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Took delivery of a new fairly basic HT today, a Sensa Merano Evo Race, from Merlin. Wheels are Sensa own brand Supra MA Comp 29er, and tyres are wire beaded Rapid Rob 29x2.25. In a plan to lighten them a bit I bought a Racing Ralph for back and a Nobby Nic for the front. I fought a bit to get the wire beaded tyre off the back wheel and then a fruitless half hour trying to get the Racing Ralph on, and gave up after breaking a lever.
Have just left the front for now.
Any suggestions on how on earth I get these on ? I have never had problems with NN or RR before so can only assume it’s the cheap wheels...
Whats the rim tape? I generally switch to stans/tesa tape out the outset as it makes tyres easier to get on as it is nice and thin.
This is a good video with various tips. Explains it better than a paragraph.
Sit in a chair and put the wheel on the floor between your legs with the valve at the top. Reach down with both hands and use your thumbs to push the bead into the centre of the rim. Grip the tyre like this and run your hands up to the top keeping the tension on the bead and your thumbs pushing the bead so it stays put in the middle of the rim all the way round. When you get to the top bend the tyre over towards you so that the bead pops into the rim at the top near the valve. If it won't go in by hand at the top then use tyre levers but you should not need to use enough force to snap the lever. If it's that tight start at the bottom again.....
Thanks, it’s fabric tape and tubed. I do it pretty much as you describe there oceanskipper....
Will try it again tomorrow !
Just remember if it’s this hard now at home, imagine how difficult it’s going to be on the trail.
Might be worth adding something like this to your pack....
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kool-Stop-Tire-Bead-Jack/dp/B001AYML7K/ref=asc_df_B001AYML7K/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=218098695106&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16162168812441800855&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006506&hvtargid=pla-448754439296&psc=1
^^^^ yeah, a trailside repair did come into my mind.... May just leave the original tyres on it ! It’s not my main bike and will be used for kids coaching duties in the main.
Thin, shiny rim tape makes a big difference.
My tyre removing/fitting technique is to set the hub against the edge of a worktop/workbench/wall/whatever, with the wheel horizontal in front of you, valve furthest away. Press the bead of the tyre nearest you into the well of the rim and then push against it with your sixpack/stomach. You'll now be pushing the hub against the edge of the worktop too. Starting at your stomach, using both hands, stretch the tyre forward and into the well all the way round, When you get near the valve you might have a wee bit extra stretching to do before "rubbing" the last 10-15cm of bead over the rim.
I can't recall the last time I needed to use a tyre lever for fitting. Reverse the technique for removal - hub against workstop, bead into well, stretch tyre away towards the valve and then I can normally just flip off the tyre. I might need a lever at this point if the tyre is particularly tight.
Cheers all. Will pop some Tesa tape in tomorrow and follow the advice!