I hate fixing punctures

[ghoti_mhic_uait]

The actual patching of the puncture is fine and dandy... and usually done several hours (or even days) before the bit I've been dreading - replacing the tyre on the wheel.

This is why I used to ask tenth_mediaeval, but he went and moved to avoid my petty chores. Or for reasons unrelated to me, one of the two.

I've had it suggested that I take it to a bike shop. I don't mind getting them to fit a new inner tube, if it actually needs one, but that's a bit much for every puncture... and it makes me look like a wuss. At least tenth_mediaeval knows I can cook a four course dinner for seven using only a kettle, a grill and fridge, the guy at the shop just sees someone too hopeless to fix a puncture.

Anyway, if any of you have clever ideas of easy ways to put my pushchair tyre back on, I'd be grateful. Is it brute force needed or is there something clever I'm not doing?

Comments

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Do you have tyre levers out of a bicycle puncture repair kit?

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

I don't, but I do have spoons with similar shaped handles. The spokes on my pushchair are too thick to be able to hook the levers anyway.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

The levers are better than spoons even without the ability to hook them, because they have the little end the right shape and are a different amount of bendy. I would however expect a pushchair tyre to be harder to put on than a bicycle tyre because there's less of the rest of it to take up the tension.

I second the idea of take it to a bike shop, the dude will probably find it quite stiff as well and unless all his friends and family are also bike mechanics, will understand that you have a large skillset that nevertheless doesn't include putting tyres back on pushchairs. Alternatively ask one of these geek cyclist types to do it in exchange for cake! There are enough of them about.

[marnanel.livejournal.com]

At least where I'm sitting, Jon is now The Man With No Name.

[emperor]

I've noticed LJ doing this a bit recently, but I'm not sure why.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Yes... I don't know how to fix that.

[marnanel.livejournal.com]

I don't either :( Nor do I know how to fix a puncture. On the other hand, I don't know how to cook a four-course meal using only a grill, a kettle and a fridge, either.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Strangely enough, that makes me feel better.... in my head, you're a person-who's-capable, you see.

[ceb.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't worry about it, the bike guy sees someone who they can make happy (and make money from) by doing something very quick and easy.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

You're probabl;y right. Maybe I should just take it to the guy in Arbury Court and ask him to refit the tyre. He has made special tyre levers anyway... and get Jon to do a demonstration next time I see him.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

That's the other issue - I don't really want to spend money on something I should be able to do myself.

[naath.livejournal.com]

Brute Force I'm afraid. Although there are some tools which can make it easier to do (ask in a bike shop?) I'm afraid I've given up and tend to dump it on the shop.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. Maybe I am just too prideful.

[naath.livejournal.com]

Or maybe I'm just lazy.

The bike shop are never rude about it though. I figure they like the money, and I like not having to force irritating pieces of bike back together with my thumbs. And the fact that it would take several hours of swearing to DIY makes it worth the fee to me.

[hatter.livejournal.com]

Can you use any of the bike-y solutions to preventing/fixing punctures that don't involve taking the tyre off in the first place ? Or are they more wussy/expensive than the new tube option ? Failing that, longer levers would make it easier as I assume there's less flex in the smaller tyre rims than a bike tyre.


the hatter

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

The only one I know of is the gunk you can put in, but apparently that's only plausible if you're going to be jogging as the wheel needs to be moving faster than I walk for it to work.

[aiwendel.livejournal.com]

Proper tyre levers make a big difference, and some are better than others.
I think certain amount of brute force is required too though...

I wouldn't feel bad for taking a pushchair wheel to a shop.

Also with bike tyres I think it depends on the tyre. My old tyres I REALLY struggled with and needed help. My new ones I can do fine alone (with the levers though!)... though it is possible to put them back on with thumbs and brute force alone...