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From: fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Tire Savers
Message-ID: <350@ihu1g.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-May-84 11:11:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihu1g.350
Posted: Wed May 16 11:11:20 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 17-May-84 03:00:02 EDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 35

(oo)
I've had a couple of people ask me about these, so I'm posting a copy
of a letter I sent recently:
--

"Tire savers" are little loops of wire that ride gently on
the surfaces of your tires and knock off little fragments of
glass, rock, debris, etc.  They attach to the frame via the
brake pinion bolts opposite the brakes.

They are very inexpensive, but they are worth their weight in
diamonds.  To look at them, you wouldn't think they would do
much to prevent flats, but they do.  You can get them at any
bike shop, and they can be installed in a few minutes with
a small wrench.  Adjusting them is easy.  They consist of
four parts: a mounting bracket, a wire yoke, and two short
lengths of plastic tubing which supply all the pressure that
is necessary to keep the yokes on the tires.  Gentle pressure
of only a fraction of an ounce is all that is needed to maintain
contact.

They last up to 2500 miles.  They should be replaced when they start
to wear thin, about half their original thickness.  As for their
function,  I have had only one flat in the last 4000 miles of riding,
that being from a staple that went into the sidewall as I rode over
a crack in the pavement.  I have ridden right through broken glass
numerous times without incident, and I've worn out three or four
back tires without a single puncture.  Before I started using tire
savers, I only had to think about a broken bottle and I'd get a
flat.  By all means, get a set.  If you never buy another bike
accessory, get these.
-- 

                               Bob Fishell
                               ihnp4!ihu1g!fish