September 15, 20232 yr Basic skills to fix the above that are good to have for anyone who rides their bike more than just to the local shops and back. Like others on this forum who have done thousands of miles biking, I've had all of the above but in 50+ years of cycling I've had one snapped chain (easily fixed by a quick link), one bent deraileur (in the middle of some remore spot in Spain but resolved with some judiscious bending - worst case would heve been to byepass it and shorted the chain) but many many more punctures, so on balance I'd have far less hastle with a mid drive than a rear hub. But of course if you don't mnd riding with those dog of tyres, the Marathon Plus, then punctures will be even less and then if you've Gaadi inner tubes you can keep the wheel in place on the odd occasion you do get a visit from the puncture fairy. Since I started using Marathon Plus tyres ten years ago, I've never had a puncture in many thousands of miles.
September 15, 20232 yr Since I started using Marathon Plus tyres ten years ago, I've never had a puncture in many thousands of miles. For me it was only one MP puncture in many thousands of miles. And that blackthorn puncture so slow that I was able to ride the over five miles home with one simple pump top up, doing the repair later. .
September 15, 20232 yr Since I started using Marathon Plus tyres ten years ago, I've never had a puncture in many thousands of miles. I must have been unlucky then - I remember when I first started regular riding I got a couple of punctures over a winter period - I am an unhappy bunny in the cold and after struggling to get the tyre off and even more so to get it back on again, I decided that I'd prefer different tyres to the M+, happy (?) in the expectation that if/when I did puncture, I'd be able to deal with it fairly easily without freezing my fingers off - I then gave away three of the M+ and have never regretted it. Further, on fitting other tyres I realised how much the ride quality improved. Yes, I know about the different techniques for tight fitting tyres (including the YT vid by Colin, ex Spa Cycles) and the extra powerful levers (VAR and others) but I was glad not to be using them. Now, the Marathon Supreme is another story - I used them for many years on the solo bikes and tandem but now they are an exorbitant price so I'm running down my old stock to replace with what I don't know. I suppose it'd be good to hear that the M+ ride quality has improved over the years - has it?
September 21, 20232 yr You don't have to remove wheel to repair a puncture. If you have a spanner removing wheel with motor is not that difficult. Also don't have to unplug anything. Says who, I prefer to it is easier, FOR ME and others, remember NOT all people are "able" bodied
September 21, 20232 yr Yes, I know about the different techniques for tight fitting tyres (including the YT vid by Colin, ex Spa Cycles) and the extra powerful levers (VAR and others) but I was glad not to be using them. I can usually fit Marathon Plus by hand, but sometimes zipties are needed. I always carry reusable zipties.
September 21, 20232 yr I can usually fit Marathon Plus by hand, but sometimes zipties are needed. I always carry reusable zipties. Yes, that's 'Colin' from Spa Cycles who for many years hand built wheels for them but has been retired for a good while. He's now into his 70's and has rediscovered his cycling with the aid of a TSDZ2 conversion (see '531Colin' here on Cycling UK forum). As for tight fitting tyres I bought myself ones of THESE to help me with a particularly tight tyre on one of my bikes - fitting the tyre was a real *all ache but that tool does the job.
September 21, 20232 yr As for tight fitting tyres I bought myself ones of THESE to help me with a particularly tight tyre on one of my bikes - fitting the tyre was a real *all ache but that tool does the job. These work well for me: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134698832608 ...they don't snap like the very cheap brittle ones, or haven't yet. Mind you my tyres are 20", if that makes a difference. Rarely used because my MPs are yet to have a puncture. Edited September 21, 20232 yr by guerney
September 22, 20232 yr Says who, I prefer to it is easier, FOR ME and others, remember NOT all people are "able" bodied It's easier for not able bodied people to fix a puncture without removing the wheel compared with removing it. You seem to have it the wrong way round.
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