Does anybody use the Mr. Tuffy strips that line the inside of your tires to help prevent punctures? They do help, but I think they've eventually CAUSED a flat, because the tube pushing against the thickness of the strip at 80 psi caused the rubber to start to "split" along that edge, if that makes any sense...it's basically the reason they tell you that patches have a "tapered edge", so that there's not such an abrupt change in thickness.

Anyways, has that happened to anybody else? Is this avoidable at all?

What's the dollar bill trick???

In the Great White North the smallest bill is $5 so it gets rather expensive. :) Stupid dollar coins.

Just go to your local RBC/TD Canada Trust/Bank of Montreal, etc and get one US Greenback. In lieu of this, Park tools actually makes a boot kit with adhesive (so the boot stays in place) which is available at many bike shops. There are 3 plastic adhesive rectangles in each pack, I think they go for about 5-6 bucks.

http://www.parktool.com/product/emer...tire-boot-tb-2

A piece of an old inner tube cut into 2" squares works.
One of these got me home from 22 miles away after a tire got a 3/4" slice in the sidewall.
Since then, I've added a pack of the Park boots to my tool kit.

I have the co2 set up and also a frame pump. The reason for the two is that sometimes the co2 cartridge will not work. Sometimes you get a dud. They are expensive so now I buy them in bulk. Great price.

I carry a patch kit plus an extra tube but I will also be adding another tube soon just in case. I do like to have the ability to patch if needed.

But one time I was stupid and left the tube at home so all I could do was patch. It was pouring down rain and these were the self patching patches. THEY SUCK. buy the ones with the glue.

I carry a spare tube and a patch kit. Patch kits are so small and light it just does not make sense to me not to carry one in case I get multiple flats.

Those have a similar design to Topeak that I have. I think you may have made a mistake cutting that part.

Those pumps can work on both Shrader and Presta but you have to reconfigure it. To do so you have to unscrew the cover pull out the rubber seal. under the rubber seal is a plastic piece that installed one way works on presta Fliping it over put a tab out that will press the valve in Shrader. I think you have the plastic peice in wrong.

I carried a patch kit and a spare tube for my first 5K miles commuting. Next ride after passing that boundary, I flatted about a mile short of work, in dark and wet conditions. Only then did I find that the spare tube I'd been carrying all those miles was a Schrader, and thus unusable in my rim. The patch kit was a lifesaver.

Not to mention there is a limit to the number of tubes you can carry without things looking ridiculous. Plus, you can carry enough patches to patch the tubes of a whole squad in one tube box..:thumb:

fholtL That happened to me too. I was pissed at myself for days.

I am astonished to see this thread is still going.

I guess commuting folks just like talking about flats and solutions for that problem.

And for the record, I carry a spare tube and a patch kit. My preferred method is to replace the tube and patch at home/work. Most of the time it seems to be impractical to find the leak out on the road. Too noisy to hear the leak and often too windy to feel it.

I tried Mr Tuffy or something equivalent for a short time since they came with a wheelset I purchased. It quickly became evident that they were causing more flats than they ever prevented, for the reason you stated.
The dollar bill trick is a method of salvaging a damaged tire for limping home, by wrapping a dollar bill around the tube at the damaged spot on the tire, before re-seating the tire and re-inflating. I haven't tried it but I hear it's very effective.

I run tubulars, carry two spares, and a kit to unsew repair and resew them
Am I strange??

I had thought so also, I was in the store ready to buy a new leyzne and saw that the PB pump I was about to replace did schrader and presta, and I wondered how it did that, so read the back of the package. Then I went back home and took it apart to make sure I had it in the right way. It was, but the plastic piece was in so deep that it wasn't connecting with the top of the schrader on certain valves.

I can't belive this thread is still alive! My question was answered within minutes, and yet this thing keeps going... You gotta love commuters and the BF :)

Its always good to be prepared for the unexpected.

Yes

Spare Tube:
- Some flats are not patchable - since I switched to flat-resistant tires the far fewer flats I get usually aren't patchable. For example if you get a flat right where the tube and the tube valve stem come together, and you simply cannot patch that.
- So if you want to be self sufficient, you *have* to carry a spare tube.

Patch Kit:
- Sometimes you change the tube and find out that you thought you got the thing that caused the puncture out, but you didn't, and you end up with another flat.
- Sometimes you legitimately get a 2nd flat on the ride (it's weird how they come in groups even if they're unrelated).
- Sometimes that other guy you're biking with has a flat, and you don't want to give him your tube and not have a tube, but you also don't want to insist he call for a ride or something.
- And the bottom line is that the quick apply patch kits are the size of the postage stamp, like 1mm tall or so, and cost $5 - once you're carrying a tube a patch kit is inconsequential in size.

Personally, I can't imagine not carrying both - I mean I'd be more likely to have a reason to carry neither than to have a reason not to carry both. :-)

Yep, it can work, although it's very much like a temporary car spare tire -- ride it carefully and get a new tire ASAP. As strong as dollar bills are, they'll shred apart between the tire and tube. I've heard duct tape is way better.

(Can we get four pages out of this thread? People must be bored this winter. :lol: )

- Scott

it's called peace of mind
 

i ride on bike paths, long distances. not to many have a lbs near by.
i carry a new tube. tube patches,tire patches,tire irons and a mini pump.
you'll never know what you're going need to repair a flat. rather than wishing you have brought them with you. it's better than walking back to my car or phoning for help.
so i try to "cover my butt."
remember the boy scouts moto while riding far from home "BE PREPARED" :thumb:

And this one pales in comparison to the Bike Taken Out of Store thread.

Should be re-titled: "Dude, where's my bike?"