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Boundary Trail, Inkom Idaho

Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:46 pm
by BruteForce
This area is the most narrow, rugged and off camber double track I've ever ridden. About half-way through, I hit something and put well over 40+ plugs in my left/front tire. Several of us hit something along the trail, but I suffered at least a 2" gash in my sidewall.

I heard the pop and saw an explosion of green as the "slime" sprayed out of the tire.

Initially, I didn't think plugs would work, so I cut up a foam air filter, wrapped it in plastic wrap (from my sandwich) and crammed that into the gash. The foam filter was too flexible, so didn't hold and just fell out.

I then put the 40+ plugs in and it held for about 10 minutes and two air refills, but after that, they all just fell out and the tire was 100% flat.

We were only half-way through the track (about 27 miles into it). It was a tough ride with 4 good tires, but I was out a front/left tire.. oddly, the one tire that was probably the most required due to the trail leaning that direction.

Suffice it to say that you CAN run a Bighorn flat for 12+ miles over some very hostile terrain. I show an after photo where you can see the sidewall is just trashed after we made it off the mountain.

A few photos and videos:

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My attempt (was initially successful - You can see there's air in the tire) to plug up the gash.

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Obviously the plugs came out, and I just made the decision to ride it out. Look at the sidewall. That's what happens when the tire is catching all the rocks because there's no air.


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Here, Dennis (m74me) is demonstrating in his best Vanna White.

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http://www.vimeo.com/14902120

http://www.vimeo.com/14904974

Full story plus Garmin tracks available at:

http://utahbruteforce.com/bruteforce/20 ... idaho.html

Re: Boundary Trail, Inkom Idaho

Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:12 pm
by hemingray
Wow, uh, nice ride!

Sounds like except for the mysterious cause of the flats, it was pretty good! Do you think a tube would have helped? From the looks of it, not much could hold with that kind of gash.

Some of the manzanita we have could do punctures on the sidewall, to be sure.

Glad you got home OK on your durable Bighorn! Good to know they hold up enough to get out!

Re: Boundary Trail, Inkom Idaho

Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 3:07 pm
by Mr. Green
was that last pic after 12+ miles?

and that was a huge gash / hole to bad but at least you got home. Did your rim get thrashed? looked good in the last pic still.

wow i see after reading your post on your links, that those pics where after the 12+ miles id expect to see your rim / tire mangled.

Re: Boundary Trail, Inkom Idaho

Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 3:21 pm
by BruteForce
Mr. Green wrote:was that last pic after 12+ miles?

and that was a huge gash / hole to bad but at least you got home. Did your rim get thrashed? looked good in the last pic still.

wow i see after reading your post on your links, that those pics where after the 12+ miles id expect to see your rim / tire mangled.
Yeah, last pic is after 12+ miles of some serious rocks, switchbacks and hard terrain. I took it slow, but still banged up the rim. Rim still looks usable. I'm taking tires/rims to Discount Tire on Monday to have them swap tires onto my ITP rims.

Once I get some extra $, I'll buy 3 new Bighorns and one new rim to keep as a spare.

Re: Boundary Trail, Inkom Idaho

Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:43 pm
by EigerMike
like the pic with all the plugs! did you try to melt the plugs at all? sounds like a fun trail

Re: Boundary Trail, Inkom Idaho

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 3:19 pm
by DAVE
I have seen a simalar gash repaired by stiching the tire with iron wire then adding plugs into the remaining openings........

Re: Boundary Trail, Inkom Idaho

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 4:16 pm
by BruteForce
EigerMike wrote:like the pic with all the plugs! did you try to melt the plugs at all? sounds like a fun trail
Nope. The thought never occurred to me. I thought my McGyver idea of using a plastic wrapped foam air filter was genius enough! :D

Re: Boundary Trail, Inkom Idaho

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:35 pm
by EigerMike
BruteForce wrote:
EigerMike wrote:like the pic with all the plugs! did you try to melt the plugs at all? sounds like a fun trail
Nope. The thought never occurred to me. I thought my McGyver idea of using a plastic wrapped foam air filter was genius enough! :D
hey whatever works! :D

Re: Boundary Trail, Inkom Idaho

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:54 am
by GrizzlyGuy
Wow, talk about a rubber breaking at the wrong time! Er, make that rubber in general breaking at the wrong time. :P

I think you jinxed yourself. Look at the question you asked on 9/8/2010. [-X
BruteForce wrote:You carry a tube on you? Where'd you source it? Great idea.

Re: Boundary Trail, Inkom Idaho

Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:04 pm
by montana.matt
Thanks for sharing! Idaho has some of the best riding out west as far as I'm concerned...