cheapest puncture repair

RekcaH

Where is the cheapest place to get a puncture repair with new tube around town?

I heard some ridiculous prices before and was just wondering whats out there..

who sells the cheapest tubes for that matter. I have paid 6-7 euro in some places.

Blowfish

My LBS charges €5 for a tube, which I'd guess is about average. Online would be cheaper, you can usually get 5 tubes for €20.

With the actual replacement of the tube, you are much better off learning to do it yourself. You are inevitably going to get a puncture miles away from a shop at some point, bringing a spare and being able to get yourself back up and running is invaluable.

fletch

Generally pay a tenner in Penny Farthings which I think is grand. 90% of the time I do it myself though cause as Blowfish says, I'm generally on my commute and miles away from the nearest shop (as has happened to me the last 3 days in a row!, time for to change the tyres)

Getting rid of crappy Continental Gatorskins tyres in place of 2 Schwalbe Marathon Plus's

ednwireland

gee no recession round here

blorg

fletch wrote: »

Getting rid of crappy Continental Gatorskins tyres in place of 2 Schwalbe Marathon Plus's

Gatorskins are very decent tyres for reasonable puncture protection at a reasonable price while still maintaining a semblance of decent ride quality.

You do need to inflate them to the correct pressure.

Marathon Plus are not in the same category at all as regards ride quality. Far slower and worse ride. However, you can ride them off road in mud which you simply cannot with Gatorskins. They are more versatile in that regard.

I have also punctured on Marathons BTW, they are not invincible.

It is all a trade-off.

Luck is a big factor too.

Best advice is to learn how to change a puncture quickly and carry CO2.

Beasty

+1 on the Gatorskins - 1 puncture in the last 8,000km or so with them on.

EDIT - tempting providence for the dark commute home tonight!

blorg

Congratulations on your 666th post Beasty.

Beasty

blorg wrote: »

Congratulations on your 666th post Beasty.

Thanks - that's a sure sign my number's up:)

At least this post gets me off it

fletch

blorg wrote: »

It is all a trade-off.

Luck is a big factor too.

Best advice is to learn how to change a puncture quickly and carry CO2.

I must be very unlucky so....well over 10 punctures in the last year (approx 7,200km)

Beasty wrote: »

+1 on the Gatorskins - 1 puncture in the last 8,000km or so with them on.

EDIT - tempting providence for the dark commute home tonight!

As an aside, how long should the tyres last? I'm going to keep them for next summer and use the Marathons for the winter so just wondering if there is much life left in them.

Beasty

fletch wrote: »

I must be very unlucky so....well over 10 punctures in the last year (approx 7,200km)

As an aside, how long should the tyres last? I'm going to keep them for next summer and use the Marathons for the winter so just wondering if there is much life left in them.

My cycling is mainly on country and R/N roads, with very little glass or other sharp objects (although plenty of potholes). I keep the tyres at full pressure (120psi on the back, slightly less on the front - but then again I am 95kg).

The 8,000km has been over two sets of tyres, and I do check them regularly for foreign objects

I know I have been very lucky though:)

blorg

fletch wrote: »

I must be very unlucky so....well over 10 punctures in the last year (approx 7,200km)

As an aside, how long should the tyres last? I'm going to keep them for next summer and use the Marathons for the winter so just wondering if there is much life left in them.

7,200km would generally be considered well time to change the tyres. Were the punctures evenly spaced out or did they clump towards the end? When you start getting punctures in bunches it is often a sign the tyre is done.

fletch

blorg wrote: »

7,200km would generally be considered well time to change the tyres. Were the punctures evenly spaced out or did they clump towards the end? When you start getting punctures in bunches it is often a sign the tyre is done.

In fairness they were quite well spaced out...just got 3 in the last 3days (2 rear, one front) so I think it is time to change them. Interesting to see how much the Marathon's slow me down.

RacoonQueen

If I can teach myself how to fix a puncture any of yee can, I can't believe I used to pay for something thats so simple when I commuted on a MTB. :eek: Which reminds me again, I need to get some tubes. I found 4 pieces of glass in my tyre on Sunday when I was changing my tube, I wonder which one caused the puncture.

72hundred

I got 3 punctures within a month of getting the Gatorskins. Once on the road. Twice at a certain job place, I wasn't parking my bike at the specific place for bikes. So came out and found a tack in the back tyre one day and a office staple the next day. Can't say for certain that it was malicious, on balance probably not, just suspicious.

Borneo Fnctn

Who in the name of god would pay somebody to fix a puncture? If my old man ever thought I paid to have one fixed he'd laugh.

Beasty

Beasty wrote: »

+1 on the Gatorskins - 1 puncture in the last 8,000km or so with them on.

EDIT - tempting providence for the dark commute home tonight!

Why did I open my big gob?

Had a pothole induced blowout this evening. I was in the middle of nowhere (well OK, on an unlit back road about 2km from Lusk).

I replaced the tube, and got the new one pumped up to around 80psi. Then something went wrong with the pump, and the air started coming out. Every time I thought I'd fixed it, I ended up letting more air out! By the time I gave up I had not much more than 20psi in!

Fortunately it was the front wheel, and I was able to ride the 6 or 7 km home, albeit very tentatively

A few positives though:

The Exposure Max Daddy and helmet-mounted Exposure Joystick showed their worth.

Two motorists stopped to see if I wanted any help (before I realised the pump had had it!)

The tail-wind meant I hardly put any effort in, and the gentle ride home was quite relaxing (despite my paranoia over picking up a pinch flat).

ray o

Only had one puncture since I started using gatorskins on my commute and that was a proper piece of shrapnel that had to be pulled out of the tyre with a pliers.