Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: AMuzi <am@yellowjersey.org>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: First flat in a looooong time
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2025 07:37:58 -0500
Organization: Yellow Jersey, Ltd.
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On 4/2/2025 6:54 AM, Wolfgang Strobl 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.
> 

+1 to mechanically inept cyclists.  And not only; it's the 
whole culture.

p.s. Mr Krygowski specified that, "...no tube patching, but 
the contestants had to start with a deflated front tire..."

-- 
Andrew Muzi
am@yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971