Cycling UK Forum

Mick F wrote:My best puncture tip.
"Don't get one!"

Seriously, though, always carry a couple of tubes and a set of levers with you. Try anything as a fireside repair at your leisure, but in my experience, tubes are never very good after they have punctured, so often I just chuck 'em out. It's not worth the effort to repair.

Maybe if you use wide tyres and tubes, you may stand a chance of a decent repair, but my narrow tubes are too difficult.

bikes4two wrote:I have tried a good number of puncture repair outfits and self adhesive patches. My greatest success has been with a puncture repair kit from WILKINSONS (http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/page/store ) at a cost of 0.72 GBP (yes, 72 pence) - brilliant value and no failures in 3 years.

531colin wrote:When I started tubes were rubber and you could fix them. Rubber tube + rubber solution + rubber patch = permanent fix. ( We had Woods valves and valve rubber to contend with, but that's a different story) Then along came these blasted butyl things. The patches don't stick anywhere near as well, and after you have patched it the butyl tube splits beneath the patch, so you end up with a tiny patch over a big split thinking "why did I use the wrong size patch?"
You can still get rubber tubes, these days they are called latex tubes. I am using "Air B" latex tubes, they are fantastically expensive but light tough and very flexible, and some of mine have several patches. Unfortunately I am running out of them, they eventually perish or the valve comes out - probably due to perishing anyway. (Tip dont unwrap them until you need them - they come sealed in a bag and perish on exposure to air over the years) .I used to get them locally but it looks like Madison have stopped distributing them - anybody know a source?

mercalia wrote: ............. since when is mending a puncture an expensive thing?

Mick F wrote:Considering that the National Minimum Wage is £6 per hour and my tubes cost £2.50, is it worth the effort? It may be worth the effort to you, but not to me.

slimjim wrote:Buy a proper puncture repair kit in Poundland - they are fab

However, I am just about to try with evostick and a home mad repair patch so I will keep you posted

Mick F wrote:I wondered where the "Evo" came from.
I sort of understand the "stick" bit!

Roadster wrote:Okay... but what about "Bostik"? What does the "Bo" mean?

reohn2 wrote:
The method is simple once the puncture is located,roughen the surrounding with the abrasive paper supplied a little bigger than the patch,spread a little solution on the area,let it dry, approx 5minutes max,repeat with more solution,let it dry again,peel foil from the patch apply patch to tube pressing from the centre outward paying attention to the edges,carefully peel celofane from the patch(trying not to disturb the edges.finish by scraping some of the french chalk 3

iandriver wrote:

reohn2 wrote:
The method is simple once the puncture is located,roughen the surrounding with the abrasive paper supplied a little bigger than the patch,spread a little solution on the area,let it dry, approx 5minutes max,repeat with more solution,let it dry again,peel foil from the patch apply patch to tube pressing from the centre outward paying attention to the edges,carefully peel celofane from the patch(trying not to disturb the edges.finish by scraping some of the french chalk 3

Kind of what I do. Only I'm a bit prone to leaving the celofane on as it seems to be irrepably bonded on and I use dirt from the wheel rim instead of chalk. Must be a philistine myself, but it seems to work.