The Cycling Chat Thread

[steeeve]

I'd never consider going out for more than a couple of miles without a spare tube, levers, patches, pump/CO2 cartridge and multi-tool. It's not like they weigh much. I find park tools super patches the best and a cheap CO2 nozzle. I fit all the above in a deuter XS saddle bag

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

For cummuting I carry a small trainer bag just with pump, inner tubes, repair kit and levers inside a bigger bag- if the worst happens you just yank out the bag and deal with it.

I would never trust aerosols after using them for car punctures - they were shit. Likewise I tried CO2 but got burnt with empty cartridges before so trad way for me. For a leisure ride with no backpack I use a small under sadle bag with the tube and levers in and strap the minipump (topeak mini morph) under the saddle with a toe strap.

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

Of course the proper boys - for road cycling anyway - use zefal frame fitting pumps.

 

[Boycey]

Of course the proper boys - for road cycling anyway - use zefal frame fitting pumps.

the HPX-1 is a serious piece of kit.

 

[Boycey]

I'm trying not to say it out loud (to hide the wrath from the puncture gods!)...But, no.

I carry one of these http://www.evanscycles.com/products/zefal/sealant-spray-ec019743

(and a co2 cartridge) with me - it's air and a sealant in a can, the theory that it will inflate and seal the damaged inner tube in one (at least to enable me to hobble home/to the finish/to the next mechanic stop.

I'm yet to be convinced it will work (indeed, it's never been needed to - touch wood) though the idea of me ever at the side of the road, bike upended, broadcasting the full extent of my lack of dexterity/bike skills as I get 5-year-old tantrumy-stressed, trying and failing to stretch the tyre/new inner tube round the rim...well it's just not happening!

saw a mate blow a tyre off the rim with some of this stuff (or something a lot like it), it was fucking hilarious. make sure you film it if you get a chance to use it.

but maybe wait until it has stopped expanding before taking it on a massive decent because that could be nasty

 

[han]

I can't imagine going out without a pump and inner tube or kit. Glad to hear there are saddlebags big enough to take them.

CO2 sounds scary! [emoji15]

No-one likes my new bike! [emoji30] [emoji27] [emoji23]

 

[tommers]

The verenti substance do everything bike for £600 is a steel

hmm... that might be what I need.

 

[tommers]

I can't imagine going out without a pump and inner tube or kit. Glad to hear there are saddlebags big enough to take them.

CO2 sounds scary! [emoji15]

No-one likes my new bike! [emoji30] [emoji27] [emoji23]

I do and have.

 

[han]

[emoji4] yay!

 

[ChrisFilter]

It's lovely, Han.

And I wouldn't go anywhere without a pump and two inner tubes. I've got a Lezyne one - it was about £30. Comes with a frame attachment that goes under the bottle cage. As Ted says, it had a tube that comes out the top so you can pump without shaking the bike all over the place.

 

[Geri]

I had to take my new bike back to the shop today. Since I bought it two weeks ago I wasn't happy with one of the pedals, it was clunking and making a lot of noise. Today on the way to work it completely seized up! Luckily I was only 50 yards or so from the office. Later when I looked at it, it was moving again. Anyway, I took it to the shop on the way home, they replaced the pedals and it seems fine now.

 

[han]

It's lovely, Han.

And I wouldn't go anywhere without a pump and two inner tubes. I've got a Lezyne one - it was about £30. Comes with a frame attachment that goes under the bottle cage. As Ted says, it had a tube that comes out the top so you can pump without shaking the bike all over the place.

Thanks Chris!

Interesting. Yeah I'm definitely of the school of taking spare tubes, whipping the old one out if I get a flat, then fixing the damaged tube at home later, keeping it as a spare. Quicker than trying to fix it by the roadside. Unless you're some kind of puncture-fixing superhero.

However I was chatting with one of the lovely Brixton Cycles staff about this, and she was saying she fixes flats by the side of the road without even taking the wheel out. What the actual fuck?! I really don't know how people do that. I guess she's just been doing it her entire life and is uber quick.

 

[han]

I had to take my new bike back to the shop

What have you got, Geri?
Glad to hear it's sorted!

 

[Geri]

It's a Specialized Source. It's strange riding a hybrid after being used to a mountain bike!

 

[han]

Niiiice.
Looks like quite a nippy city bike that you could use for touring as well. I do think a trusty hybrid is great for commuting. Light enough to be pacy, hardcore enough to deal with potholes and towpaths, good gear ratio for a bit of hillage.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Thanks Chris!

Interesting. Yeah I'm definitely of the school of taking spare tubes, whipping the old one out if I get a flat, then fixing the damaged tube at home later, keeping it as a spare. Quicker than trying to fix it by the roadside. Unless you're some kind of puncture-fixing superhero.

However I was chatting with one of the lovely Brixton Cycles staff about this, and she was saying she fixes flats by the side of the road without even taking the wheel out. What the actual fuck?! I really don't know how people do that. I guess she's just been doing it her entire life and is uber quick.

I probably shouldn't admit this on here, but I just bin inner tubes if they puncture.

Tbf, I've had one puncture in three years so it's not as wasteful as it sounds.

Cue multiple punctures.

 

[han]

Lol! [emoji3]
Actually, that sounds like a really good idea. Why didn't I think of that?

Yeah, I only get about one every couple of years too . I swear by marathon plus tyres. Not that you can use them on narrow 700c wheels, but they're great on my trusty hybrid I commute on. Really reliable.

Does anyone use that soft spongy anti puncture tape you can put on the inside of your tyre? I've found that to really help, too.

I'll probably put gatorskins on my new racer when the tyres wear out. It's just a weekend jaunt bike, I'm not going to commute on it, but I do want something pretty puncture resistant. I just hate getting punctures!

 

[steeeve]

Lol! [emoji3]
Actually, that sounds like a really good idea. Why didn't I think of that?

Yeah, I only get about one every couple of years too . I swear by marathon plus tyres. Not that you can use them on narrow 700c wheels, but they're great on my trusty hybrid I commute on. Really reliable.

Does anyone use that soft spongy anti puncture tape you can put on the inside of your tyre? I've found that to really help, too.

I'll probably put gatorskins on my new racer when the tyres wear out. It's just a weekend jaunt bike, I'm not going to commute on it, but I do want something pretty puncture resistant. I just hate getting punctures!

Gator Hardshell folding are pretty good puncturewise, not as good as marathons but waaay lighter

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-gatorhardshell-folding-road-tyre/

 

[han]

Are they much more hardcore than the standard Gatorskins, then?
Yeah, getting marathons off in a hurry is not easy, they're so rigid.

 

[Utopia]

However I was chatting with one of the lovely Brixton Cycles staff about this, and she was saying she fixes flats by the side of the road without even taking the wheel out. What the actual fuck?! I really don't know how people do that. I guess she's just been doing it her entire life and is uber quick.

She'd just pull the inner tube out of the tyre whilst its still on the bike, then after putting some air into it she'd feel/listen for the puncture, if its an obvious puncture you should be able to find it quite easily, fix it, slip the inner tube back into the tyre, pump it up & away to go!

 

[han]

Sounds so easy! [emoji3]

 

[steeeve]

Are they much more hardcore than the standard Gatorskins, then?
Yeah, getting marathons off in a hurry is not easy, they're so rigid.

More hardcore I believe though slightly heavier. Fairly easy to get on and off too

ETA I've never tried the standard ones though

 

[Utopia]

Sounds so easy! [emoji3]

Once you've done it once you'll be fine. Its only if its a teeny, tiny hole of a puncture that'll make this method tricky....those buggers you'll need a bowl of water to find it.

 

[Utopia]

Did a little 40 miler Biggin Hill loop on Sunday on me new full carbon bike, a great ride, high recommended, edgy urban cycling then blended into pretty fields & countryside, great mix of climbs, descents, forests, quiet roads, nature.....and then a cracking quick run back into London & a mildy brutal climb in heavy traffic up Anerley Hill & back to Dulwich


That's London in the distance that is!

 

[braindancer]

I probably shouldn't admit this on here, but I just bin inner tubes if they puncture.

Tbf, I've had one puncture in three years so it's not as wasteful as it sounds.

Cue multiple punctures.

I don't bin them - I put them in my shed - waiting for the day when I feel like having a puncture fixing binge. I think I've got about 15 tubes hanging off the back of my shed door. Still waiting for that day to come around

 

[tommers]

I honestly get about a puncture a week. Using panaracers but with gatorskins as well. I'm so sick of them. Can only think it's the Thames Path on thin tyres. And cycle paths tend to pick up loads of shit. One memorable one was a bit of metal that just went straight through to the rim.

 

[Utopia]

I honestly get about a puncture a week. Using panaracers but with gatorskins as well. I'm so sick of them. Can only think it's the Thames Path on thin tyres. And cycle paths tend to pick up loads of shit. One memorable one was a bit of metal that just went straight through to the rim.

I've got Gatorskins on both my bikes, probably average about 100 miles a week on them, had 1 puncture in the last year!

I'd say its the Thames Path........could you not sweep with a brush it once a year?

 

[Lemon Eddy]

I don't bin them - I put them in my shed - waiting for the day when I feel like having a puncture fixing binge. I think I've got about 15 tubes hanging off the back of my shed door. Still waiting for that day to come around

I think I got to about 30 or so before admitting that day would never come.

 

[Winot]

I honestly get about a puncture a week. Using panaracers but with gatorskins as well. I'm so sick of them. Can only think it's the Thames Path on thin tyres. And cycle paths tend to pick up loads of shit. One memorable one was a bit of metal that just went straight through to the rim.

Thought about going for Tannus solid tyres? Google Nipnip for fitting etc.

 

[likesfish]

I has a single speed bike now found it dumped with a snapped handlebar new handlebar £9 new bicycle pump £5 much faster than my mountain bike and lighter as my commute is only a mile and half perfect.
Also has a brake that works which is one more than my mountain bike has at the moment.
Cant climb a hill on it though not that I could on my mountainbike