I’ve been prepping and outfitting my ‘24 TA all winter and I am almost ready to go for the spring/summer riding season. I am planning some long rides with some off the main roads by considerable distances (such as the Washington and Oregon BDR routes). Along with my tool kit is my tire repair kit from my previous bike, a dual sport with much smaller/thinner tires. The kit includes all that is needed to remove and repair or replace the tube, front or back, on the trail.
So jump to this past weekend when I set out to replace the tubes and tires on the TA. Part of the task was to ensure that my tool kit had the proper tools to complete the task, and that I could actually do it by myself. I was intending on doing it as if I were in the field as sort of a practice run. Well that came to a screeching halt when I could not even come close to getting the tire off the rim. I couldn’t even unseat the bead. I had a variety of spoons including the motion pro bead pro bead breaker. I tried soapy water, pounding the sidewall with a mallet, standing on it (I weigh 220 lbs). I could not get it to budge.
Shift in plan, I dropped the wheels and new tires and tubes at the dealer and they will install them easily (for a fee of course).
Now, I am stuck on the thought of what I am going to do when I get a puncture on the trail. I really don’t believe I can get the tire off the rim to repair/replace the tube unless a warm and/or worn tire comes off much easier than my factory installed Metzlers with 600 miles on them.
I know some have converted to tubeless. But even that does not solve all problems such as a cut or unseated tire. But tubeless tires are definitely easier for on-trail repairs of simple punctures. I have watched a few videos on converting to tubeless. I am not sold on it yet.
I have considered preventive measures which includes my upgrade to 4mm tubes. I have also considered a preventative sealant such as Slime or Ride-on, but I have not found anyone that regularly uses a preventative sealant including on this forum (one of my previous posts).
Just wondering if anyone has any other ideas I haven’t considered.
Thanks for reading
-Al
So jump to this past weekend when I set out to replace the tubes and tires on the TA. Part of the task was to ensure that my tool kit had the proper tools to complete the task, and that I could actually do it by myself. I was intending on doing it as if I were in the field as sort of a practice run. Well that came to a screeching halt when I could not even come close to getting the tire off the rim. I couldn’t even unseat the bead. I had a variety of spoons including the motion pro bead pro bead breaker. I tried soapy water, pounding the sidewall with a mallet, standing on it (I weigh 220 lbs). I could not get it to budge.
Shift in plan, I dropped the wheels and new tires and tubes at the dealer and they will install them easily (for a fee of course).
Now, I am stuck on the thought of what I am going to do when I get a puncture on the trail. I really don’t believe I can get the tire off the rim to repair/replace the tube unless a warm and/or worn tire comes off much easier than my factory installed Metzlers with 600 miles on them.
I know some have converted to tubeless. But even that does not solve all problems such as a cut or unseated tire. But tubeless tires are definitely easier for on-trail repairs of simple punctures. I have watched a few videos on converting to tubeless. I am not sold on it yet.
I have considered preventive measures which includes my upgrade to 4mm tubes. I have also considered a preventative sealant such as Slime or Ride-on, but I have not found anyone that regularly uses a preventative sealant including on this forum (one of my previous posts).
Just wondering if anyone has any other ideas I haven’t considered.
Thanks for reading
-Al
) On that occasion was a big nail into the tubeless tire. Offcourse if what pierces stays on, you can pump air into the tire and ride to the shop, not possible in most tube punctures.
