So here is the short version of the mess up. Going to take my son mountain biking, but running behind. Pump up rear tire. Pump up Front tire but there is a problem at the valve and it is losing air.
Discover that the valve has separated from my stan's tubeless rim strip.
Remove rim strip.
Forget to sweep the tire. (note: if you are running tubeless with Stan's solution, just because you didn't go flat doesn't mean there are no thorns in your tire. I find that there are ALWAYS thorns in my tire, which make me even dumber for not sweeping it out)
Put in spare tube.
Grab Spare tube and saddle bag off wifes bike
Go to park.
Discover that tube in now flat and leaking rapidly when inflated.
Choose now as a time to remember that wifes bike has schraeder valves so I can't use her spare tube. Also a good time to notice that her patch kit has rubber cement that is no longer usable.
Now we are at the decision point, go home or try something drastic. I will have you know that Lane and I rode for 5 miles which is what made this picture possible.
Also know that the fix lasted not only for the five mile ride, but also sat in my garage overnight, and made the 15 mile commute into work the next day without having to re-inflate.
So if you get in a bind and need to fix a flat tire without a spare tube or a patch, this is one of my favorite trailside fixes. This is the second time it has bailed me out, but you can check out the pictures of us undoing the fix at the shop the next day....
The 26" Tube which was tied in a knot to make what amounts to a 22" tube which can be stretched to fit a 26" wheel / tire. Small section of the tire that would have a flat spot due to not having air in it is counter balanced by the extra rubber from the knot and the part of the tube with the hole. As long as you tie a nice tight knot this fix rides well and gets you back on the trail. Hope this saves a ride for you sometime.
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