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"farscythe - makin da cawfee!" (farscythe)
10/05/2019 at 10:17 • Filed to: None

My bike in its default state

Had yet another puncture..

Turned out that the rim tape failed meaning the bike shop I used till now is now officially blacklisted

They built the rear wheel less than a year ago and I’ve never had rim tape fail before

On top of that they can’t set up brakes for shit so fuck em

Ive installed new rim tape and a new tube hopefully I'm done with punctures for a bit now

DISCUSSION (14)

benjrblant > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
10/05/2019 at 10:32

Most anything will work as rim tape, it’s just to keep the tube out of the spoke/nipple holes.

Are most of your punctures from the rim or from things like thorns and glass? If thorns and glass, check for a tube with a removable valve core and consider adding some tubeless sealant such as Orange Seal or Stan’s to the inner tube. It works wonders!

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > benjrblant
10/05/2019 at 10:35

glass or nails usually.... this last one was coz the rim tape curled up and had a sharp edge tho

considered just using duct tape but figured actual real rim tape isnt going to break the bank...so i got some

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > benjrblant
10/05/2019 at 10:36

also thanks for the tip..i think i will add some of that stuff soon

atfsgeoff > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
10/05/2019 at 10:41

Get yourself some patches and rubber cement. Buying a new tube every time you get a flat, gets expensive. $6-$10 vs about 25 cents per patch.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > atfsgeoff
10/05/2019 at 11:08

oh i have those

i tend to buy a new tube then patch the old one and keep it as a spare...this one was beyond my ability to patch tho

benjrblant > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
10/05/2019 at 11:34

Make sure the valve core is removable- not all tubes have removable cores. If the core is not removed, sealant will clog it. Sealant will be helpful for thorns and glass but likely useless for a pinch flat or a spoke puncture. Hope that helps!

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > benjrblant
10/05/2019 at 11:36

hmmm... dont think my current valve stems are removable...but thats an easy enough fix for when i inevitably (hopefully not soon) puncture next

cheers mate

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
10/05/2019 at 12:27

Kinja'd!!!

I’ve gone tubeless. It’s a little more work and a little more expensive but been totally worth it. I’ve got a few hundred miles on this trail and no flats yet. My bike still finds that position after rides a lot thanks to the goddamn SRAM 12-speed drivetrain. Also brakes... they are the devil. Hard to find a shop that can bleed them right. But even though I don’t love the feel of mine they stop just fine.

facw > atfsgeoff
10/05/2019 at 12:35

I’ve never found it worthwhile. Yeah it’s a lot cheaper, but it’s not really practical to patch on the go, and the risk of the repaired tube being less reliable isn’t worth a few dollars.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
10/05/2019 at 13:29

Gorilla tape makes good rim tape.

atfsgeoff > facw
10/05/2019 at 15:14

Good Rema patches and vulcanizing fluid make patches super-reliable, in my experience. Bought $20 worth of patches and fluid five years ago, and they’ve paid for themselves about four times over between my own flats and those I’ve repaired for friends (and I still have like 80 patches left!)

I actually enjoy patching a tube while out on a ride. It takes a few extra minutes but to me, it’s very cathartic. And I can fit 16 patches, a piece of sandpaper, a paper towel , and a tube of vulcanizing fluid into a small pill bottle that will fit anywhere for on-the-go repairs.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/05/2019 at 18:16

I’ve had SRAM hydraulic brakes since 2010. They’ve been on two bikes so far and I’ve bled them twice . I’ve bled the newer Shimano brakes once since 2014. I’m always wondering why I spent the coin on a decent bleed kit that I never get to use!

Also... Swissstop pads are the go.

I'm yet to meet anyone with the GX or NX 12 speed drivetrain who is happy with it.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
10/05/2019 at 19:07

My take on the SRAM brakes is that they just seem tricky to bleed... once you get it right they are fine but this set I have has just been off right since it’s last bleed.

I’m doing a tuneup on my Eagle GX now but if it is still finicky I’m going just swap it out over the winter to to an SLX 12-speed drivetrain.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/06/2019 at 07:40

Sram 12 speed is a hiding to nowt I reckon...