Racing the Clock: HANDS-ONLY No-Tools ROAD BIKE TIRE CHANGING!

[@melchurch3019]

I always learn new things reading your column. I've always used tire levers because that's the way I was taught. Your way makes sense and not near as likely to pinch the tube. Thanks.

[@indoorkangaroo3431]

This is super nifty to know. I’ll try doing it without tools next time I have a tyre replacement as it’s always nice to carry less tools around when I can

[@JimLangley1]

It's mostly about technique rather than strength, indoor. Let me know how it goes. There are almost always reasons if it's overly difficult to get tyres on and off. Thanks for watching and commenting and happy 2024!🙏

[@1mesonyx]

Great instructions. It would be far faster if you wet the sides of the tire and the inside of the rim. Low spots will even out during first Inflation. I know it is close to impossible in the field but I use this while changing tires at home.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the tip Michal. As long as you have a bottle with some water in it on your bike you could do it out on a ride so I like the tip, thank you!

[@AikitonysTube]

It works!! I went for a ride with Jim and put a 1/8 gash in my side wall. I managed to ride back to camp with this pump reinflating my tire numerous times. It WORKS 😮.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the comment Tony! Tony's talking about the impressive Cycplus Cube mini inflator pump that I reviewed recently if you want to check it out kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGnKo2itmLSZZpY

[@grettaava1155]

I usually do the pinch swing method for tight tires, has been a lifesaver.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Bikeops2021]

Great video, Jim, as always. Like most people here, I've changed lots of tyres & I learned a long while ago about getting the beads in the centre of the rim. Oddly enough, I've never given it a thought while putting a tyre back on! I actually can't wait to try your well practised technique. Cheers, Jim. PS. Most of my bikes are tubless. I'll look forward to your tubeless video.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and commenting Graham, appreciate it! I already showed how I put on tubeless road tires in my video on Dynaplug repair kits. This link will take you to the part of that video where I put the tubeless tire on: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5OunaGnr7yEaac Let me know if you have any questions after watching it. Thanks again!!

[@Bikeops2021]

@JimLangley1 Ha, yes Jim, I remember now you mentioned it, I watched that video before. I forget sometimes. It's been a couple of years since I converted to tubless & tbh I've not had a puncture since, at least not that I know of! I've watched the tubless video again for a memory refresher. Think I'll give myself a refresher course on using the repair kit, I have a spare wheel & tyre to play with. Cheers Jim. 👍

[@FGIRAFFE]

First time I really learn how to install a tire. Especially liked the low spot checks and fixes. Next time I'll do it right too now! Than you!

[@JimLangley1]

You're very welcome Francis, thanks a lot for watching and commenting, glad the video was helpful!

[@chuckb4375]

Jim, your video is by far the best I've seen on this topic! Another idea to assist in getting that last tight part of the 2nd bead over is to snug Velcro around one side of it (a tourniquet of sorts), freeing up both thumbs/palms to persuade the other side. My riding buddy has a tubeless-ready rim (by company "B") with offset spoke holes. To avoid chronic flats, we replaced rim tape with the proprietary wall-to-wall 23mm rigid strip that won't creep. Mounting and removing winter tire beads onto that rim/strip by hand was possible, but required all tricks and the grip of gorilla. Fixing a flat in the field on a cold day will be an interesting experience ;-)

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching Chuck, glad you liked the video! I appreciate you sharing your tip, too, that's a clever way to work. Hopefully the sealant in that tight tubular tire will do the trick and he won't have to deal with flats. Or he'll carry some tire plugs and be able to fix it without having to remove the tire! In case you or he are interested, here's my review of the Dynaplug tubeless plugs which work well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5OunaGnr7yEaac Thanks again!

[@chuckb4375]

Thanks for Dynaplug pointer! He hasn’t converted to tubeless yet though - new rigid 23mm rim strip was just to avoid tube cuts from offset exposed spoke holes…

[@JimLangley1]

@@chuckb4375 he could run sealant inside his inner tubes as a way to hopefully prevent most flats? Or get and carry a tire jack tool like the ezclincher.com or Kool Stop amzn.to/4aMrqSP The EZClincher is much smaller than the Kool Stop so it's easier to carry in a seat bag etc. Merry Christmas Chuck!

[@denis_roy_7]

Good job and good tips Jim! Watch out for your rear derailleur when you leave your bike in that position. Be well!

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot for watching and commenting Denis, appreciate it! Yes, yes that's an excellent point that needs to be made - thank you, I'll explain more... For anyone reading these comments, the rear derailleur and hanger are two delicate parts of the bike and you don't want to damage either, which can definitely happen if you drop the bike or put it down hard, which will slam them into the floor or ground. You never want that to happen. To prevent any issues you have to put the bike down as gently as possible and in such a way that it can't fall over too (I leaned it against my workbench). A good way to do this is to lay it on its left side (non derailleur side). I do this very carefully when fixing flats because if you don't it can cause the chain to come off the chainrings and get tangled which slows putting the wheel back on. The other thing is that if you do put the bike down like I have it in the video and you're outside, never let the chain or derailleur get in any dirt, sand, etc. because that can really mess up the drivetrain. Thanks again Denis!! 👏

[@denis_roy_7]

@@JimLangley1 Thank you Jim for the comment. Very true!

[@denis_roy_7]

Merci!

[@JimLangley1]

You’re very welcome Denis, thank you!!

[@paulstuart9465]

Hi Jim. I use a tool that can't damage the rim. Its called the tyre glider. I use Conti Gator hardshells and though i can do it by hand. Its so much easier to use the tool.

[@JimLangley1]

Really appreciate you sharing the tool you use Paul. I haven't heard of the Tyre Glider or tried it so I looked it up and found it here: amzn.to/46gUaA0 It gets a 4 star rating on Amz. And it looks very clever. Thanks again for the tip, appreciate it a lot 🙏❤

[@manresarods4947]

Your tube was sticking to the old tire. You don’t use talc? I’m old school!

[@JimLangley1]

That's an excellent observation Manresa, thanks for watching so closely and asking the question. At the end of the video I talk about ways to make it easier to install tight tires and I mention and show talcum powder. Latex tubes usually come with some on them already but those aren't the normal tube, butyl is the normal tube and those come dry usually. Talcum or you can use other non toxic powders will prevent the tube sticking over time and it will help putting on the tube and tire. But it also tends to make a mess of the tire, tube, rim, floor 🤣 and it's not essential to use it, so I would only use it if someone asked me to. Now if you were racing and needed the fastest setup there are some studies that show that talc'd tubes save on rolling resistance so it would make sense there. But you would probably be using the already-talc'd latex superlight tubes I think. Since they come with the powder already on them they're not that messy to install. Thanks for the great comment!

[@rafriedman]

I put my cycling gloves on to do the final mounting of the tire. Gives a bit more push.

[@JimLangley1]

That's a good tip Reysh, thanks a lot for sharing! I've also heard some people say that they carry those rubber gardening gloves you can get and that the rubber grip helps them push the tires on. Appreciate you watching and the great tip, thank you! 🙏

[@peterschoen841]

As usual, great video. Why wouldn't you use a plastic lever though if it were easier? Are you saying they aren't necessary? And better for the rim if you don't use a lever? I want to try your technique. Thanks .

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot for watching and commenting, Peter, glad you enjoyed the video. The reason I focused on hands-only tire removal and installation is because it is the best way to do it - safer for the tube and rim and tire too. Also, it's the way tires are designed to go on and off. Professional mechanics like me are actually embarrassed if we have to reach for tire levers and it's rare we have to. The other reason I made the video is because people I fix bikes for and that I ride with are amazed when I do it with my hands and want to learn to do it that way too. I'm hoping this video helps anyone who wants to learn the technique so that they can enjoy all these benefits - including impressing their friends on rides. But it's perfectly fine to use plastic tire levers if you need to to remove tires, just beware the tube inside if there is one - don't pinch it. I say that it's okay to use tire levers in the video but I should haver probably emphasized it a little more. If you ride in the winter your hands can freeze and when that happens levers can be a necessity. I hope this helps explain. Thanks again for watching and the great comment, appreciate it!🙏

[@peterschoen841]

@@JimLangley1 thank you so much for your response. Huge respect for you.

[@JimLangley1]

@@peterschoen841 my pleasure Peter, thank you!

[@davidburgess741]

I spend my time turning the punctured tire inside out and running a finger along the inside. You'll feel foreign objects your eyes miss. I,ve had wheels with loose fitting tires. There, focusing on pushing down the high spots works better. First, let some air out though. Also, I've used hot melt glue filed down to fill the spoke hole ferrals. No rim tape definitely makes the fit looser. There are plastic ferral plugs also which I haven't tried.

[@JimLangley1]

Appreciate you taking the time to share some more tips, David, thanks a lot! In the video the tube is AOK and the old tire is getting tossed in the trash. But if I was fixing a flat and putting the old tire back on I absolutely would have checked the tire for any sharp objects. The way I like to do it is with a rag - or my glove when I'm outside. Sharp objects are sometimes stuck in the tire at an angle and with the rag you run it around in both directions and that way even if it doesn't catch on the rag in one direction it will in the other. Also you won't get cut if you use a rag. I got cut pretty good by a piece of glass once running my finger around the inside of a tire - a rare thing but it can happen. I like your idea of filling the spoke holes. Rim strips can be way too thick making it much harder to mount and remove tires. I've use these rim plugs to fill spoke holes: amzn.to/3rlCHYf You need to measure the holes to make sure they fit the rim. By searching for "spoke hole plugs" or "rim plugs" more will show up in a search. The only thing I don't know about hot glue is how easy it is to remove? If you ever needed to replace a nipple or rebuild the rim again you'd want to get it out of the spoke holes. Thanks again for the tips David, appreciate it a lot 🙏

[@rfreitas1949]

I won't use a tool of any kind, it should come off and back on by hand.If you have to jack a tire on its to tight and I won't use it. I also raise the pressure up bit by bit so I can straighten the tire as I go.Thanks for another GREAT Video.....................

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks for watching and the great comment Bob, glad you enjoyed the video! That's good advice, appreciate you sharing very much! 🙏

[@donaldvidger2453]

great video. But now my back hurts!

[@JimLangley1]

Glad you enjoyed it and sorry about your back!

[@rivnuts7398]

Interesting background vocal music.

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot for watching and commenting - I know a whole lot more about bicycles than I know about music, that's for sure 🤣

[@kostais]

I always use talcum inside and soap on beads (though more skillful guys laugh on me)))

[@JimLangley1]

Thanks a lot for watching and sharing your tips, appreciate it very much 🙏 Both talcum and soap are good to use and they can make it easier. The only thing is that they can make it a little more of a mess if you use too much. But it's pretty easy to clean up with a little water and the soap on the tire will help with the clean-up too. Thanks again!