I don't know if it's vaporware or not, but I came across this announcement of a device that can place a permanent patch on a bicycle tire, in seconds, without the need to remove the tire from the wheel.
From the linked article:
Patchnride is a small handheld tool that you can use to quickly patch punctures on your bicycle tires. And by quickly, they're not kidding. You don't even need to remove the tire from the bike. Instead, you just patch it in place using a process that can take as short as 60 seconds.Great idea... but it was supposed to be out "next fall", and the original article is dated June 2014. A quick search doesn't elicit any availability, and the product web page still shows a "Pre-order Now" link.
Instead of a messy and laborious 12-step process like traditional tire repair work, the device lets you fix a tire in just a few steps. You simply have to locate the puncture with the bundled leak detector, clean any debris from the area, insert the tool into the tire, press the release button, and remove the tool. Done. Just pump air back in and get back on the road.
But it would be a great idea, if only to get all those helpful people out of the way when you're trying to fix your flat.
I did some searching and followed up on this thing and it seems like the manufacturers have been running into major design and manufacturing issues and cannot deliver the reliable working product as scheduled. Kinda sucks. but I think it is a good solution to flats and really hope that they can over come whichever issues and make this available to the public.
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