How to change a tube...

[jamesdart]

Without removing the wheel???
Only on high traffic days do I use public transportation. So I was walking across town and i see a female citibike mechanic. I took a glance to see what she was doing as I walked by. She had a new tube layed out on the ground with the bike still in the rack. the wheel was still on, I took a better look wondering why the tube was laid out on the ground but the wheel still on. She had the bead popped off one side on the rear wheel. she cut the tube in half and was quickly ripping it out. I had to stop in my tracks turn around and go back to see. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to watch this trick I wanted to get back to NJ so i just stared for a couple seconds with a what the.... Look, and I split.

 

[horsefarmer]

Maybe one of these..

Gaadi Double Ended Bicycle Inner Tube - change tube without removing your wheel!
they are on ebay/uk and amazon/uk not available here in us?

 

[Fv2]

Maybe one of these..

Gaadi Double Ended Bicycle Inner Tube - change tube without removing your wheel!
they are on ebay/uk and amazon/uk not available here in us?

Interesting.

 

[Bicycle808]

Yeah, a split tube could do it. It's also possible that the mechanic was an idiot. But i bet they use the split tubes for roadside repairs to make it all movd qicker; i think the Citibikes have theft-proof axle nuts plus changing a Nexus rear is a bit of a hassle...

Interesting fact: they used split-tubes on an old German motorbike called the Megola; it had a radial 5 cyclinder powerplant that was part of the front hub !) so removing the front wheel was a huge PITA. The split hub allowed them to leave the wheel in place. They also had spokes of a special design, so you could easily replace one (or two) without disrupting the complicated drivetrain.

 

[Fv2]

Yeah, a split tube could do it. It's also possible that the mechanic was an idiot. But i bet they use the split tubes for roadside repairs to make it all movd qicker; i think the Citibikes have theft-proof axle nuts plus changing a Nexus rear is a bit of a hassle...

Interesting fact: they used split-tubes on an old German motorbike called the Megola; it had a radial 5 cyclinder powerplant that was part of the front hub !) so removing the front wheel was a huge PITA. The split hub allowed them to leave the wheel in place. They also had spokes of a special design, so you could easily replace one (or two) without disrupting the complicated drivetrain.

That thing would be a nightmare to restore,but man what a cool ride it would be.

 

[Bicycle808]

That thing would be a nightmare to restore,but man what a cool ride it would be.

Agreed. Those things are incredibly rare; i believe they sold essentially the same model under a few different marques, but they're all about as easy to find as hens' teeth. They say there's fewer than a dozen complete Megolas still in existence.

 

[Bicycle808]

Maybe one of these..

Interesting; it's got a Woods valve (aka Dunlop valve)...Not a whole lot of those kicking around the USA anyway....