Changing tires

Mounted new tires and tubes on the Z1 the other day.  Turns out I haven't forgotten how to pinch a tube with the tire irons...    

sf4t7 wrote:

Mounted new tires and tubes on the Z1 the other day.  Turns out I haven't forgotten how to pinch a tube with the tire irons...    

Bike tyres can be tricky but the secret is to never let the tyre iron go further than 90deg to the rim. Use three irons, first one to hold the start seat then just go round with the other two leap fogging each other in no more than two inch bites remembering to ensure none of the three irons go no more than 90 deg.

The tube will only get nipped if the iron goes past 90 deg and springs flat against the tyre wall. 

 

sf4t7 wrote:

Mounted new tires and tubes on the Z1 the other day.  Turns out I haven't forgotten how to pinch a tube with the tire irons...    

My first try at swapping a tire I pinched the tube, patched it, and pinched it again, and then went to the bike shop to get a new tube.  As I'm walking out this old guy asked me if I wanted advice about installing the tube I was holding.  I sure as heck did!  He was standing by his late 60s BMW with over 250,000 miles on it, all ridden by him.  He said he had gone all the way down to South America and back.  I figured he was worth listening to.

He said the trick is to partially inflate the tube after you install it inside the tire, before you start going at it with the tire irons.  Inflating it pushes the tube up into the tire carcass and doesn't leave any tube flaps down near the bead.  It worked for me anyway.  

DOHC wrote:

He said the trick is to partially inflate the tube after you install it inside the tire, before you start going at it with the tire irons.  Inflating it pushes the tube up into the tire carcass and doesn't leave any tube flaps down near the bead.  It worked for me anyway.  

I concur with this advice.  It helps greatly.  

I'm a bicycle rider, and getting flats is part of the experience.  I carry a tube with me at all times on the bike.  Changed dozens of flats on the road.  Some air in the tube makes a huge difference in avoiding pinching the tube while levering the sidewall in place.  

Been there done that. I always put a little air in the tube for that reason. The type of tire spoons makes the difference too. Changing to alloy rims changed everything. Not only is it damn near impossible to break the bead without nicking the tube doing it on the side of the road is out of the question. This time I'm going tubeless. I'll still carry my air pump I'll carry a plug kit. If I pick up a nail I'll stick a plug in it and ride on. Later I can put a patch or boot on the inside but I won't be STRANDED. 
Steve
 
 

I usually do add a little air to the tube, lube the beads, and carefully lever it on.  But... it was getting late, the front tire and tube went on easily, and we went past 90 degrees on the last couple tries.  Should have known better...  At least I also remember how to patch the tube.