79pmooney

Now that looks simple, cheap, not very hard to install and all parts would be readily available in Canada. Growing up sailing, I even know the knots to use. (Tie a ~1" bowline at one end, a bowline on a bight (aka double bowline)about 6" away. Drop the first bowline on the spoke hook, pass the other end through the hub flange and back through the first bowline, through the double bowline, back to the first .... Do several wraps between the first and double bowline. Pull tight until wheel is true. Finish with a midshipman's hitch. Slide the midshipman's hitch to fine tune.

This sounds hard, but every knot can be pre-tied but the midshipman's hitch which is a very simple knot.

Edit: this could be made up with a 14 ga/2.0 DT spoke and nipple. The spoke would cover a lot of wheels out there now and if it didn't, the tire could be pulled and the nipple replaced with the DT nipple. This little fix could save someone's day/experience and it would weigh about 9 grams, barely more than a spoke and nipple/ (and you have to carry a spoke wrench to use the spoke, none is required here.)

Ben

GamblerGORD53

And notice behind the guy in the video is a ROHLOFF 14. LOL Smart Guy.

seeker333

Exactly.

Myself and others have advocated the same approach for several years. Nearly all of the alternative compact cassette lockring removal tools (pamir, stein, etc) are likely to damage frame finish, dent the chainstay tube and/or damage the dropout. Fiberfix is even lighter than these lightweight tools with no frame damage risk.

Build the wheel right with Wheelsmith or DT spokes, keep load reasonable and spoke breakage is highly unlikely on paved routes. Carry a Fiberfix just in case.

I'm a little surprised someone finds it necessary to prove the product works since it has been a staple of informed tourists' gear for over a decade now.

It's a good idea to test-fit the fiberfix to your wheel so that you understand the procedure, and in the process trim the cord so that there is little excess length to possibly work loose and catch somewhere, potentially causing sudden wheel lock and subsequent crash, damage and injury.

Ty0604

I've never ordered anything from another country except off of Amazon. At which case I was never charged any extra fees. I would try there.

Ty0604

Yes, they were all alu rims. 3 of us had rear racks + panniers and the other had a frame bag. I didn't account for this weight in the original post. This was an oversight. My rear rack weights a little less than 1lb and my panniers weigh 1lb each. I cannot attest for the other 3 bikes but, considering they had a similar set up (brand of rack and panniers) I would add 3-5lbs of weight to the above totals. Maybe a little less for the one of us who had a frame bag. I will adjust the original post accordingly.

Ty0604

It was really easy to install and the instructions were clear. I always struggle with putting anything together (even with instructions) but found this to be fairly simple. Maybe a 4 on a 1-10 scale.

Ty0604

That's exactly what happened. Riding down Highway 84 in the Columbia River Gorge one by one we heard that dreadful noise: Ping, ping, ping, ping! Right in unison.

(Just kidding in case it's not clear)

Ty0604

Good point. As you know, the sun hibernates here from September to July so they were exposed to the sun for about 30 minutes of our 4 day ride

djb

At those weights, the 3 lighter ones are probably cf frames. How did you attach the racks?
Just curious about the bike details, but must be fun riding such light bikes.

PS, just read your pingping ping comment, funny.

Ty0604

I can't attest for the other bikes but I use the Old Man Mountain Sherpa model rack. The rack installs easily without eyelets using the rear tires axle. I use Nashbar panniers since the rack will accept most panniers. They also make a front rack and panniers but I don't like either (regardless of the brand; front racks aren't my thing).

Glad I could make you laugh

Tandem Tom

Timely post! I ordered 2 of these for our touring kit!!!

Ty0604

Good decision!

pdlamb

If it's like my bike shop, the normal repair approach is to call your spouse with the car, haul it to the shop, and leave it for them to fix the flat tire. Only that might be a bit difficult on tour...

Which of the two or three sizes of spoke do you carry? (One Fiberfix fits all.)

fietsbob

Right on The Pacific coast, in my LBS we get a Lot of people who started in WA or CDNs they just replace the spoke ..

only 1 person ever asked about the fiber fix in many years after the old one in stock sold.

I packed a couple spare spokes each in Right and Left rear pannier (matching the length needed for that side )

and 2 in one of the front panniers .... Only ever needed one for the drive side . I was in England at the time ..

Ty0604

I feel lucky to have only broken two spokes and had one flat in my 4 previous tours. They all happened at the same time when I didn't notice the curb and slammed my back tire onto the street. It also broke my axle and the LBS I went to put in the wrong sized axle which destroyed my rim. Luckily the next LBS I came across fixed it for me for free after I told them the horror story of dealing with the other LBS. I'll never visit them again.

bobwysiwyg

Guilty. I'm pretty new to road cycling but have gradually increased my mileage since last spring. My 2015 goal was a round-trip to Chelsea from Ann Arbor, by Thanksgiving. Almost made it. It would have been about 35 mi but after 30 mi and still 5 mi from home picked up a nail that actually went through both side walls and of course I had nothing to repair it. Called my wife, who was home not feeling well to bring the car. Learned my lesson and now carry a spare tube, levers and a pump.

robow

There was a fellow on another forum that stated he replaced a broken spoke with a FiberFix while on tour and was still riding on it well over a year later and on a daily basis, so I wouldn't be too concerned for temporary replacement.

Ty0604

Good to know! Do you happen to have the link for that forum?

tarwheel 

Definitely worth carrying in your touring tool kit.

shelbyfv

I removed a spoke and did a trial installation when I bought the Fiber Fix several years ago. Of course I've now forgotten how it works. Good thing the instructions stay in the little container.

paul2

I got them at Urbane Cycle in Toronto.

djb

thanks, I'd forgotten to come back to this thread to mention that I ordered one through an amazon.com seller, they had mailing at 3 bucks or something, so it came to under $20 can. It arrived in about a week or so, and being under 20 bucks, it didnt get any duty or whatever.
As I said I think , Ive never seen them here in Montreal, so finally got one. I'd have bought it here if it was around.

imi

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imi

I've carried a fiberfix for years but never needed to use it. As to instructions, knowing me that little bit of paper will surely be lost at some point so I downloaded the pdf

Saves a ton of weight too!

Tandem Tom

Where did you find the PDF?Thanks!