You can totally do the bike thing. Flats can be a pain, and part of it can be having a frustrating combination of wheel and tire. Some end up being a much tighter fit than others. A good patch should last. Sounds like you have something causing new holes.

Here's a good thread[/URL" target="_blank"> on this topic from a while back.

You could be right about pinching the tire with the levers. If you can get away with pushing it on with your thumbs, that's better. Start at the stem as runnerbee's post in the above thread mentions. Sometimes, if you work the tire into the center channel of the rim, you can get a little extra slack and make it easier to get the last bit on. I sometimes wet that last bit of rim to make it easier to slide the tire over the edge.

Also make sure you've checked the tire to see if there's still something pointy in there (like a thorn, or spoke end) causing the additional punctures. (Do this carefully, or you might draw some more blood.) Sometimes replacing the rim tape helps the spoke issue.

If you've worn a hole completely through the tire, that can cause flats (a "boot" - kind of a heavy duty patch for a tire instead of a tube) can fix this... but if you've got that much wear from the trainer, you'd probably be better off with a new tire. And you might get lucky in the process and get one easier to put on your rims.

Hang in there. You CAN do this!

100+ PSI is asking a lot of a patch, into the trash goes the patched tube.

Also, once they are unwrapped, I could never get them into the repair kit that I carry under my saddle.

Oh, and per previous admonishment her, do not use the trainer tire out on the road, it does break the tire down. Look at getting a cheapo spare wheel to keep on hand for use on the trainer.

Jon

My advice is to don't bother with patches while on the road. Always carry extra tubes...if you flat, switch out the tubes and get back on the road quickly.

I think that patched tubes are just as good as new tubes, provided you have patched them well....do your patching in the comfort of your own home/workshop so you do it right. Maybe others are better than I am patching tubes "out in the field", but I rather just switch tubes. It took me a few tries to "figure out" patching...I can only imagine doing this for the first time out on the side of the road!

The thing about patching tubes is that you aren't gluing a patch onto the tube, you are FUSING the patch to the tube with the rubber cement (jroden's "vulcanization") The rubber cement dissolves the rubber of the tube and patch so they fuse together and form an airtight seal when it dries. It is CRITICAL you let the rubber cement DRY TO A HAZE before slapping the patch on the tube, otherwise the patch won't fuse well to the tube....that is my guess of why you were having so many problems with the patching.

I also use a couple of pieces of scrap wood and a clamp on the patch and tube to make sure there is a constant pressure over the entire patch.

Hope this helps!

quote:<HR>Originally posted by jroden:
A patch that uses glue in a vulcanizing process (named for some reason after the greek god of, um glue)<HR>

Hee hee.

Smart idea to do a bunch of the greek god-style of patching at one time.

Maybe it's just me, but I've never had any problem with the Park Glueless (peel & stick) patches. They've been easy to apply and have lasted for me without failure. (I do rough up the area with the provided sandpaper... maybe that helps.) It's been a while, but when glueless patches first came out I tried a couple of competing peel & stick brands and they didn't work for carp. The difference was night and day.

And JR, you buy tires 10 at a time? You must be a greek god of cycling to go through that much rubber. Seriously impressive.

I used to patch flats. I'd ride on it until I replaced the tire. Now, I don't even bother, and just replace the tube. I do still carry a patch kit, just in case.

Lots of good advice already. Couple things to check--make sure to check the inside of the tire to be sure what gave you the first flat won't give you another. Glass, metal shards, thorns, etc can get stuck. Check your rim strip, as spoke nipples will cut the tube.

Try not to use tire plastics to replace the tire. You can very easily pinch the tube, givning yourself another flat.

Make sure your tire is properly inflated. If not, when you hit a bump, you will get 'snake bite' holes in your tube.

I'd trash your current tire. May or may not be the tire, but replacing it sure could solve the problem!