The Chainlink

I got my first flat in over 3400 miles yesterday, and I'm having a difficult time putting my Gatorskins back on the rim.  My hands are too raw from trying for so long, so I'll bring it to a shop if I can't get it tomorrow.  

Has anyone else had this problem or does anyone have any tips?

Views: 3389

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I remember having this problem with Velocity Aero rims.  I gently used my tire levers to help the tire mount.

Tire levers help a ton. Just be careful and try not to damage the tire, and especially the tube. 

Some tire/rim combinations are harder than others.  Some can be downright buggars. 

This dude shows you a few tricks on one of the tougher tires. 

Every once in a while I get one that is a real bother -then I pull out the heavy artillery

Install thinner rim tape. Or use Velo-Plugs.

All the above replies are true. I've also heard of using soapy water that make it all slick and will dry up.

Soapy water works, but you may need more water when you get your next flat as it'll be sticky as heck down the road -and keep getting worse as time goes on.  I've used yellow-77 electrical cable-pulling soap which works VERY well and also dries up pretty hard over time.  

I grew up racing motorcycles so I learned to change  a motorcycle tire before I ever had to change a bicycle tire.  After doing a really stiff MX knobby any bicycle tire is a piece of cake -levers or no.   There isn't such a thing as  motorcycle tire that you can do with your thumbs. 

I agree that some tire/rim combos can be much tougher.  I love my Marathon Plus tires, but their stiffness makes them a challenge.  Good thing they rarely get flats!

James BlackHeron said:

Some tire/rim combinations are harder than others.  Some can be downright buggars. 

This dude shows you a few tricks on one of the tougher tires. 

Every once in a while I get one that is a real bother -then I pull out the heavy artillery

"Wire bead down into the well of the rim"  I'll be trying that today as I have another flat on my Panaracer RiBMo. Thanks!

Well, that is assuming I still feel like working on a bike after helping Working Bikes fill a shipping container with bikes bound for Ghana. http://workingbikes.org/shippingparties

The first time I had to change my tubes, I struggled horribly. I almost gave in and went to the shop, but did not thanks to encouragement form my wife. After trail and error I learned an essential lesson: I found it MUCH easier to get the treads back on if you do only ONE side at a time. Toward the end it'll still be a little challenging, but I found doing just one side at a time made the task A LOT easier.

Thanks for the advice everyone.  I managed to get it on using levers, though I think some plastic got shaved off of the levers and is now trapped in the tire.  The inner tube I replaced it with has a valve that's too short for my pump, though, which I didn't realize until after I installed it.  So I replaced it with another tube that I attempted to patch, but failed.  So now I'm just going to take it to the shop =P

I've been riding for a while, but now I feel like a noob!

BAD advice.

Using tire levers often damages the tube.  Purchase a rim jack or work on your hand/thumb strength.



Jim S said:

Tire levers help a ton. Just be careful and try not to damage the tire, and especially the tube. 

Using a lever to put on a tire without the necessary feel and experience of having done it many times will greatly increase the chances of pinching the tube.  But I don't think it is any greater than taking the tire off with a lever.  Both are equally likely to snag the tube if you don't know what you are doing.

Installing tube-type motorcycle tires has to be done with levers.  Once you learn how to do it without snagging the tube it's a snap for a bicycle tire.  But a rim-jack is even better.  

RSS

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service