I had a flat yesterday. Put in a new tube after checking to see if something was poking through the liner. There was a dark spot, but I couldn't feel any protrusion or anything sharp. Pumped up the new tube and rode today and got another flat on the same tire.
Do I need to lift the liner and check to see if the spoke is poking through? Do I need to turn the tire inside out and then carefully feel all around the inside of it for a speck of rock or something? What's the likely cause of frequent flats? Is there some kind of procedure to follow? I hate getting stranded.
I had a flat yesterday. Put in a new tube after checking to see if something was poking through the liner. There was a dark spot, but I couldn't feel any protrusion or anything sharp. Pumped up the new tube and rode today and got another flat on the same tire.
Do I need to lift the liner and check to see if the spoke is poking through? Do I need to turn the tire inside out and then carefully feel all around the inside of it for a speck of rock or something? What's the likely cause of frequent flats? Is there some kind of procedure to follow? I hate getting stranded.
Have you checked the leaker to see whether it was a pinch flat? Increasing tire pressure, changing tires, baby powder the tubes can help. -- Slack
"?Slack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:op.typ4a9uaf3vmig@slacker...
Quoted message said:
Greens said:
I had a flat yesterday. Put in a new tube after checking to see if something was poking through the liner. There was a dark spot, but I couldn't feel any protrusion or anything sharp. Pumped up the new tube and rode today and got another flat on the same tire.
Do I need to lift the liner and check to see if the spoke is poking through? Do I need to turn the tire inside out and then carefully feel all around the inside of it for a speck of rock or something? What's the likely cause of frequent flats? Is there some kind of procedure to follow? I hate getting stranded.
Have you checked the leaker to see whether it was a pinch flat? Increasing tire pressure, changing tires, baby powder the tubes can help. -- Slack
Brought it to the shop today. There was a lot of embeded metal flakes in that band inside the rim. The bike shop guy suggested the thing wasn't properly cleaned out when it was built and the flakes worked their way into the tube. That doesn't explain why I didn't have a problem for 4 months and then all of a sudden two problems. He replaced the band with something better and replaced the tube.
Baby powder, eh? Maybe I should carry some in case I get another flat. Either that or just get those airless tires that don't get flats.
Brought it to the shop today. There was a lot of embeded metal flakes in that band inside the rim. The bike shop guy suggested the thing wasn't properly cleaned out when it was built and the flakes worked their way into the tube. That doesn't explain why I didn't have a problem for 4 months and then all of a sudden two problems. He replaced the band with something better and replaced the tube.
Baby powder, eh? Maybe I should carry some in case I get another flat. Either that or just get those airless tires that don't get flats.
In all fairness 2 flats in 4 months is pretty good! And flats will never leave you stranded unless the tyre has sustained serious damage or you left your spare tube, patches and pump at home.
Don't go for airless tyres: they don't ride anything like as well as pneumatic tyres. As Slack suggested, if you keep getting flats you need to determine the cause. If it's pinch punctures (no hole in your tyre and usually a snake-bite double puncture or a small slit in the tube) then a bit more air pressure (I ride 40psi on a hard-tail) and/or get less air!
If it's thorns then consider kevlar protected tyres but realistically there is no total prevention. When you suspect you've get one of these: (i) inspect the outside of the tyre to see if you can spot the broken-off end of the thorn; (ii) take one side of the tyre off of the rim and *without* removing the tube run your fingers around the inside of the tyre to feel for thorn points poking through and (iii) with the tube valve still attached to the wheel and, using your finds from (i) and (ii) to locate the holes, patch-up your tube.
"7@m3 G33k" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Greens said:
Brought it to the shop today. There was a lot of embeded metal flakes in that band inside the rim. The bike shop guy suggested the thing wasn't properly cleaned out when it was built and the flakes worked their way into the tube. That doesn't explain why I didn't have a problem for 4 months and then all of a sudden two problems. He replaced the band with something better and replaced the tube.
Baby powder, eh? Maybe I should carry some in case I get another flat. Either that or just get those airless tires that don't get flats.
In all fairness 2 flats in 4 months is pretty good! And flats will never leave you stranded unless the tyre has sustained serious damage or you left your spare tube, patches and pump at home.
Don't go for airless tyres: they don't ride anything like as well as pneumatic tyres. As Slack suggested, if you keep getting flats you need to determine the cause. If it's pinch punctures (no hole in your tyre and usually a snake-bite double puncture or a small slit in the tube) then a bit more air pressure (I ride 40psi on a hard-tail) and/or get less air!
If it's thorns then consider kevlar protected tyres but realistically there is no total prevention. When you suspect you've get one of these: (i) inspect the outside of the tyre to see if you can spot the broken-off end of the thorn; (ii) take one side of the tyre off of the rim and *without* removing the tube run your fingers around the inside of the tyre to feel for thorn points poking through and (iii) with the tube valve still attached to the wheel and, using your finds from (i) and (ii) to locate the holes, patch-up your tube.
Or you could go tubeless and get maybe one flat a year. Of course, you might need to upgrade your wheelset to do this.
Tubeless does require some minor maintenance and care every so often, but at least you won't lose ride time changing a tube/tire, except for the rare occurrence.
Another advantage of tubeless is the ability to ride lower PSI, thus more traction for steep uphills and rock gardens. But that may not fit your riding conditions. If you race, or plan on racing, tubeless is the way to go.
Pros and cons to both systems, you'd need to decide if tubeless works for you. Talk to your LBS mechanic, he should be able to guide you in the right direction.
