Mehhh-hanicals

53 Days until I start

Yeah, you read that one right. “Mehh-hanicals,” otherwise known in the English language as “Mechanicals.”

Oh Boy, oh Boy.
Things were going good until about 40ish km in, and I must have rolled over a nail to receive a special gift from the “Roads of Winton” – a slow puncture on the back.
A few farm dogs chased me right before, but that was minor. They were more like house dogs living on a farm, thinking they were big boy dogs.

Anyhow, fixing the rear tire was a sizable Nail puncture to address, so I used tubeless repair Plugs. While doing this, I glanced at the front tire, sitting in the Sun. Then, a loud bang and that sneaky MF blew itself off the Rim.
(Those Dogs never came back, so I told them!)

Both these tires are tubeless, which means a lot of gunk to contend with, which is the tubeless sealant – spraying everywhere.

Fatbike owners (and bike shops) know that getting the Tyre back onto the rim bead edge is an absolute mission without an Air compressor.

Because the fat tires are so big, even using a C02 canister struggles to pop on the bead. So, I had to switch to a bike tube and get out the pump. And then the Tubes hated me.

The problem, even with tubes, the tire kept blowing off the Rim.

Was I angry or annoyed -> No way! These are the very things I need to address before I’m somewhere in the NZ wilderness and can’t get any solution.
I was more disappointed that I wouldn’t achieve my 100km planned ride that day. Shit Happens, then you ‘Party On’ – right!

Two things caused this actual problem.

1. This brand-new tire, from where it was folded and shipped in from the UK, has a kink. The cords are stretched. Plus, I don’t think these Tyres are as flash as their price tag made them out to be.
2. The Carbon rims are too narrow even though I’ve been running these for a good four years (but mainly with Speclaized Tyres, which they don’t sell anymore). The combination of “flash tire above, but not so flash new tires) and the width of the rim and rim lip height. = On the Edge of disaster. 

Dodgy Tire or Professional Packaging?

Two hours later, I managed to get moving. Finally, I got it to a point where The tire was not seated on the bead, but the tube didn’t blow the rim off. So I rode 3kms to a mate’s house, with a very wobbly wheel.

A car trip home with a broken bike ended that day’s biking adventures.
Thanks to Gary for giving up the last part of his Thursday afternoon to help me sort the wheels and then run me home from Winton.

Also, if you are reading this, Steve Smith. I had planned to swing into your office and drink your coffee, but I didn’t make it past Browns to tell you I was “Around the corner – ETA 10 mins.”
Coffee is still on you. Next time.

The Solution.

It’s two steps. I gave this some thought and then decided when I got home.

Step One. I changed my rims away from the Carbon wheels to the original Fatboy rims (steel), which are wider. That required stripping all the spokes and hubs of the carbon rims and putting them on the other rims. (which I had to find in the Garage)

My advice if you ever have to rebuild your wheels. Don’t. Get the bike shop to do it.

Unless you are me and like challenges (or are stubborn), you must do it.

Once you build your wheels, they are not round. The spokes must be tightened to make the wheel run true, and you need the wheel tuning equipment and an expert to do that. (Which is not me)

Wensley’s Cycles. Saved the day.

Bike shops are busy, and you normally have to book in advance for work. The boys helped me by bumping me up the queue.

And they got me sorted that day. (which happened to be my Birthday, but I didn’t use that line on them)

Also, thanks to Froning for letting me use his Fatboy for parts and sorting me out with a couple of Fat Bike tubes. (he doesn’t ride his Fatboy anyway, well – he can’t now anyway – Cheers Dude)

That was Step One of the Solution.

Step Two.
Tannus.

While at Wensleys and discussing my constant issues with flat tires and tubeless working, then not. Simon suggested I look at a Tyre Insert from a company in NZ called Tannus.
It looks like this.

The insert goes between your tire and the tube, and “In theory,” if you get an object that may go through your tire, it’s less likely to hit your tube. (You can get these for normal-sized tires as well)
I’ve since ordered these in and will swap them over this week (hopefully if they arrive)
It makes sense. The tires are the bike’s biggest vulnerability or weak point (not me, well, I’m the second). Adding a preventive measure, such as inserts, makes 100% sense to me. And maybe it will save the day for me when I’m out and about in the great NZ wilderness.

And then the next day, I was able to ride…

Walter Peak to Mossburn, 
you must be there to experience it truly.

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