Re: patch insurance

I was in a bike shop one day and they had blown a tube to about 4 feet in diameter. I commented on it and they said it was no problem. They were looking for a leak. I was afraid it would pop. Don't know if they ever found it as I left.


Fran,
 
Be who you are and say what you feel........
Because those that matter dont mind.....
And those that mind don't matter.   Anon



-----Original Message-----
From: ernest breakfield <ernestb-sNhY2tXZgJOpr/[email protected]>
To: touring <[email protected]>
Sent: Sun, Feb 13, 2011 5:14 pm
Subject: Re: patch insurance


hi Patrick!

n 12/Feb/11 19:29, PATRICK MOORE wrote:
 On Sat, Feb 12, 2011 at 6:47 PM, ernest breakfield
 <[email protected]>  wrote:
> 1- i would never inflate a tube that isn't installed in a tire beyond the
> low pressure it takes to give it shape for a couple of reasons; tubes get
> stretched out to where they won't fit properly inside a tire any more if you
> inflate them very much when not installed in a tire, and patches can easily
> become dislodged from the tube they're supposed to be repairing as the tire
> stretches but the patch doesn't.
 ??? "Elastic"? I routinely pump uninstalled tubes hugely to find small
 air leaks (yes, I know I can use water, but higher pressure and sound
 is easier) and I've never, ever, EVER found a tube to stretch beyond
 its original size -- and I've owned and used tubes for quite literally
 10 years, adding over 2 dozen patches to them. No, your tube won't
 stretch and fail to return to its original shape, at least not so that
 you will notice.
     i can't agree; it would seem our experiences differ, but the 
enefit of a list like this is the sharing of those different perspectives.
    i've repeatedly seen tubes stretched from over-inflating, though i 
nly recall letting it happen to me personally *once*.    ;-)
    in my experiences (mostly from witnessing the misadventures of 
thers), tubes will stretch out, but not shrink back quite all the way, 
nd it doesn't take much expansion for a traditional 23-32c tube to no 
onger fit properly in a tire (though i've seen the same thing happen to 
TB-sized tubes). working support for multiple events over the years, 
've seen this happen many times. i suppose it's possible that this 
ffect would vary as tubes can vary, but i avoid the issue entirely by 
ever over-inflating.
     personally i never use water to find small holes (as it's not 
ypically convenient and i wouldn't want to have to wait for a tube to 
ry before repair), but rather do it by using very moderate pressure and 
urning the tubes past my cheek or lips; don't need to hear anything, 
nd can detect even very slight holes with ease.

 Secondly, a well applied patch will rip the original rubber before it
 will separate, at least from a lightweight tube.
     i have *never* seen a patch rip a tube, but i'm no longer 
ver-inflating tubes to where i'd see that.
    additionally, i'm patching tubes when they're barely or not 
nflated and/or at something close to their standard operating size so 
hat the patches are applied with the tube is its normal size and fit best.

 I have plenty of practice: learned to make my own patches out of old
 innertube, age 10 or so, from sidewalk bicycle wallahs in New Delhi.
 Now, I live in goathead country and patch more in a month than many
 patch in several years, buy patches by the box of 100 and rubber glue
 in 4 oz bottles from Office Max. Not boasting, just confirming that I
 know from patches.
     sounds really interesting, but like a bit more than i carry; could 
xplain some of the differences we're seeing in patches.    ;-)
    i'm typically using something like the typical Rema Tip-Top patches 
ecause (if they're used properly) they can't be felt in the tire after 
 repair. i consider any patch job that's detectable when riding it a 
ailure.
     Goatheads; i know that's more of an issue in some areas, and i 
on't envy you that.
    i don't deal with those except on the bikes i ride off-pavement; on 
ome of those bikes, i use tubes with a tire sealant, and just don't 
ave issues with Goatheads any longer. i've pulled several thorns at a 
ime out of a tire and usually pull a couple of dozen thorns or more out 
f a tire before they will fail to re-seal. yes, they're a little more 
xpensive and a little bit heavier, but every thorn i pull out and watch 
eal up is another instance of me not having to stop to fix a flat when 
'd much prefer to be riding. (FWIW, i've found the Specialized sealant 
ubes to work better in general than the Slime brand.)

heers!

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