AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
Went for a ride the other day, and while I didn't use a pressure gauge to check the tires, I did give them the "pinch test" to make sure we were good to go (hard as a rock, check!). About a mile down the road (paved sub streets), with no previous warning, the bike started handling wierd, actually getting sideways on me, refusing to go straight. After getting it stopped, looked to the rear, and it was pretty obvious the tire was flat. Completely flat. As in no air at all!
Not able to ride it due to a completely flat tire, I had to walk the bike home. This resulted in a 1 mile walk of shame. Up hill the entire distance, hot day with no wind, etc, etc, etc. Kidding, actually, not that bad. It could have been much worse had I gone in a different direction. To add frustration to my walk of shame, by time I get the bike home the rear tire and wheel were covered in Slime. A picture perfect "Slime disaster" if there ever was one....
Remembering Slime was water based, I did a preliminary wipe down with a water soaked terry cloth rag. Tire and tube was removed from the rim and left to one side, to the side opposite the side the wire comes out. Rear wheel was loosened and torque arms removed. I lifted the wheel up out of the drop outs, allowing me to pull the tire and tube clear of the bike.
Then the clean up. Wet rag, rinsed occasionally, took care of the rim. Same process used on the tire. Not sure what caused it, but the tube had a split maybe 1/8" long, found only by trying to inflate it. Split not caused by any tool as I mount my tires using nothing but my hands. I had changed the tire recently, about 100 miles/3 weeks ago, so that likely had something to do with it. I suppose it may have been pinched somehow, but I intall the tire and tube with the tube partially inflated to avoid that. Wrote that failure off as a stuff happens issue.
Off to Walmart for a pre-Slimed, extra heavy duty, extra thick, 20 dollar tube.
Reassembled bike, reinflated tire, and we were back in business.
Total time, from the time I arrived home after my walk of shame, maybe 2 hours (including the Walmart experience).
Even after my worst case Slime disaster, there is no doubt regarding my further use of Slime. I remain convinced the tires stay inflated at the pressure you want with fewer checks, and are less like likely to be easily punctured. I'll risk this worst case scenario happening again in exchange for the reduce maintenance benefit without hesitation. -Al
Not able to ride it due to a completely flat tire, I had to walk the bike home. This resulted in a 1 mile walk of shame. Up hill the entire distance, hot day with no wind, etc, etc, etc. Kidding, actually, not that bad. It could have been much worse had I gone in a different direction. To add frustration to my walk of shame, by time I get the bike home the rear tire and wheel were covered in Slime. A picture perfect "Slime disaster" if there ever was one....
Remembering Slime was water based, I did a preliminary wipe down with a water soaked terry cloth rag. Tire and tube was removed from the rim and left to one side, to the side opposite the side the wire comes out. Rear wheel was loosened and torque arms removed. I lifted the wheel up out of the drop outs, allowing me to pull the tire and tube clear of the bike.
Then the clean up. Wet rag, rinsed occasionally, took care of the rim. Same process used on the tire. Not sure what caused it, but the tube had a split maybe 1/8" long, found only by trying to inflate it. Split not caused by any tool as I mount my tires using nothing but my hands. I had changed the tire recently, about 100 miles/3 weeks ago, so that likely had something to do with it. I suppose it may have been pinched somehow, but I intall the tire and tube with the tube partially inflated to avoid that. Wrote that failure off as a stuff happens issue.
Off to Walmart for a pre-Slimed, extra heavy duty, extra thick, 20 dollar tube.
Reassembled bike, reinflated tire, and we were back in business.
Total time, from the time I arrived home after my walk of shame, maybe 2 hours (including the Walmart experience).
Even after my worst case Slime disaster, there is no doubt regarding my further use of Slime. I remain convinced the tires stay inflated at the pressure you want with fewer checks, and are less like likely to be easily punctured. I'll risk this worst case scenario happening again in exchange for the reduce maintenance benefit without hesitation. -Al
