00:50 Very slight tube inflation
01:00 Coating tube with starch
01:38 Tube installation
02:15 Begin bead installation then let all air out of tube
03:19 *EZ clincher use*
04:55 Free valve and shake tube up into tire
In a previous video we looked at the Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack (see the upper right) for installation of a tight road bike tires (one of several tire installation bike tools). Well an American based company has produced a smaller version that will fit in your saddle bag called ez clincher (used for clinchers up to 28 cm). By the way, we are in no way associated with the company or receive payment for any products we review. We show you how it works and some tips and tricks that will help you install a clincher tire (especially a difficult one) at home or on the road.
1. Fill the tire with a small amount of air. Make sure you powder you tube before installation. The easiest way is to place some starch (substitute for talcum powder tire) in a baggie and place the tube in it - shake it around. This will allow the tire to move up into the tube and not get pinched under the bead.
2. Place the valve in the wheel and insert the tube into the tire. Shake the tube up into the tire and the bead toward the center of the rim where there's a small grove to give you more room.
3. Continue inserting the bead and shaking the tire toward the center.
4. As you get close to the valve, let all the rest of the air out.
5. Use the EZ clincher starting to one side of the valve. Place the grove into the wheel rim and use the other side to pull the bead up and over the rim. Use your other hand to keep the other side of the bead from coming out as you do this. Remove the EZ clincher and insert it a little further down the line toward the valve.
6. Reverse and do the same coming from the other side of the valve.
7. Shake the tire beads toward the center periodically.
8. As you get close to the valve, push the valve up and out of the way.
9. Come in from either side of the valve without inserting the EZ clincher at the valve itself so as not to damage it.
10. You should be able to snap the rest of the bead over the rim, coming in from either side.
This seems to work as well as the Kool Stop Tire Bead Jack for how to get on a really tight cycle tire but is much smaller and can be carried in your saddle bag. It measured 5 long x 2 inches at installing end and weighs 30 grams. It is available for tires up to 28 mm from www.ezclincher.com for $12.95. As with all tire tools, this one seems to work on most hard to insert tires but not all. When this tool or the Kool Stop fail, one should consider a different tire/wheel combination.
