Bicycle Mechanics - blow out, torn tire, forgot basic fix - shame...

Was having a great ride this morning when I hit something (probably metal). Heard a ping/metal noise, then I was starting to go sideways. Left a good 30' skid too.

Problem: blow out and a 1" tear in the rear tire. I tried to replace the tube (knew that wouldn't work), and then I tried to use an innertube patch on the inside of the tire. That didn't work... and while routing through patch, kit I even had to pull out my old dollar bill. One of the best ways to patch a big tire hole; a folded up dollar bill.

Had to call the wife to come 20 miles to fetch me. There go my good husband points I had been building up. And now I am even more embarrased about not being able to get home.

Well, I do get to go to the LBS now. Need a rear tire and tube... what else will I walk out with. Maybe I can make a positive out of this :-)

.....Well, I do get to go to the LBS now. Need a rear tire and tube... what else will I walk out with. Maybe I can make a positive out of this :-)
Well, a new bike is always good for the soul!

I keep a variety of tevdek non woven plastic squares and rectangles in my bags
for the rare tire tear. These are 1x2" or a bit larger and are impossible to tear.
Most commonly found as house wrap or postal envelopes but also used as the
non transparent half of a sterile wrap on a lot of medical supplies. They are
lite, cheap and last forever in an under seat bag and will patch a good size hole
in the tire, allowing tube to be inflated to 50-80#, enough to get you home.
Steve

I keep a variety of tevdek non woven plastic squares and rectangles in my bags
for the rare tire tear. These are 1x2" or a bit larger and are impossible to tear.
Most commonly found as house wrap or postal envelopes but also used as the
non transparent half of a sterile wrap on a lot of medical supplies. They are
lite, cheap and last forever in an under seat bag and will patch a good size hole
in the tire, allowing tube to be inflated to 50-80#, enough to get you home.
Steve

So do you do something differant to apply the tevdek then?

No, tevdek just overlaps the tire tear enough that inflation pressures hold it in
place. All it does is boot the tire enough to get you home. Inflation pressure
will be much less than standard, enough to keep the tire from pinching under
ordinary riding conditions but 25-40% less than usual riding pressure. If you
go too high you risk herniating the tube through the hole even with the tevdek.
Tevdek is incredibly strong and won't rip. A really large hole might require a
layer of tire cement on the tire and tevdek (say a hole larger than 1.5-2cm)
to anchor the tevdek, but most of the time it works fine without cement. Typical
road tire tears are less than 12mm, even 3mm is large enough for the tube
to herniate through and blow out. Steve

I have a Park tire boot that came with a patch kit. I have never used it so I have no idea how it works.

I also carry a hex wrench wrapped with about 1 foot of duct tape on the big end and 1 foot of electrical tape on the other and both ends of the wrench are still usable. I figured the tape could come in handy to patch a tire, tape things that fall off to the frame, etc.

I haven't been riding that long and I haven't been unlucky enough to need it yet, so I can't comment on how any of the above works.

I have a Park tire boot that came with a patch kit. I have never used it so I have no idea how it works.

I also carry a hex wrench wrapped with about 1 foot of duct tape on the big end and 1 foot of electrical tape on the other and both ends of the wrench are still usable. I figured the tape could come in handy to patch a tire, tape things that fall off to the frame, etc.

I haven't been riding that long and I haven't been unlucky enough to need it yet, so I can't comment on how any of the above works.

Don't forget to carry a few new dollar bills. Never underestimate the structural integrity of american currency even though it's not as sounds economically. :)

I carry a piece of tuffy tire liner from my left over mountain bike tire and duct tape. I then patch the hole with the tire patch and place the tuffy over the patch and duct tape it. This insures that the tube will not poke through. I find this very useful.

That's exactly the reason I carry a spare tube AND TIRE! (The tire is a 165gram ultralight folding tire). Sure I carry 6 glueless patches and a boot patch but I have seen damaged tires that a boot would not be able to fix. And like you, I will not call my wife to come pick me up unless it's absolutely necessary because she's not my mommy, so I make sure I can handle almost anything; and I ride in remote areas at least 20 miles from home.

I also carry a Park MTB1 mini tool and a small folding plier mini tool, tire irons, a tool called a VAR (for hard to put on tires because I use Specialize Armadillos), batteries for rear tail light and computer, $25 cash and a minor first aid kit along with ID with blood type and phone number on it.

The tyvek trick is a good idea. I also carry a Better World Club membership card. They're like AAA, but (1) they aren't lobbyists for the roadbuilders and auto industry, as AAA is, and (2) for a modest surcharge (which puts their rate about even with AAA) it includes bicycle breakdown coverage.

Used to do this in Russia, but ruble notes not very strong. Deutschmark notes work much better.