[dexterq20]

So today I got bored and decided I'd mess around with my bike. Time consuming? Yes. Practical? No.

I noticed that my front tire wasn't seated quite right in one spot, so I figured I'd just deflate it, work the bead higher up on the rim, and re-inflate it. What I didn't realize is that with my Stan's NoTubes setup, a floor pump ain't gonna cut it. So, after about an hour of struggling with a tire covered in soapy water and Stan's sealant, all I had to show for my efforts were Stan's sealant stains on the patio.

Finally decided to give up and take the wheel and tire to the LBS and borrow their air compressor. And of course, with the compressor, the tire aired up immediatley, no problems.

Then I went home and let the tire sit for about an hour, figuring that the sealant would set by then and allow me to re-inlfate the tire via floor pump after removing the valve stem core from the shrader valve to add more sealant (cuz so much of it spilled out beforehand). Wrong.

Back to the bike shop I go. I definitely got some odd looks when I came into the shop and used the air compressor for the exact same purpose as two hours ago. Finally got the tire aired up with a sufficient amount of sealant in there. But god damn, that was a pain in the arse.

Lesson of the day: to inflate my tires, I need a compressor.

 

[chicodude]

you're a dork....

 

[DßR]

here's another learning experience -- for like $17 at Wal-Mart, you can get a 5 gallon air tank that will hold upwards of 125psi, you can fill it up at a gas station or if you're patient, with a floor pump. Then, voila', you have compressed air wherever you are. I carry one in my truck, for flat tires on the bike (great for Stans' setups) or on the truck. It works the tits, just like me!

 

[Roasted]

Ummm...thats a really good idea haha

 

[zedro]

UST = no need for compressor. Problem solved :nuts:

 

[cali4niabiker]

UST = no need for compressor. Problem solved :nuts:

LOL. I use an old trusty floor pump made by Kenda and never had to use the compressor. I've had no problems whatsoever to pump up UST and non-UST tires, Michies, Panaracers, Kendas... to name a few. There are a couple of tricks to get it pumped up

Gotta be in fairly decent shape to do it. Anyway, what I do is slightly pinch the area where the valve is and put in a little soap (~1:10 v/v [soap:water] ratio) around the tire beads CLOSE to the valve. That is the most common source of leakage IME. What that does is widen the beads AWAY from the valve hole AND it temporarily seals where the air enters. Just pump it up real quick with a blast of air (get pump up high and then push it down fast while slightly pinching the tire). Sometimes that gives it just enough air to start with, and then you pump it up with a fast rate for about a minute. If that doesn't work, add a little bit of soap (too much = messy as h3ll)

Its kinda hard to explain in words, but that is what has worked for me in the past and still continues to work...

Hope it helps a bit.... and yeah, the first time is a real pain in da arse! Been there done that

 

[stinky|Dan]

Air compressors are one of the best inventions ever. We grew up on a farm, and when we sold it and moved to the city, the compressor was one of the few things we held onto. That thing is one of my favourite tools in the shed. I know, i know, i'm lucky, i'm spoiled. I hope this message gets out to those of you who have the cash but have failed to splash out on a compressor. If you're seriously into cycling, YOU NEED ONE.

Dan

 

[Jesus]

I have one I keep in my car that I bought at Wal-Mart for $10. It is powered by the cig lighter thingy. It's not the most powerful compressor known to man, but it works for car and bike tires.

 

[zedro]

I have one I keep in my car that I bought at Wal-Mart for $10. It is powered by the cig lighter thingy. It's not the most powerful compressor known to man, but it works for car and bike tires.

thats not a compressor, thats an electric air pump. Compressors actually store compressed air.

 

[kidwoo]

here's another learning experience -- for like $17 at Wal-Mart, you can get a 5 gallon air tank that will hold upwards of 125psi, you can fill it up at a gas station or if you're patient, with a floor pump. Then, voila', you have compressed air wherever you are. I carry one in my truck, for flat tires on the bike (great for Stans' setups) or on the truck. It works the tits, just like me!

Yeah, all the kite boarder folks use those to inflate the kite edges. I've been wondering if any bike people had tried them for tires. 125 psi might warrant a long hose between me and the tire in question though.

 

[mobius]

It works the tits, just like me!

WHERE WAS THE COMPRESSER IN HOOD RIVER WHEN WE HAD A FLAT? OR IN WASHINGTON HUH HUH. Yeah thats what i thought.


We shoulda burnt sarah's stuff then we could have fit it in the car.

 

[Frankenschwinn]

thats not a compressor, thats an electric air pump. Compressors actually store compressed air.

They compress the air....

 

[Guess?Who]

I use a compressor I bought from Costco. It was $50 and worth every penny. You get a air compressor, battery jumper, light ,and cigarette lighter inputs. It comes in handy when camping out for light, charging cell phones, or plugging my DVD player into it. Besides that, the gauge is very acturate without all the pumping.

 

[Guess?Who]

Sorry it's an electric pump, but I still call it a compressor.

 

[zedro]

Sorry it's an electric pump, but I still call it a compressor.

the only reason i'm finicky about it is because they wont work as effectively, or at all really. They just dont give enough air flow or punch for some tubeless setups.