Schwalbe marathon plus 26 x 1.75" and continental tubes (Schrader valve 40mm)

Schwalbe marathon plus 26 x 1.75" and continental tubes (Schrader valve 40mm)

 

Yes, I think they could well a contender at the first puncture. These look interesting as well: Schwalbe Marathon Supreme Tyre | Buy Online | ChainReactionCycles.com assuming the 700's will fit?

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

OMG! A stranded 906 Alpino? Find your nearest Halfords Store Nearest Halfords? Bit of a trek, I'm afraid.

 

What's with the 'blue liquid'? Were you asked if you wanted slime by the dealer, when you specified the bike details?

 

Ah, just looked at the time, your on the train now?

Halfords was also just past the closest train station, when you posted I was wandering through Charlton village. I got to the station about 45 minutes before I would be allowed to use it so I carried on to Halfords to buy spares and fix it there.

1st problem: Halfords don't sell inner tubes thick enough for a 45c tyre so I need a new tyre as well.

1st good thing: they have 1 Marathon Plus left and it's the right size.

2nd problem: they don't sell 700 inner tubes with schraeder valves.

3rd problem: I don't have a presta pump.

4th problem: The rim tape is a poor fit and has exposed the spoke holes, this is a puncture waiting to happen.

5th problem: Halfords are out of stock.

So I now have a presta valve fitted in a schraeder hole, I don't know how long it will be before that goes pop. I have a front tyre thicker than the rear, a little odd but it rides fine. I have a terrible bike pump that can't manage a decent pressure. I have a pretty blue colour inside the mudguard where the slime sprayed out and covered all in it's path and I have a legendary tyre which I'm confident I'll puncture soon.

Now to order new inner tubes and rim tape before it happens again.

I am fairly sure that the Wisper 906 has modern 700c rims and that is exactly what Mussells has now put on his.

Halfords was also just past the closest train station, when you posted I was wandering through Charlton village. I got to the station about 45 minutes before I would be allowed to use it so I carried on to Halfords to buy spares and fix it there.

1st problem: Halfords don't sell inner tubes thick enough for a 45c tyre so I need a new tyre as well.

1st good thing: they have 1 Marathon Plus left and it's the right size.

2nd problem: they don't sell 700 inner tubes with schraeder valves.

3rd problem: I don't have a presta pump.

4th problem: The rim tape is a poor fit and has exposed the spoke holes, this is a puncture waiting to happen.

5th problem: Halfords are out of stock.

So I now have a presta valve fitted in a schraeder hole, I don't know how long it will be before that goes pop. I have a front tyre thicker than the rear, a little odd but it rides fine. I have a terrible bike pump that can't manage a decent pressure. I have a pretty blue colour inside the mudguard where the slime sprayed out and covered all in it's path and I have a legendary tyre which I'm confident I'll puncture soon.

Now to order new inner tubes and rim tape before it happens again.

 

Morning Mussels, sorry I didn't get back to reply last night, had stick of ram die on me! (I hate faffing around with computers in the evening when I should be using them!) Anyway, glad you had a sort of result in resolving the puncture. Sounds like Halfords need to look at their stock levels!

 

Ok then, a few questions if you don't mind?

 

1. What are the actual size of the tyres and tubes fitted as standard? On the Wisper website the specs for the Alpino state: Kenda K935 26" or C700 x 1.75 puncture resistant. I was under the impression that the larger wheels were the norm?

 

2.When you said the rim tape is a poor fit, was that the cause of the puncture?

 

As to the blue slime, well would it not be better for Wisper to supply the bikes without installing the slime and provide a can for the rider to use in the event of a puncture? At least that way you have both options of repair and patches would stick to a non-slimed inner tube.

 

Regards,

 

Mike.

You mention the hydraulic brakes - I have them on my Tasman and very good they are too. They do point up the limitations of bike tyres, though, in that they are quite capable of locking up the wheels at any speed. Stoppies might be difficult, therefore, since you need tyre grip for for that. Maybe skiddies are easier

 

On the 8 speed Alfine, I start in 3rd gear, change to 5th, then 7th and then to 8th. That seems to give good gaps between the gears for accelerating from lights in town.

I am fairly sure that the Wisper 906 has modern 700c rims and that is exactly what Mussells has now put on his.

That's exactly what I fitted, 700x38c Marathon Plus.

1. What are the actual size of the tyres and tubes fitted as standard? On the Wisper website the specs for the Alpino state: Kenda K935 26" or C700 x 1.75 puncture resistant. I was under the impression that the larger wheels were the norm?

 

2.When you said the rim tape is a poor fit, was that the cause of the puncture?

 

As to the blue slime, well would it not be better for Wisper to supply the bikes without installing the slime and provide a can for the rider to use in the event of a puncture? At least that way you have both options of repair and patches would stick to a non-slimed inner tube.

 

Regards,

 

Mike.

1. The tyres are 47-622 or 700x45C or 28x1 and 5/8, depending on what system you prefer. The Rim is 622x17.

2. The puncture was caused by something in the road, the rim tape exposing the spoke holes is a potential puncture.

Slime seems to be a marmite thing, it works well in tubeless tyres but I've not seen any evidence that it works with tubes and last night it certainly didn't.

You mention the hydraulic brakes - I have them on my Tasman and very good they are too. They do point up the limitations of bike tyres, though, in that they are quite capable of locking up the wheels at any speed. Stoppies might be difficult, therefore, since you need tyre grip for for that. Maybe skiddies are easier

 

On the 8 speed Alfine, I start in 3rd gear, change to 5th, then 7th and then to 8th. That seems to give good gaps between the gears for accelerating from lights in town.

I think your gearing is lower than mine, I find 1st gear is a little high and the gap between gears is a bit big so I certainly wouldn't skip them on the way up. I can pedal up to 45mph in 8th, if yours is lower then it would explain the difference in opinion.

If the tyres can't cope with the brakes then I'll be back on the balloon tyres soon.

 

I'm happy as the Presta valve in the Schraeder hole hasn't gone pop yet.

Edited June 4, 201015 yr by Mussels

2. The puncture was caused by something in the road, the rim tape exposing the spoke holes is a potential puncture.

 

slightly disappointing as from memory the 26" rims on the 2009 Wisper 905SE have a very good piece of "proper" rim tape... this I was impressed by as things like this are often overlooked.. I had this problem on my hybrid (indeed causing some punctures from the spoke holes) and got some French cloth based stuff from Edinburgh bicycle Co-op...

my '09 905SEs' tubes were slimed, although those got swapped along with the dodgy Kenda tyres..

 

Yep all slimed up and with the Dodgy Kenda tyres! I still think they are brilliant! I will certainly look into the rim tape issue.

 

All the best

 

David

Edited June 4, 201015 yr by Wisper Bikes

slightly disappointing as from memory the 26" rims on the 2009 Wisper 905SE have a very good piece of "proper" rim tape... this I was impressed by as things like this are often overlooked.. I had this problem on my hybrid (indeed causing some punctures from the spoke holes) and got some French cloth based stuff from Edinburgh bicycle Co-op...

The rim tape looks quite substantial but it just the wrong width and creeps away from the holes, from that I have read finding the right width tape is as much an art as a science.

 

Yep all slimed up and with the Dodgy Kenda tyres! I still think they are brilliant! I will certainly look into the rim tape issue.

 

All the best

 

David

The Kenda tyres seemed fine and there is no sign of the trouble I've had with them before, I would have carried on with them had Halfords sold wide enough inner tubes. I guess now I'll find out if Marathon plus is much better, the blue barrier isn't very thick so it looks like it will only stop very small objects.

The kenda tyre does not however make a good shoulder strap, 10 miles with that wrapped round me was fun.

 

Yep all slimed up and with the Dodgy Kenda tyres! I still think they are brilliant!

 

I've also had good experience with the Kendas, 18 months on two bikes with no punctures and the wear rate seemed low.

 

I'm not so supportive of the slime though, as Mussels found, when it lets you down as it so often does, a puncture can be nigh on impossible to repair out on the road once that sticky fluid spreads over the tube surface.

 

I've tried Slime and alternatives and have never had any success, so I believe that should be a customer choice item rather than standard. If supplied as standard the first thing I'd do is change both tubes.

.

the rear tyre I had actually got a hole in the sidewall - and I had always kept them at correct pressures etc I decided better to be safe than sorry and change both.. I wouldn't be surprised though if the tyres have had a design change since. Ironically similar Kenda tyres are on my Powacycle Salisbury (perhaps an earlier type?) and I've not had those problems and only a couple of punctures.

the rear tyre I had actually got a hole in the sidewall - and I had always kept them at correct pressures etc I decided better to be safe than sorry and change both.. I wouldn't be surprised though if the tyres have had a design change since. Ironically similar Kenda tyres are on my Powacycle Salisbury (perhaps an earlier type?) and I've not had those problems and only a couple of punctures.

 

I had three Kenda tyres go the same way but only on the back, the new ones in use now seem quite different.

Possible solution poor fitting rim tape is fit that plastic inner tube protector, then fit the rim tape; plastic strip help in place, no holes for the inner tube to find.

 

Also found slime tubes be a waste of funds, when came puncture repair with a tyre swilling with slime, just a no go when your out of the workshop.

 

Better with Marathons, heavy duty inner tube, and if want to gamble buy a can of tyre (car) inflate hope its holds. Few hundred miles on the Marathon plus 20" rear and no problems. Forgot. also those inner tubes that don't require wheel be removed - must buy some.

Edited June 4, 201015 yr by Leesome

Need more input.

 

Hi Mussels,

 

just one more fact I would like to establish on the Puncture/Slime/Tyre topic on the 906 Alpino

 

Quote: "The kenda tyre does not however make a good shoulder strap, 10 miles with that wrapped round me was fun."

 

Now the Kenda is off the rim and your shoulder:D Is there any way you can weigh it please? I can't find any information on those tyres. The reason I ask is that. the tyre you have replaced it weighs in at 940 grms and the tyres I am looking at for a timely(?) replacement

 

Schwalbe UK

 

are almost half the weight at 570 grms and I think the profile will suit this areas cyclepaths, roads and my riding style Although, if my memory serves me right, the Kenda's are semi-slick as well?

 

Cheers,

 

Mike.

Off the top of my head they felt about the same weight, I might remember to measure it this weekend.

500g tyres are likely to not have steel beading, nothing wrong with that but will cost slightly more. I've had heavy tyres and light tyres and never noticed the difference.

Oops, broken spoke time in the back wheel.

I noticed the rear rim was out of true and felt a bit odd when riding, when I had a close look I have a broken spoke.

I reckon it's down to a combination of things: Budget rim, high bumpy mileage, poor build and the wrong spokes.

Budget rim - It gets ok reviews and for a cheap rim seems quite good but it needs a well built wheel to keep it in shape.

High bumpy mileage - about 1000km over London's nice streets.

Poor build - Machine built and the spokes came loose after 100 miles, I had tightened them up but obviously not enough.

Wrong spokes - I don't think 13g is used on normal bikes and the motor is in the front wheel so why put such thick and unflexible spokes in a standard rear wheel?

The bike is in London and there is a CycleSurgery nearby so I just need to source the bits, now where did I put that spoke calculator?

Oops, broken spoke time in the back wheel.

I noticed the rear rim was out of true and felt a bit odd when riding, when I had a close look I have a broken spoke.

I reckon it's down to a combination of things: Budget rim, high bumpy mileage, poor build and the wrong spokes.

Budget rim - It gets ok reviews and for a cheap rim seems quite good but it needs a well built wheel to keep it in shape.

High bumpy mileage - about 1000km over London's nice streets.

Poor build - Machine built and the spokes came loose after 100 miles, I had tightened them up but obviously not enough.

Wrong spokes - I don't think 13g is used on normal bikes and the motor is in the front wheel so why put such thick and unflexible spokes in a standard rear wheel?

The bike is in London and there is a CycleSurgery nearby so I just need to source the bits, now where did I put that spoke calculator?

 

Sorry to hear of the wheel problem Andrew, are you saying the bike is badly built or just the wheel? It is machine built of course, hence we do advise customers to have their spokes tightened after a couple of hundred miles, this is a free service from your Wisper supplier.

 

Is the front wheel OK?

 

We are considering using lighter spokes at the moment (14g) but problems are so rare now that we are not sure whether it is worth while, so your input is of massive interest. We are looking at the 14g as they will reduce weight but we are not certain they will add strength.

 

Is there a problem with the Alexrim? This is a huge upgrade to the budget rims we used to use, again we have not heard problems.

 

All the best

 

David

It's just the wheel build that's the problem (the bike as a whole seems well put together) and seems a common complaint with machine built wheels.

The rim itself is not bad but I think doesn't work well with the machine build, a stronger rim or a better build would probably solve the problem. As it needs rebuilding anyway I'll upgrade to a rim and spokes that are more suitable for the riding I do.

When I borrowed the '09 905se with Alex Rims it took me a month to break the spokes which was much better than 1-2 weeks on the old rims (or the four hours it lasted after the first rebuild by the retailer), after SJS hand built my 905 rear wheel with a Rhyno rim I had no problems whatsoever. At least now we know it wasn't the motor causing the problems.

I think a few people are going to experience a problem but not a lot of people

13g spokes are stiffer than 14g so won't absorb shocks as well, this could have contributed to my break as it is at the hub end and a little more flex may have stopped it.

The front wheel seems fine and the spokes have always been tighter in that wheel.

Thanks Andrew

 

As I said we do currently have some Swiss 14g spokes on trial. The motor manufacturers recommend 13g but like you we think a lighter spoke with more give would be a better solution, I will keep you informed.

 

All the best

 

David

I spoke to the mechanic at Cycle Surgery and he reckons it should be fine after a repair so I've booked it in to be done there next week. Previous experience makes me sceptical but I'll give it a try.

A letter for me!

 

A note about the process if you are using cyclescheme.co.uk

 

When I applied for mine I was impressed at how easy it was and how quickly it got approved - right up to the stage you are now at!

 

In my case I waited 4 weeks and then started chasing only to find the invoice had not been recieved.

 

Bob_about

 

I'm impressed, the cyclescheme voucher arrived today! Thats only 8 days from approval!! Maybe the e-mail to the head of our payroll dept helped?

 

Anyway, I shall be on the phone in the morning to the LBS to find out when I shall be able to pick up my 906 Alpino! I feel like a expectant father again!

 

Mike.

First ride impressions!

 

Well then am I impressed? Oh yes! :D Ok, the Alpino is my first e-bike and having done 47k around Cambridge this evening (Battery still showing full!) I cannot understand why I didn't get one before! My little commute to work is going to be a whole lot more pleasurable than in the past!

 

I'm sure that not cycling for the last month and a half has helped my knee but, I seemed to be averaging 28-32kph whenever I glanced at the readout while at my cruising speed and no pain when I got back! Did find that 6th gear was the most comfortable gear to use at those speeds. Note to self............must get a hat that stays on my head...........blew off three times LOL! More so when I get used to 7th and 8th gears but, at the moment I find those a bit of a strain , so I didn't use them much.

 

Build quality from this little jaunt seems excellent, no squeaks , rattles etc. Although the motor is definitely noisier than the demonstrator that I rode, hopefully after a few? miles it will calm down. Pulling power in my mind is very good, obviously I can't compare to anything else ( surprised a few keen cyclists on the only real steep incline in Cambridge ) but, I am sure that until I feel the need for more speed this is going to suit me fine!

 

More to follow

 

Cheers from a very happy boy,

 

Mike.

I'm not the only one anymore.

The motor does get much quieter, it makes quite a noise to start with and I'm not sure it will ever be silent but I don't notice it anymore.

Just want to comment after reading all yours for the last hour lads. I know I am a Wisper dealer, the only one in my Country in fact but I am coming from a different angle. I took delivery of a 706 & 906 2 weeks ago, We run electric bike touring holidays here in Ireland & our fleet is made up of 705 & 905 14ah bikes. I rode the 706 along the first half of the 43mile trip & my first thought was that I a going to have to change the whole bloody fleet now because this looks so good...I gave all the holiday makers a chance to ride the alpino's on the way back & they loved it, mind you we did stop at a local pier by the Shannon half way & my wife had Irish coffee's for everyone (More whisky than coffee really) so getting any real sense from the Germans on that trip home was harder than usual, funny though! The comments back at the hotel whilst trying the black stuff were very good, they said the Black complimented the White of the alpino, I'll send you some pics, so a thumbs up from Germany as well as Ireland, Oh we had a French couple as well so three birds with one stone david. The 706 did fall over at the pier without warning but so did two Germans, I think that was my Wifes fault........