Air Lever: Perfect puncture protection

Punctures are an unfortunate fact of life on two wheels, so anything that makes them easier to fix is just fine by us. The Air Lever claims to be the first combined CO2 inflator and tyre lever.

The diminutive size of the Air Lever kit means you can carry a spare tube and everything required to quickly replace it at the side of the road in a small and light package.

{{cta-cycling}}

Win an Air Lever

The Air Lever can be bought via Kickstarter, but we have ordered one to give away. Leave us a comment at the bottom of this page and we will pick a name during the week after next.

Puncture-proof tyres

Nobody likes to spend time fixing a puncture, especially in winter, so the range of solid, puncture-proof tyres offered by Tannus are a tempting proposition at this time of year.

Constructed from a polymer compound, the solid tyres are available in two grades that imitate different tyre pressures – 85 psi or 110 psi.

Cyclists who know their history will be wary of the claims made of solid tyres. When British inventor John Boyd Dunlop in 1887 developed the first practical pneumatic tyre (for the wooden disc wheel of his son's tricycle), the innovation transformed the performance of bicycles - and even made possible the development of the first car by cycling fanatic Karl Benz.

Since then, solid tyres have had a reputation for being heavier and less efficient than their inflatable cousins. However, the 700 x 23c Tannus Musai model weighs in at 380 g, which is comparable with the combined weight of the puncture-resistant Continental Gator Skin, inner tube and rim tape.

Tannus tyres have a slightly increased rolling resistance, but many cyclists will be happy to trade marginal extra effort in return for a puncture-free life.

Cycle insurance from the ETA includes Cycle Breakdown for free. If your bike suffers a mechanical breakdown or puncture, we pay for you and your cycle to be taken up to 25 miles to a cycle shop, railway station or home.

Taking different approach to the solid tyre, a puncture-proof design similar to those fitted to the American Humvee military vehicle may soon be available for your mountain bike.

Colorado designer Brian Russell has developed what he describes as an Energy Return Wheel, which he hopes will soon be fitted to cars and bicycles around the world. Russell claims the wheel will save motorists fuel and cyclists the faff of having to repair flats at the roadside. The wheels can be adjusted to suit different types of terrain and may be offered with a thin sidewall to keep the inside of the tyre free of mud.

Cycle insurance (with puncture protection)

Cycle insurance from the ETA includes cover against theft, accidental damage and vandalism. It mirrors the cover you would expect from a fully-comp car insurance policy by including third party liability, cycle breakdown recovery (including if your bike suffers a puncture), replacement bike hire and legal advice all for one price. Get an instant quote here, or give us a call on 0800 212 810.

{{cta-cycling}}