those do-hicky wires that rub on the tires to brush off pebbles
07-07-12, 03:09 PM
#26
Senior Member
I'm thinking with some stainless steel wire and fish tank pump tubing one could make a pair of those thorn pluckers pretty easily. Now, those other styles would require some fine metal work, but I'd bet it could be done without a machine shop.
07-07-12, 06:52 PM
#28
Senior Member
Geeze. Thank you all for your kind support and comments. i really appreciate it.
BTW: DiegoFrogs, I do make a version that works with fenders, and I have to thank forum member Alex Moll for the inspiration, when he showed me an old set of English made tire savers he found in an incredible stash of vintage parts.
They do work with fenders but, since they are primarily made for "road" tires, success in removing Goatheads from MTB tires might be sketchy. Designed to ride the portion of the tire tread that contacts the road, they work best with tires that have a "smooth" tread profile. In other words, the more pronounced or aggressive the tread is, the less actual tire surface these contact, but some folks mount them so they ride just above the tire, barely skimming it, which might be effective with Goatheads.
Thanks again all !
Rootboy
BTW: DiegoFrogs, I do make a version that works with fenders, and I have to thank forum member Alex Moll for the inspiration, when he showed me an old set of English made tire savers he found in an incredible stash of vintage parts.
They do work with fenders but, since they are primarily made for "road" tires, success in removing Goatheads from MTB tires might be sketchy. Designed to ride the portion of the tire tread that contacts the road, they work best with tires that have a "smooth" tread profile. In other words, the more pronounced or aggressive the tread is, the less actual tire surface these contact, but some folks mount them so they ride just above the tire, barely skimming it, which might be effective with Goatheads.
Thanks again all !
RootboyIf they're still a problem when I move to California in a couple weeks, I'll buy a set for sure!
07-08-12, 05:31 AM
#29
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I gotcha, DiegoFrog. Moving to California? Great, although Albuquerque is nice. May the dreaded Goathead....puncture vine....not follow you.
07-08-12, 10:32 AM
#30
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Lots of goatheads in Southern California. Not so much here in the North, but one day I rode through a patch off road and got multiple punctures in both tires.
07-08-12, 11:26 AM
#32
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I hate those things. The 8 months I spent riding in Arizona gave me more flats from those damned things than probably my entire life of riding in the Pacific Northwest.
07-09-12, 04:31 AM
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Curious about Goatheads, I looked them up. Tribulus terrestris Apparently has many common names. We used to call them Puncturevine when I lived out west. My sister, who is a native plant farmer and specialist who lives in Wyoming told me the plant, considered a noxious weed in many places, is gradually extending its range. Here's an interesting blurb from the Wikipedia entry.
"T. terrestris has been shown to enhance sexual behavior in an animal model ....and produces effects suggestive of aphrodisiac activity." Thought by some body builders to increase Testosterone levels.
And here I thought their only attributes were that they were detrimental to bike tires and bare feet.
"T. terrestris has been shown to enhance sexual behavior in an animal model ....and produces effects suggestive of aphrodisiac activity." Thought by some body builders to increase Testosterone levels.
And here I thought their only attributes were that they were detrimental to bike tires and bare feet.
07-09-12, 10:01 AM
#34
Biker
I read this thread quickly so may have missed it. But in ABQ these would be called Sticker Flickers. I thought they helped but only with a relatively smooth tread (mt bikes killed the mass market). Tom
07-09-12, 11:44 AM
#35
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Yeah Tom. Ran into a shop in Wyoming who bought some from me. She called the Sticker Flickers too. Quaint western US terminology, maybe. But then, I grew up in Utah but we called them tire savers. Yes, they work pretty much for road type tires only.
07-09-12, 03:34 PM
#36
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They were tire savers on the East Coast back when I was racing in the 1970's.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
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Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
07-09-12, 05:22 PM
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I had a pair of those on my 72 Azuki when I lived in the SF Bay Area. I remeber mountng them a rch above the tire to get rid of the noise. I have not used them in Colorado, relying instead on tire liners.
07-09-12, 08:33 PM
#39
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07-09-12, 08:50 PM
#40
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I put in a couple of summers cycling in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Casper, Wyoming back in the late 1970s. I still have my old tire savers from those days. Never had any flats on my sew-ups from those damn goatheads, but stepped on one barefoot and invented new expletives . . .
Those are real beauties, rootboy!
Those are real beauties, rootboy!
07-10-12, 06:48 AM
#42
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We called them Tire Savers in the Southeast in the 70's, I remember the display cards in LBS cases or hanging on the wall. Fitting the sets I got from Rootboy last fall on my wife's Trek 7300 and trying to figure a way to put them on my CAAD 10 4 without screwing anything up anyone have any idea for mounting them on a bike with recessed brake nuts?
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
07-10-12, 07:31 AM
#43
Senior Member
You can probably get them to work with "Sheldon's Fender Nut" from Problem Solvers. They're designed to mount a fender in the same situation.
07-10-12, 07:52 AM
#44
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Thank you DiegoFrogs, I'll check that out. Appreciate the heads up.
Bill
Bill
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Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
10-03-12, 09:42 AM
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Rootboy, I don't have enough posts to PM but I'm interested in getting a set of these. I am burdened by stickers atleast once a week and even swapping to Panaracer T-Servs haven't helped. Let me know what I need to do to grab a set from you. Thanks.
10-03-12, 09:57 AM
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Thanks again Alex,
And to all here who support my efforts. Greatly appreciated.
10-03-12, 10:27 AM
#49
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"Footboy". I actually like that user name better than the one I chose, John! 
Who knows what I was thinking!?
I know I wasn't listening to Rootboy Slim at the time. Maybe thinking of my garden?
Who knows what I was thinking!?I know I wasn't listening to Rootboy Slim at the time. Maybe thinking of my garden?
Last edited by rootboy; 10-03-12 at 10:47 AM.
