rootboy 

Anybody remember these? I used to use these all the time in the 70's. Couldn't find them readily available any more so decided to make my own. Mounted on your brake bolts they help reduce flats. If anyone is interested in a pair, please PM me or visit my listing over in Classic & Vintage sales. Thanks!

xtrajack

I used to have a set of those on my late 70's, early 80's touring bike. BTW, I love the color (metallic purple) of your bike. Mine was the same color, I had to paint mine myself to get it that color.
The tiresavers (I think that is what they were called, if memory serves) worked really well back in the day, now I roll SMP's, no need for the tiresavers.

I could see them being useful on a go fast road bike.

I wish that they still made Grunge Guards. I have a set on my Xtracycle, I love them, they do an outstanding job of keeping crud out of the dérailleurs. Mine have been on my bike now for about 2 years. My dérailleurs are just as clean now as they were the day I installed them.

I managed to score a spare set on the 'bay, I just wish they were more readily available.

rootboy 

Thanks xtrajack,
That purple bike is an early '70s Gitane Tour de France. Love the color.

xtrajack

Mine was a Ross Professional Gran Tour II, like I said, I had to paint mine myself to get the metallic purple color.

garydhatch

had these on a 70s Gitane Tour de France with sew up tires never had a flat.
Bike was stolen in 1980, I sure miss that bike.

unterhausen

I used to use packing tape during races. Generally just use my hand on my go-fast bike. I've been thinking about how I would rig some up for my bike with fenders, these would mount at the chainstay bridge, but I'm not sure about the front.

fietsbob

2 pieces of plastic tubing and some bent wire .. Very DIY able ..

for Mudguards mount them on the end of the of the mudguard ..

rootboy 

[QUOTE=fietsbob;11985208]2 pieces of plastic tubing and some bent wire .. Very DIY able ..

It is very DIY-able. A person could source the materials, including trying out four different tubing sizes before finally sourcing the correct stuff with the proper flexibility and inside diameter to hold the brass stock in proper tension, set up the bending dies and have a full compliment of jeweler related pliers to do the bending, etc. Or, for someone not wanting to go through all that, they could just send me fifteen bucks and I'll send them a set with free shipping.

rootboy 

That bike in the pic is an early 70's Gitane TdF.

coldfeet

[QUOTE=rootboy;11985323]Nice Marketing, that seems like a reasonable deal. How would these do to stop Goat Head punctures? Fortunately, I don't have them here, but was just wondering. Also, can you hear them on the tire?

xtrajack

[QUOTE=coldfeet;11985505]I would think that they would work okay against goatheads, (I have never seen a goathead in the real world, so I could be wrong) the theory is/was that the wire riding just above the tire would flick out anything that the tire picked up before it could cause a flat.

Properly adjusted, they rode just above the tire, so that there was little or no noise.
As I recall, they worked well. I ran them with Mr. Tuffy tire liners, between the two of them I never had a flat, that I remember.

travelmama

Before I read what they were for, I thought they were IUDs.

colleen c

Yeah, those vinyl tubing does enhance the medical device look. Regardless, it does serve the same purpose of keeping pricks out of the tube.

Seriously, just from the looks of it, wouldn't that create some drag on the tire?

irclean

xtrajack

Not if they are properly adjusted, they should be set so that they are just above the tire.
If memory serves, they are adjusted by bending the wire at the mounting point. They should be just above the tire, not actually touching the tire.

genec

Remember those tire brake lock wire things... I think it was called a Flick Stand. Haven't seen those in years either.

xtrajack

Yet another one of the great oldies that aren't readily available anymore. You can sometimes find them on the 'bay.

mikeybikes

I have one in my parts bin somewhere. Haven't found a bike I could use it on yet...

jputnam

I believe Bicycle Research still sells tire savers. Not too many shops bother stocking them any more.

I still use them on my touring bike.

A well-stuck goat head can catch the wire and try to wind it up under your fender, one reason for using the tubing is that it will pull loose if something grabs too hard.

Anothe advantage in rainy climates is that it breaks up the layer of water on the tire tread just as the tire passes into your fender, so much more sprays off under the fender instead of slinging off forwards from your front tire and blowing back in your face.

Here we go, Loose Screws lists them:

https://www.thethirdhand.com/Products/UB-TS1.html

rootboy 

**** AH !!! HA HA HA! ...good one collen C. As stated, they just barely graze the tire or ride just above it. Not much drag if any. It's a light touch.
PM me and I'll send you a set if you'd like to try them out. For ...whatever you'd care to use them for.

rootboy 

....you gals are clever!

rootboy 

[QUOTE=coldfeet;11985505]Goatheads. thorns. Bits of glass. flint shards ....little pricks of all sorts, etc.