Simon Brooke <
[email protected]> wrote in message news:<
[email protected]>...
> in message <[email protected]>, Ian G Batten
> ('[email protected]') wrote:
>
> >
> > So, the wiggle parcel arrived this morning, containing tubes, patches
> > and CO2 cylinders. Which was nice, as it arrived as I was just
> > waiting for my GPS box to lock, and I grabbed a tube, a cylinder and
> > some
> > patches from the box. Which was good, as I had a rear-wheel puncture
> > on
> > the Grand Union towpath. I could quickly stick a new tube in, blast
> > it with CO2 and continue, with a patched tube, a tube needing
> > patching, some patches, another CO2 cylinder, a backup handpump and a
> > fistful of patches in my bag.
> >
> > At lunchtime I repaired the punctured tube, and I'm a bit puzzled by
> > the Tip Top F1 Patches
> > (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/?ProductID=5360008947).
> >
> > They're black on one side, brown on the other, with the brown
> > protrouding slightly. I used one brown to the tube, on the grounds
> > that it made most sense to remove the (lightly adhereing) foil, bond
> > it to
> > the tube and them remove the (firmly attached) clear layer. Was this
> > right? I know, I should read the instructions, but they're with the
> > other 90 patches at home...
>
> That's right. Best patches out there, bar none. Mind you, you'd be going
> some to use that many in the rest of your life!
Over here in the middle of the Colonies (where it is dry and our wheat
was imported) I'm on at least my fourth box (in 20 years of cycling)
of 100 and that is only after buying the small patch kits by the dozen
prior to that. I've had tubes that had 25 patches on them. The only
reason I threw them away was that the stem pulled out because it was
weakened from so much pumping. In the American Southwest, things just
aren't right if you don't find every one of your bicycles with a slow
leak every time you want to use it.
Thanks to our imported Russian wheat, we are cursed with the dreaded
devil weed - Goatheads! Our childern learn how to patch tires before
they can ride. We are to goatheads what OPEC is to oil except for the
exporting part and the getting rich part. If you every find yourself
west of the Mississippi, look carefully before you take your bicycle
off the pavement. I have watched farmers walking across their fields
grow from 5' 7" to well over NBA height from the goathead stuck to
their shoes! No foolin'! Tanks on manuevers at Ft. Carson have had
their treads flattened from the goatheads! Small childred have had to
have blood transfusions from walking barefoot through playgrounds (and
their parents have been publically humilated for allowing their
childern to go around barefoot). Why, I've even seen ... Be afraid.
Be very afraid.
Stuart Black