Goats Head

[allen_okc]

Im writing this because our bikes moving faster these days and would like to see what others are doing to combat a bicycles worst enemy, the Goats Head plant (Thorns).

Sometimes even the best of the thorn proof tires fall victom to this little plant. any opinions about radial bicycle tires or maybe the best thorn proof tire...

[2door]

I have tube liners in one bike but not the others. I've been lucky this year and haven't fallen victim to the thorn problem so I can't say how good the liners work. My guess is as long as the puncture is on the tread as opposed to the sidewall the liners should help but it only protects that narrow area. 'Slime' is another alternative but messy and can ruin a good pressure gauge.
Tom

[chainmaker]

There is member whos signature has a link to this problem, cant remember who it is though.

Cheers

[chainmaker]

Found it Goat Herder has this link in his signature Goatheads - Socorro Fat Tire Cycling

Cheers

[allen_okc]

big thanks for the link. we here in oklahoma seemed to be hit hard this year - im running the Kenda Flame tires 2.25 with the bell puncture proof tubes, yeah right and a little mix of slime, very messy and with all that a single thorn got me.

when i look at my car tires which seem to care less about the thorns, it makes me wonder why oh why there is no thick rubber bicycle tire that can handle it - although the kenda tire is of excellent quality it didnt help.

i havent tried the liners yet, so maybe that will fix the little goat head problem. Thank You fellows...

[Kevlarr]

Always wondered why anyone would need "thorn proof" tires 'cause around here you'd have to ride through a rosebush or up a Hemlock tree to get a thorn in a tire. Never knew there were nasty little buggers like that.

[scotto-]

Got those out West as well. The only thing worse then getting a flat tire, is stepping on one bare-footed.....those little suckers hurt!

[WayneC]

Well, I could swear I've posted this before but here again is my solution.
Swimming pool drain/backwash hose as a tire liner. Plus a 'thorn proof' tube (belt AND suspenders). I've been using it for over a year and ZERO FLATS!
I tested it trying to poke a phillips screw driver through it and all it did was stretch. It is PVC and I use it just the way it comes off the roll, which is flat--double thickness. I paint the inside of the tire with contact cement and also the length of hose. Let dry to a tack and install in the tire. All the contact cement does is hold it in place 'till you can get the tire mounted. Don't overlap the liner or you may feel a bump in your wheel as it rolls. Just use a knife to cut butt ends. Hose comes in 1.5" or 2" wide and will fit most any tire. I've got them on all my bikes; pedal and motor and haven't had flats anymore! Used to get them regularly--too d a m n e d regularly.

I don't know just how bad those thorns are by you but this solution sure doesn't hurt anything.
If they don't stand up to thornzilla, you could also try the tire-in-a-tire method. Similar to above but uses another tire inside the outer one. Sometimes you have to cut the bead off so watch out for the wire if your tire is of that type. If it's got the Kevlar bead then no problem. I've done this on one of my pedal bikes with great success.

http://motorbicycling.com/attachment...-liner-001.jpg
http://motorbicycling.com/attachment...-liner-002.jpg

[Goat Herder]

I Sounded out my personal experience before here and else where . Forgive me I don't have the energy again. A whole lot was covered here. Are 'Slime' tubes worth the extra money? - MotoredBikes.com: Motorized Bicycle Forum

What I hate is the confusion.

[Goat Herder]

'Slime' is another alternative but messy and can ruin a good pressure gauge.
Tom[/quote]


No it will ever mess up a tire gauge. Put the valve stem at 10 O clock or higher. It is designed to stop up holes. If ya play with the valve stem lower the stuff inters the valve core. It was meant to plug holes.The directions on this stuff mentions this.

I have never had these problem's.

If some one is fool enough to get this in there valve core it can be cleaned up. Use a core removing tool clean it up and put it back in. That simple...

Now some one is gonna say they bought some preslimed tubes. This is funny and both sad. Why? Come on slime or no slime its a wussy tube [paper thin]. I have no use for them to me there a great way and perfect approach to a flat tire or even a high speed blow out. Even snake bite is avoided with a leather cow hide thick heavy duty tube.

A paper thin tube with slime is a joke They put minuscule amounts of slime in those preslimed jobbers. I use a lot more. I try to shoot for some side wall protection.


There are folks that live in parts of the country that don't know what a road hazzered is. They are prolly running around on paper thin tubes as well. That would be a testament to their not having any road hazzerds . I can tell you that set up truly won't last 10 minutes in the Goat Heads here.

I don't use tire liners ether.