn't recognize that
>>>> it didn't fit her Presta valves. So I gave her tire irons, taught her
>>>> how to change a tube, and advised on buying the proper pump and a spare
>>>> tube, checked over the rest of the bike, etc.
>>>
>>> Even around here, where almost every child or adult is able to ride a
>>> bicycle and does it at least now and then, the majority seems to become
>>> unable doing even the simplest repairs. Even here in Germany, where
>>> almost every child or adult is able to ride a bike and does so at least
>>> occasionally, the majority no longer seem to be able to carry out even
>>> the simplest repairs. For example, replacing a light bulb on a rear
>>> light or adjusting the head lamp.
>>>
>>> Some even can't inflate a tire.  I guess these people expect a bicycle
>>> to work similar to a modern car: Do not touch anything except the
>>> handlebar/steering wheel, pedals and brakes and visit the dealer's
>>> workshop if an indicator light comes on. E-bikes have accelerated this
>>> unpleasant process considerably.
>> 
>> In my youth the only type of bicycle we had were the single speed,
>> coaster brake, double top tube models and I reminder the first
>> "English Racing Bike" I saw. A student from Dartmouth Collage, a very,
>> very, up market school trying to inflate his tire at a gas station and
>> of course he couldn't as the old Tubular tires had a different air
>> hose attachment then an auto.
>
>In your youth, an upscale imported bicycle at Dartmouth 
>would more probably have a Woods/Dunlop valve inner tube 
>than tubulars, although either are possible.
>
>https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0019/0785/1353/files/Anatomy_of_a_Woods_Valve_3b32ea15-ad84-4834-a114-0fda2b3b8a2f.jpg?v=1659016138

It was a lot of years ago but I remember how superior we felt with our
bikes - strong enough to carry a friend sitting on the top tube, brake
with either foot, tires you could inflate at any gas station.... Nope,
them flimsy things will never be popular!


-- 
Cheers,

John B.