On Monday, August 13, 2018 at 8:15:17 PM UTC+2, wrote:
On Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 11:14:13 PM UTC-7, Andy wrote:
I had to repair a flat. Have some questions.

Is it best to apply patch to a completly flat tube?

I found a small copper wire in tire.

Is there something to minimize what can puncture tire?

Thanks

I am rather amazed at the reticence of bicyclists to use tubeless tires. Every other vehicle from commercial trucks to Indy racers use tubeless tires as a matter of course and have for decades. I warrant that most of you have never seen a car tire that uses a tube.

Can you people explain to me why you would buy innertubes, flat repair kits and various methods of inflating flatted tires when you don't have to flat a tire and only need to inflate it if you happen to get a large enough hole in it release sufficient air to soften the tire before it seals again? Furthermore tubeless tires have lower rolling resistance than either a normal clincher or even a tubular.

Bicycle tires have very little air in them so it doesn't take much of a hole to drain the air out. But the sealants available seal the tire so fast that virtually no air is lost.

Now, Mavic has studied the question very carefully and designed rims and tubeless tires that fit together with just the correct tightness. But my experience with Fulcrum/Campy rims and Michelin tires shows that this is not a difficult technology.

Now according to Mavic the difference between a tire that is too loose and will blow off a rim too easily and one that will be too difficult to install is only one mm in diameter. But typically this NOT a hard standard to achieve.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOi4czjB1No

I think everyone that uses tubeless tires is enthousiastic about them until the moment they get a cut in their tire that the sealant can’t close. That is the moment it gets messy. Another wake up call is the moment they realized that they had to renew the sealant. Most people who take care of their equipment don’t get that many flats (me less than 5 a year).. In that case a traditional setup is less of a hassle. Really. I have tubeless ready wheelset (came with the bike, didn't' used them yet) No way I going to mess with sealant and the pain of initial mounting of the tire. YMMV of course, just answering your question.

Lou