Specialized Armadillo work.

Man. I was getting about a flat every other ride, over a period of a month or two. I got sick of changing flats. I tried the Armadillo on my rear wheel.

That was a year and-a-half ago. I've not had one flat on my rear wheel since. Over five thousand miles.

Armadillos can't be uniquely good at preventing flats. To make a puncture-resistant tire, one could add a thicker, harder layer of rubber to the tire, and even with some room for proprietary compounds, there isn't a whole lot Specialized can do for its tires that other manufacturers could not.

For example, I have Conti Touring tires on my touring bike, and I've never flatted with those, in about a year and 3k miles of riding.

But I don't know of any road bike tires better than the Armadillo. I'm replacing my Armadillos with more Armadillos, and I'll keep buying them until something even better comes along or Specialized stops making them.

I patch it, and throw it away after 3 punctures. Why? No logical reason.

There is no crime in patching you can stick a patch on many times in many places,If a tube is deemed to be fairly new patch...but if its old and poris replace with a new one:cool:

Another word in praise of Armadillos. I have had one on my rear wheel for over a year. Only puncture I had was a thorn getting in thru' the sidewall. And yes indeed, they are almost run-flat (but not quite!).

However I have found thru' many years experience that the best puncture prodedure for me is to carry a spare tube that I KNOW is Ok. Then I can quickly bung that on, having checked the tyre for nasties, and repair the old tube at leisure.

Beer? I would never wipe my expensive inner tubes with beer... I carry a small bottle of malt whiskey for that.

:beer:

--J

:D :D :D Were I work they bought in some medical wipes for our first aid kits & boxes , but they were the wrong ones, they were the tiny ones for cleaning the skin before giving injections. They are alcohol & sealed indiffidualy wich makes them just great as an addition to my punture kit !!!!

Valve Stem Movement???
 

The valve stem in my rear tire moves. I have to reposition the tube's stem almost every time before I ride. I also put the right psi in the tube. What might be causing this to happen.

i will patch a tire if it has 1 hole in it but if there is 2 or more in it might sit a while till i run out of tire tubes with 1 hole in them. i usually rap electrical tape around the rim a few times before installing a tire on a rim so that if the tube starts leaking i can usually make it home because i don't own one of those small air pumps and i'm too cheap to get one.

Patch if it's a little pin (or thorn or nail) hole, replace if it's a cut.

I usually patch, but it's been a long time since I had a puncture (knock on wood) - I put a set of Continental City Ride tires on my mountain bike and Continental Ultrasport tires on my ten speed. These seem to be strong enough to survive most urban riding I've done.