Talk about bad luck - helping a guy fix a flat on the LFP tonight

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Permalink Reply by rb on December 19, 2011 at 9:19am

I always try to bring along a couple of zip ties- seems I usually hand them out. I have found them perfect for fixing a loose fender, a botched rack, or just fastening a load.

I got a little leatherman tool last year- with the Brit bikes i usually ride, I have found it to be a great multitool, and it fits in my pocket with a little clip. I dont have any allen fasteners on most of my bikes, so a regular multi tool is a bit less helpful.

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Permalink Reply by Eduardo on December 19, 2011 at 9:24am

That's why I stay away from tubes that have removable core Presta valves. Unless you use a pump where you don't have to screw onto the valve. I learned the hard way this summer.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on December 19, 2011 at 9:54am

contact PB for the replacement parts, they have excellent customer service!

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on December 19, 2011 at 9:55am

I tend to stay away from Presta for the most part.  Unless one is running an ultra-skinny tire/rim combination to make them necessary they really are more of a liability than a boon.  Sure they do a much better job keeping air in over time with a high-pressure tire than Schrader valves but wider/fat tires rarely run to the pressures that the ultra-skinny track tires running Presta require anyhow.

Chicago streets suck.  I find the ride rough enough rolling on 26x1.9" MTB slicks riding the beat-up streets around this city.  I really don't know how those guys riding on skinny little tires do it.  No wonder people are getting so many flats.  I almost never flat on fat tires running 60psi.  And they don't roll all that hard either.  

Schrader valves are great, and the tubes last nearly forever and rarely need to be replaced even if they are being ridden off-road and get punctured often.  I've never had a bicycle Schrader valve fail or rip at the tube and even if they do begin to leak after many years of service they are easily rebuilt with reamer/tap tool and a new $.15 core.  The only time I"ve ever lost a Schrader-type tube is in a motorcycle where pressure was too low in an off-road racing environment and the rim-lock wasn't tight enough to keep the tire from spinning on the rim.  That just doesn't happen on a bicycle.  

I feel that Presta is great for racing bikes or high-mileage touring bikes where the road is smooth enough to get away skinny tires with super-high pressure.  But the price skinny high-pressure tires exacts on the daily commuter in a pot-hole strewn city environment seem to be too high to pay compared to a heavy-duty fatter-tired set-up with heavy-duty tires that can withstand more abuse and neglect because we don't always feel like checking pressure every day before we hit the street to get groceries and the trips tend to pile on the miles as each day goes by adding more and more.

I guess there is just a gulf between the person riding a heavy-duty utilitarian city-bike in a (gasp) city -or those who insist on riding an ultra-light track-bred bike in an environment it wasn't really designed to be constantly ridden in. 

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on December 19, 2011 at 10:31am

A lightweight bike is much easier to carry into the house or onto the train (when they even allow that.)

I'm lucky that I live in a garden unit and the walkout in back is a simple 7 steps up/down a nice wide concrete stairway, with a large area where I can set down the bike and lock/unlock my back door without having to scramble around the bike or hold it while I'm messing with my keys.  

If I had to carry a bike up 2+ flights of stairs I'd ride my lightweight 2-speed kickback coaster everywhere rather than a 40lb monster plus tools, water, and a massive U-lock and cable.  I bet my bike with the racks, locks, and everyday load pushes 50lbs easily.   It's not something I would like carrying up more than 7 steps.  But it is a dream to ride anywhere and I'm not afraid of potholes.  It's a city bike with a serious mountainbike heritage from the frame it is built up on so I really don't have to worry about it holding up.  

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Permalink Reply by Liz on December 19, 2011 at 11:01am

You can use presta tubes on any tire since there's an adapter for Schrader holes.  Also I ride on 700x28s over many pot holes without problem on my steel commuter, its just a matter of buying a good tire and keeping them properly inflated. I've had around 2 flats on my commuter bike in the last 2.5 years I've been riding it.  

James BlackHeron said:

I guess there is just a gulf between the person riding a heavy-duty utilitarian city-bike in a (gasp) city -or those who insist on riding an ultra-light track-bred bike in an environment it wasn't really designed to be constantly ridden in. 

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on December 19, 2011 at 11:06am

Out of stock?  That's the thing about Planet Bike.  They probably will never be in stock again because they are off to the newer design and the older pump has been obsoleted. 

I'm a big fan of Park Tools. They make quality stuff and super-quality stuff.  Their consumer-grade tools may not be up to the pro-quality but the price is good.

I've never had anything but stellar service from Park.  They will jump to help you and send you parts often for free.  I wouldn't be surprised in a case like this if they didn't have the parts to fix an older hand pump they'd send you another pump -probably a refurbished unit, but another pump at least.  That's just how they roll.

I like Planet Bike and many of their products and have used their stuff many times. But when it comes to service and support there is something about a company like Park or Phil that will go the extra mile to back up their stuff. 

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