Ever heard of this?

[sundial]

I know something that Mr. doesn't.

LOL! Shall we hear yet another admission from Mr. that you possess greater knowledge?

[Ninabike]

Those tire savers also went by the name "flint catchers". I used them years ago with sewup tires and never had a flat. I've looked for them in recent years but could never find any.

[singletrackmind]

am I just too cheap or what? I patch my tire until they have about a half a dozen or so patches. Never had reliability issues with patched tires. I just find it so wasteful when people throw away the tube wih one simple flat. newer glueless thin patches are useless. The old fashioned with glue kind works really well.

tire liners/protectors. they worked really well for me, though I haven't used them in a long time. It's a bit of hassle.

smilingcat

I keep a patch kit too, along with a spare tube in case the patch kit doesn't cover the job......though I always end up using my kit on other people's tubes (no flats, knock on wood).
The liner is a bit of a hassle the first time you get it in there, no doubt about that!

[RoadRaven]

My LBS (Hi Chris!) says "The device she speaks of was called a " Tire saver " mounted to the brake caliper using a spring piece of wire (generally made from a bicycle spoke) to constantly brush the tire tread in hope of dislodging glass slivers and the like before they could penetrate all the way to the inner tube."

Ok... so they brush the tire... constantly, to dislodge glass etc...

Then how does this work >

But they work, and don't drag on the tire.

If they brush the tire, they must cause some drag on the tire... yes?

[Ninabike]

They can be bent and adjusted so that they float ever so slightly above the tire (distance about the width of a business card).

[sbctwin]

My 'sticker flickers' rode just a hair above the tire. They were flexible enough for me to bend them around the tire, but they didn't 'rub' the tire. They would 'flick' the sticker (goat head) before a revolution of the tire, hence not lodging their prickly little thorns to cause damage. I had them in the 70's ...

[Flybye]

My LBS (Hi Chris!) says "The device she speaks of was called a " Tire saver " mounted to the brake caliper using a spring piece of wire (generally made from a bicycle spoke) to constantly brush the tire tread in hope of dislodging glass slivers and the like before they could penetrate all the way to the inner tube."

Yes they work, yes I've seen them before though not so much now.

But they work, and don't drag on the tire. And they look cool too. My LBS has a customer who is a mechanical engineer, he custom makes these. So if anyone here wants one I can put you in touch.

I am interested! I have used 4 tubes so far at $5 a pop - pun intended. I recently found some for $3 each, but I am sick of changing tubes after long rides. How much and can we see a picture of them?

Thanks!

[Trek420]

I am interested! I have used 4 tubes so far at $5 a pop - pun intended. I recently found some for $3 each, but I am sick of changing tubes after long rides. How much and can we see a picture of them?

Thanks!

Owner of Robinson Wheelworks, in San Leandro CA, Chris Robinson has a client who's a cyclist and a mechanical engineer. He says this guy can make 'em custom for your bike. He says it's usually a 2-3 week wait for the tire thingies. Feel free to PM me for his contact info.

He's a tiny shop, just two awesome, funny, smart guys. So be patient if e-mail takes a while. But I imagine he can put you in touch with this fine fellow.

Tell him Trek sentcha! If he says "huh? " "She's the gal with the Mondonica, GT, Motobecane & Giant. The one who's single handedly dropped the 'average cost per RWW bike price' by bringing in her bikes"

There's quite a few TE'ers who go to Chris.

[sbctwin]

Trek, I would be interested also....

[spokewench]

what is a goathead?

YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW!

Seriously, it is a little thorn like thing with numerous hooks on it that when it works into your tire it is a little hole making monster! If you live near them, you MUST slime your tires.

spoke

[Trek420]

sbctwin & Flybye, I'm PM'ing you the info

[MomOnBike]

Goat heads are not much fun in bare feet, either.

[Flybye]

I remember this post from RolliePollie from 9-5-7



Ode to the Goathead Thorn
by Sara

Goathead weed with sharpest of thorn
You’re not my friend; I’m very forlorn
Tribulus Terrestris or Puncturevine
Whatever they call you will do just fine
Beside the roads that I do ride
Your spikey thorns do lurk and hide
With flowers of gold and leaves of green
You’re one of the prettier weeds I’ve seen
You spread across the soil and dirt
Just waiting to cause me grief and hurt
Growing there, so innocent and mild
No one would guess you’re evil and wild
You need no water, with sun you thrive
You’ll live where nothing else can survive
You grow and grow, you will not stop
Your thorns they make my tires go pop
Right through the rubber on my tire
You poke your spike and my tubes expire
As summer winds down and fall draws near
You’re strong as ever and I’m filled with fear
That as I’m riding by tomorrow
My heart will be filled with flat tire sorrow
So please be kind and hold back your wrath
Keep your bleeping thorns out of my path!

[tc1]

Go to this website.
http://www.rodcycle.com/
Click on "download our newsletter"
That will bring you to a list of newsletters.
Click on August 2007. The information is on page 7 of the August 2007 newsletter.

Hope I haven't jinxed myself reading about tackweed, I am going on a ride on Sunday in Yakima.

[Trek420]

Here's a beautiful Davidson bike with tire savers. This one's positioned differently than Chris sets them up. He prefers them on the brake somehow.

Chris now has these in stock. They are handmade by one of his clients who is a mechanical engineer.

He says "back in the day" tire savers were the rage. Now folks want race bikes, race bikes don't have tire savers. But most riders will never notice this gizmo is there, they just float over the tire and flick off debris, goat heads, glass and ... you're faster when you don't have a flat