Classic travel set
Surely every cyclist in theory understands how to repair tires. And many have done this in practice. If you do this in the garage, in your free time, having a complete set of necessary tools at hand, the process can even be a pleasure. But when a tire is unpredictably damaged during the journey, and the rider left light, hopelessness is involuntarily felt.
Therefore, it is always worth setting off on a journey with a minimum set of materials and tools that will help out in an emergency:
? mounting blades for removing tires
? pump
? patches with glue
The most problematic choice of sediment. If the kit fits even in a bag under the saddle or in a pocket, then this device needs to be attached somewhere. A good efficient pump is bulky, plus it adds extra weight, which is annoying when you want to race like a breeze. The compact model with a built-in hose is devoid of such disadvantages. However, it is painful to work with it - it is extremely difficult to pump up the wheel, and the effort for such a task takes immeasurably.
However, some cyclists are not too lazy to carry a spare tire and replacement tools with them. This is the most reliable solution, although more storage space is needed. It is worth taking a spare tire on trips for several days over long distances, especially if you have to go to deserted regions.
CO2 bike pump - an alternative to the classics
What solutions does modern industry offer? The so-called CO2 bicycle pump with replaceable cartridges makes life easier for the cyclist. It is a miniature head with a tip that attaches to a nipple. A cartridge is inserted into the device, into which compressed carbon dioxide is pumped. This is an alternative to the pump, which was appreciated by cyclists for such advantages:
✅ Low weight - the head together with the balloon weighs 40-60 g
✅ Easy to use - no effort is needed to fill the tire with air. The whole process, including the preparatory stage, lasts about a minute
A complete set, ready for use, costs about 1300 rubles. Photo: YandexMarket
However, the solution also has disadvantages. The first thing that scares you away is the need to buy replacement cylinders. Although you can buy refillable ones, which is a little more economical.
When using the CO2 pump for the first time, you may inadvertently release all the gas.
For beginners, it is better to buy a model with a pressure gauge: by controlling the pressure, it is easier to inflate the tire. This model is used repeatedly: you can pump up the tire a little to the required limit, and the rest of the gas will remain inside for the future.
The disadvantages include the need to carry replacement cartridges with you. Although one bottle weighs about 12 g, if you take several of them, the weight is already greater.
The cylinder should be selected according to the features of the bike:
? Roadsters with 28-inch wheels are suitable for cartridges weighing 12 g when pressure is needed within 7 atm
? For a hybrid, it is better to buy a 16 g cylinder. The pressure inside the tire is adjusted to 4 atm
? A mountain bike with 29-inch wheels is inflated with tires using 25 g cylinders
The CO2 pump is especially appreciated in conditions where there is no downtime.
How to use CO2 bike pump?
The repair algorithm is the same as when using a traditional tool:
✅ It is necessary to replace or seal the tire
✅ Screw the cylinder to the pump head
✅ Screw the tip onto the nipple
✅ Press the trigger and fill the tire with gas
It is important to add that CO2 pump manufacturers recommend using them in emergency situations. At home, it is better to pump up the wheels with a conventional pump, forcing air. The fact is that carbon dioxide escapes faster through the pores in the rubber. Therefore, such cylinders help out on the road - with an inflated wheel, you can get to the house or to the repair point, but the pressure is lost relatively quickly. Next, the gas should be released and air pumped in.
Anti-puncture gels
Modern high-tech solutions are capable of miracles! These include anti-puncture gels, which are designed to solve the problem of a puncture literally instantly, as soon as it appears.
This is a special composition based on water, to which fillers are added, including particles of rubber or latex. After the puncture, the gel flows out of the hole, blocking it almost completely. Further, the liquid thickens - the integrity of the tire is restored without the participation of the cyclist.
Sometimes the rider does not even notice that a puncture has occurred during the trip. However, sometimes the wheel deflates noticeably while the anti-puncture gel begins to work.
How to use?
When preparing the bike for a ride, the chambers are filled with gel when they are still intact:
? Tire needs to be bled
? Having typed the gel into a special syringe, the composition is injected into the tire
? The wheel is inflated to the desired pressure level
Gel Kenda in a volume of 250 ml costs 700 rubles. Photo: YandexMarket
Immediately after this, you need to drive about 2-3 kilometers, moving carefully, as an imbalance is possible. It will leave as soon as the agent is evenly distributed inside the tire.
If a cyclist noticed on the way that he punctured a wheel, it is recommended to inspect it - perhaps a sharp object that pierced the rubber remained in the tire. It must be removed, because because of it the puncture will not be completely sealed with gel.
The composition works great on the surface adjacent to the ground. Side holes such a tool will not be able to effectively patch.
Latex-based Weldtite Tubeless Tire Sealant gel can be bought in a 1 liter bottle at a price of about 2400 rubles. Photo: YandexMarket
Usually, complete with a balloon filled with anti-puncture gel, there is already a special key and a tube or syringe. On the packaging, the manufacturer writes how much money should be added to the tire. For a bicycle, this is, on average, 125-250 ml.
Sealants for repair
Not all cyclists are ready to pump anti-puncture gel into tires for a preventive purpose. If the outings are rare, and you have to ride on smooth good roads, the cost of the tool will seem unreasonably high. In this case, for a quick repair, you can purchase another equally innovative and effective product.
Tire repair sealant is a liquid polymer placed in a container. It is applied to the place where the hole is found. Further, the tool works independently, without additional effort on the part of the cyclist.
Aeropak sealant weighing 285 g costs 440 rubles. Seals holes up to 6 mm in diameter. Photo: YandexMarket
The fluid composition itself fills the puncture, hardening after that. You can continue on your journey with confidence in the reliability of the repair.
But this is not the most interesting solution. You can buy emergency sealant in aerosol form, which simultaneously pumps up the tire, sealing the puncture.
The composition is injected inside, after removing foreign objects from the rubber, if any are stuck in the tire. Next, you should drive carefully, as it takes time for the sealant to evenly distribute, which itself will penetrate into the hole and seal it.
Sealant-aerosol K2 TIRE DOKTOR in a 0.5-liter bottle costs 729 rubles. Photo: YandexMarket
With such products, it is much easier to find a way out of an extreme situation. One has only to remember that after using such products, upon returning home, the tire must be repaired in the traditional way or replaced.
