ROAD bike tubeless puncture repair best options

[Eugene]

9 hours ago, mecheng89 said:

You're flirting with Fate here, now you'll be riddled with punctures 

Funny you should say that. I thought the exact same thing on my Sat morning ride. I left without a pump. Luckily, I got back safe and sound without a puncture. 

I can't say the same for my mtb ride on Sunday.... No puncture, but a broken spoke, caused by my derailleur half a km from home. I have learnt a valuable lesson...... Alway check your h/l settings on a derailleur after installing a new hanger. 

[cadenceblur]

9 hours ago, Paul Ruinaard said:

WRT Tire pressure and punctures and the like something to think about - my 2 cents worth - use it or lose it. 

I found this app BTW:

https://silca.cc/en-in/pages/pro-tire-pressure-calculator?srsltid=AfmBOop3BURojAdUumlLtjsRq0_94rSY3ipbUpY6CDQy3bagSwgep-Tj

TBH most people over pressure their tires - always an extra stroke or so of the pump for good luck.  I was always over pressuring but its a mixed bag with pressure in tires, and if you get it right you should also avoid punctures :

1.) Is your pump guage accurate - most arent and once they have been knocked about a bit with age and the like and they definitely arent. You need to know how much it under or over reads. But its likely its wrong. .2 bar on a 1,8 bar inflation is over 10%.

2.) Do you pump your tires just prior to the ride - most people do their tire pressures the night before and in the morning the tire has deflated a bit especially tubeless. Do it before you ride.

3.) How old are your tires - if you are getting repeated punctures then maybe you are in need of new tires. Normally one plug is okay but multples indicate the tire is toast. Tires also age and crack and certain products make them less pliable. they are expensive but they need to be replaced. If you are racing rather than riding a puncture screws up your race.

4.) As per the other thread what sealant are you using. Stans race is brilliant but double the price.

Finally I will say a set of gravel 42 mm tires runnnig tubeless and properly inflated are much plusher and softer on my body as they add a level of deflection which cushions the ride and also allows them to deform around sharp edges. Its crazy good when you get it right but a bit too much turns the ride in to bone jarring and rough. I have broken hubs from very high pressure when the shock just gets transmitted in to the wheel.

Use it or don't. Punctures are part of riding. Tubeless solved the smaller puncture dilemna very well but it has its own set of issues.

Finally as an old dog you must know how many rides I changed two tubes or more on in the past when you were unlucky. PLugs are so much easier and simpler to do.

 

 

 

I agree in the point around gauge accuracy, keen to hear how you ensure that a given gauge is accurate?

 

[Paul Ruinaard]

3 minutes ago, cadenceblur said:

I agree in the point around gauge accuracy, keen to hear how you ensure that a given gauge is accurate?

 

Good question and its a bit of an approximation and not an accurate science. I got a digital gauge and compared the readings on the pump vs the gauge assuming it was more accurate and since then have compensated. So for example my floor pump at 2 bars on the dial is at 1,9 on the digital gauge so i assume its at 1,9 and top it up a bit if i want 2 bars. I am not that fast nor is it that important but it can be material. My one pump was very out - like 25%.

 

 

[cadenceblur]

2 hours ago, Paul Ruinaard said:

Good question and its a bit of an approximation and not an accurate science. I got a digital gauge and compared the readings on the pump vs the gauge assuming it was more accurate and since then have compensated. So for example my floor pump at 2 bars on the dial is at 1,9 on the digital gauge so i assume its at 1,9 and top it up a bit if i want 2 bars. I am not that fast nor is it that important but it can be material. My one pump was very out - like 25%.

 

 

Yeah, it can be a bit if a rabbit hole. I too use a Topeak digital gauge which has been my go to for years, in fact the gauge on my Lezyne floor pump doesn’t even work! 

 A while ago I “calibrated” the Topeak against my motorbike mechanics pump which he swore was accurate so that was my reference ever since . The Topeak was under reading by 20% ! 
 

[Murrob]

2 hours ago, cadenceblur said:

I agree in the point around gauge accuracy, keen to hear how you ensure that a given gauge is accurate?

 

I went down the rabbit hole…also found the Topeak digital gauges that I got initially under read by almost .5 bar. I now have 4 digitals, including a pretty eye watering expensive digital floor pump. I have cross referenced them all against each other and have got my accurate ones now. I’m even guilty of double checking against my cars tyre pressure sensors…🤓Which are actually quite accurate. Also always inflate just before a ride and I use the SRAM AXS tyres inflation app for recommend pressures, which works great. Also religious about keeping sealant topped up/fresh - Hubtiger helps with the reminders. 

Edited February 3 by Murrob
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[The Ouzo]

sounds like some of you are pit crew on an F1 team