Here is the scoop on GÜP

Let’s start with the obvious: GÜP is an attractive product. The gold logo looks cheerful across a bright blue can. The font is friendly, and the umlaut charms. GÜP looks polished, and confident, the kind of thing you might see on a shelf at IKEA. Even if you had no idea what GÜP does, the design alone would give you the fuzzies.

So what does GÜP do? It fixes a flat tire, all on its own.

Since the dawn of vulcanized rubber, most cyclists have stopped, stripped off their tires, scoured their inner tubes for holes, dug out patches and glue, and prayed the patch will stick as they pump their tires back up.

GÜP offers an all-in-one solution: You attach the canister directly to your valve, and the device injects liquid sealant into your tube while also inflating it. The pressurized can doubles as a pump. No patches. No tire levers. Just a single unit the size of a standard Red Bull.

In keeping with its slick aesthetic, GÜP has its own special “Hölster,” which tethers the bottle to your frame. The can is compact, weighs little, and can repair a tire up to 700c. Add a “Kwiki” hose, and you can affix it to either Schrader or Presta valves. (The standard can works on Presta).

Sticky Situations

Like many riders, my own history with liquid sealants is, er, patchy. I first learned about “slime” when my moped (don’t ask) got a flat in the middle of a mountainous national park. Miraculously, I’d broken down within pushing distance of an auto shop, and the kind mechanic siphoned sealant into my inner tube. The solution worked like a charm, and I rode on that same repair for as long as I owned the motorbike.

Two decades later, I invested in “slime tubes” for a problematic tire. No bike mechanic could explain how I’d suffered so many flats in a row, so I bought a pair of inner tubes with sealant already inside. On my first ride, the tube was punctured, but the sealant didn’t congeal. Green liquid spurted through the hole like a sucking chest wound.

Lesson learned: Some holes are too large for “slime” to work its magic.

Self-sealing bike tires have ballooned in popularity in recent years. When I rented my first gravel bike, the clerk nearly forgot to offer a pump and repair kit; he couldn’t guarantee I’d avoid every nail in the road, but he was confident the tubeless tires would mend themselves. Mechanics routinely recommend slime-filled inner tubes; why dissect your wheel and fiddle with patches if you don’t absolutely have to?

Good for All, Perfect for Some

In short: GÜP lives up to expectations. The product is easy to use, and it repairs punctures up to six millimetres long. The foam bubbles up through the gash and solidifies within minutes. Unless you royally mishandle GÜP, you should be riding again in the time it takes to eat two Clif Bars.

GUP does require a few steps, so you’d be wise to watch a tutorial on the company’s website before you absolutely have to use it. All the steps are logical, but if you’re new to this kind of repair, you may not guess that the valve should be placed at a 12 o’clock position; the wheel should be spun to distribute the sealant, and a finger should be placed over the hole to finesse its hardening.

That said, GÜP will never replace traditional repairs. We all need a pump to adjust our tire pressure, and most of us carry one anyway. Lots of riders dispose of their punctured inner tubes because they no longer trust the integrity of the rubber; not exactly “green,” but a common practice nonetheless.

GÜP’s biggest competitor is the patch kit: It’s cheap, ubiquitous, and easy to carry. You may get through an entire summer with a single $5 set, available almost anywhere. Yes, patch jobs take more time, and nobody likes doing them. But most riders aren’t in a hurry; whether a fix takes five minutes or 20 minutes is of little concern.

To merit a $15 can of GÜP, which should only be used once, you must value speed above price. Long-distance racers and urban bike couriers would benefit from a can or three because every minute counts. If you’re on a serious tour, GÜP could be a real life saver, especially if the light is fading or water is running short. Used correctly, GÜP is extremely dependable, and you’ll know right away whether it worked. In an urgent situation with little room for error, $15 may feel like a bargain.

GÜP may not be necessary for most jams, but if you have room on your ride, there’s every reason to invest in a can. Sometimes, it’s just nice to do things the easy way.

Purchase GÜP at Amazon.com here.

To learn more about GUP, visit Gupindustries.com