Tubed tire noob seeks wisdom... I'm trying to get prepared for tubed tire repair in the field, specifically on my Terra. On my Strada I averaged about 2k mi between punctures, I'm slightly overdue for my next one. Being tubeless, the Strada repair goes something like: 1) pull over 2) find culprit 3) get out tire pump and Nealy kit - http://www.tirerepairkit.com 4) remove culprit 5) insert plug 6) inflate tire 7) put away tire pump and Nealy kit 8) resume ride It's literally like 10 minutes, I've had 100% success over many bikes over many years. I suspect my lifetime pavement puncture average is about once every 10k, but they definitely come in streaks. On to the tubed tire repair in the field... I've changed many bicycle tires, fixed many bicycle flats so I understand the principles. I've got a set of heavy duty tubes to go on the Terra, which I'll do in the garage to get some experience the actual act of the fix. I've got all the tools I think I need, and I've watched some youtube stuff and read some instructions. I'm confident I'll be fine in the garage. In the field, I'm stuck in one spot. Here's the high level sequence. 1) pull over 2) find culprit 3) lift up bike on jack (oops, no big ol' motorcycle jack in the field) 4) remove wheel, fix puncture, reinflate 5) replace wheel 6) lower bike off jack (oops) I think there are four options, without the jack, to the get the bike in position so a wheel can be removed: 1) kick it over on it's side - this helps evaluate crash bar performance, is free, but I'm not sure how well it works. Seems like all the fluids end up in an unusual state, or you lose fuel, etc. - Does this 'just work' and I'm over thinking it? 2) find the perfect tree / rock / large cat / etc to prop the bike up on and keep it stable. - I think this is an urban legend, and there are definitely places I know I ride that would not have what I need. The idea that I'll stumble upon a puncture right here just isn't realistic... 3) use one of those cool trail stand things: http://www.endurostar.com/ - I think I read in a recent thread that these work well with the TRs. Can anyone confirm? Anyone like these on other bikes? Seems brilliant if it's stable enough. 4) get a center stand. - Seems like the safest approach. $200 though. Downside is a bit more weight, which does not bother me, not sure if there are other downsides, I've had them on a lot of street oriented bikes and they've worked for me. One additional requirement for me is I have to be 100% self sustained. I ride mostly alone, and I find myself more and more in places that would result in a very long walk out. I'm thinking either centerstand, or endurostar trail stand with the other two options as backup. I'd love to hear from folks who have something that has worked well for them.
i have done both 1 and 2. the advantage of #1 is you dont have to remove the wheel. kick it over, spoon off one side, pull tube out. find hole, patch, shove tube back in , respoon. just did one in the rain at midnight last week in under 15 minutes. #2 isnt too bad, logs, rocks, embankments, guard rail, many things can be used/found to prop it up. propping up the front using the kickstand, and another stick works well for a front removal. but might be difficult if you are alone. couple weeks back we've had a HELL of a streak of flats this season. at least 10 of them in our group of 5 riders.
The home made trail stands made from a cane are what the KLR 650 guys use. It is very compact and light and collapses to a very short length. I tried mine on my Terra and it works OK on the rear tire but a little unsteady on the front. The endurostar trail stand looks good to me and of better quality. It can lash to the underside of the luggage rack along side of the muffler fairing or strap to the top of the panniers.
I can vouch for the endurostar stand. It is very simple and effective for almost any bike. Less weight than a center stand and less $. I also really like the motion pro tire spoons with a 12/13mm wrench on one, and a 24mm on the other. Fits both my Husky and DRZ and they weigh practically nothing! Oh yeah, and a trail bead buddy...
krussell, like you my Terra is my first bike with tubed tyres, and I've always been hesitant about buying a bike with tubed tyres because of the fixing a flat issue not being a simple plug and go. I have the endurostar trail stand. It works well. I use it often for cleaning and lubing my chain. I also did a garage dress rehearsal, using only what I was carrying on the bike I removed both wheels and one tyre, just to satisfy myself that if necessary I did have the means. What I did learn, was that when taking the rear tyre off, if you're solo, it's imperative to have the bike as vertical as possible. I found it impossible to get the rear wheel back in place, with the bike on the sidestand (and tilted even further to the left by the trail stand. I ended up pushing a block of wood under the bike stand to get the bike as vertical as I was comfortable with and then installing the back wheel was a cinch. Using existing holes in the bash plate to lift the front wheel, and a corner in the rhs footbeg bracket to raise the rear.
When lifting the rear wheel, I use one of those looped bungee cords to hold the front brake on. When lifting the front. I put the bike in gear. Keeping the bike from rolling is essential. The bike is very stable with the 3 point support: tire-sidestand-trailstand.
You might wanna carry a couple new tubes so the patching tube job might can be eliminated a time or two ...
For day rides, most just carry a spare front - it can be used front or rear in a pinch and get you out. I use UHD tubes, but for spares I carry normal duty tubes - UHD tubes take up a lot of space. I'm used to packing pretty light though, on dualsported KTM's and XR's that I don't want to haul too much extra tonnage.
On a related note... I've never owned a bike before with tubeless tires (Strada) so please be kind if this sounds like a stupid question. I bought the Coleman tire repair kit below. I've repaired many tires both tubed and tubeless but have never used CO2 cartridges to inflate. Will one cartridge get me back in business? Two? Need three? Can anyone weigh in who has used something like this?
Two cartridges will probably inflate a front tyre enough to give you confidence to go around a corner, but you're unlikely to ever get a front puncture. 2 cartridges in a rear tyre will get a sportsbike 180 tyre up to about 10-15psi. I guess the smaller tyre capacity of the strada rear, compared to a sportsbike will probably get you more pressure than that, but if I wasn't carrying a 12v pump, I'd carry at least 3 co2 cartridges. On my road bike I carry Co2 carts as well as a pump, but I'd only use the pump unless i was in a real hurry to get somewhere, or a hurry to get away from where I was. The co2 carts are pretty expensive.
I like mushroom plugs and a high quality pump. The CO2 bottles are expensive and what if your plug doesn't hold and you've used your 2 or 3 bottles?
I'm a mountain biker as well. My MTB patch kit and trail pump will get the job done, and it is very lightweight. Filling the tire with a hand pump is a chore, but you always have enough air pressure. I also pack spare tubes and the endurostar stand.
I would not rely on CO2 alone. A good mountain bicycle pump will do the job, or an electric. I'm so paranoid I carry a MTB pump and the electric.
Thanks all. That's the kind of feedback I was looking for! Most of my serious riding was on BMW's that had a pump & tools. Been feeling a little unprepared on the Husky. We're getting there...
You guys are too fancy. If you get a flat off road, just turn off the petcock and lay the bike down. Carry a spare front tube only. You can stuff a 21" tube into a 18" tire if needed.
