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3 Rides, 3 Flat Tires
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 2010-04-20 5:43 PM |
Member  118  Upon the Rock |  Subject: 3 Rides, 3 Flat TiresI'll start by saying this a great site. I have learned a ton here in preparation for my first sprint tri which is May 31st. I recently bought an entry level road bike, Scott Speedster S60. I like the bike well enough and plan to upgrade components as the budget allows but I had to start somewhere. Anyway, the one thing that has been a real pain is I have gotten flat tires on the 3 consecutive rides I have taken since buying the bike. I know the tires are low-end but I would just like to make a 12 mile loop without having to stop and change a tube. My question is this: I have seen tire liners at the LBS and thought that might be a good alternative to having to buy new tires right away. Do those things actually help and if so, do they make a huge difference in speed/performance? Thanks, Jack |
| 2010-04-20 5:46 PM in reply to: #2805535 |
Champion 5781   Northridge, California | Subject: RE: 3 Rides, 3 Flat Tires I was having repeated flat problems like yours (with new tires and tubes) and the fix turned out to be replacing the rim tape...the original tape was a cheap plastic liner that apparently gets brittle with time and allows the hard edges in places inside the rim to damage the tube. Once my LBS suggested I swap it out for cloth rim tape, the problem went away. |
| 2010-04-20 6:24 PM in reply to: #2805535 |
Champion 8903  | Subject: RE: 3 Rides, 3 Flat Tires Yes, what he said. And the #1 priority is to find out what's causing the flats! Locate the area of the punctures in the tubes. Are they on the inside diamter surface, which would indicate a cut or abrasion from the rim tape, or a sharp spot on the rim surface, or a protruding spoke nipple? Or are they on the outside of the tube diameter? Is there a corresponding cut in the tire, indicating a cut from road hazards like glass or nails etc? And when you repair the puncture, you need to make sure if it was caused by something like a glass shard, that you have removed the offending culprit so that it doesn't cause another flat on the new tube! |
| 2010-04-20 6:33 PM in reply to: #2805535 |
| 16 | Subject: RE: 3 Rides, 3 Flat Tires What they said. Replace the rim tape and feel around where the spoke holes are for any tiny bur's. |
| 2010-04-20 6:34 PM in reply to: #2805535 |
Master 1993 Riverside, IL | Subject: RE: 3 Rides, 3 Flat Tires On the topic of tire liners...I do use them in my tires. With the exception of a sidewall hit (which a tire liner won't prevent), I haven't had a flat in over 5,000 miles. I plan on continuing to use them, because for me they seem to work. |
| 2010-04-20 6:38 PM in reply to: #2805535 |
Member 118 Upon the Rock | Subject: RE: 3 Rides, 3 Flat Tires Right on, thanks. The punctures have all been in different spots. I ride a lot of chip-seal roads but the race will be on similar surfaces so I need to be able to ride through the occasional rough spot without getting a flat every stinking time. Rim tape and check for rough/sharp spots on the rim....got it. Any additional info is appreciated. |
| 2010-04-20 7:01 PM in reply to: #2805535 |
Elite 5316 Alturas, California | Subject: RE: 3 Rides, 3 Flat Tires If you mark the tire itself where the air intake valve is..and make sure you know what side of the tread you are looking at when you remove it relative to the tube, .. then when you locate the hole in the tube... you can locate the area of the actual tire that may have an offending sharp thingy in it. Also, you can run a cotton ball along the inside of the rim or the tire to see if it catches on anything. I hear this is less painful than finding a piece of wire with your finger. Although both techniques are effective. If the tires themselves are getting older, more worn, they will give the tube less protection from bumps even if you don't have an actual sharp whatsit in your tire. K thats all I've got. |
| 2010-04-20 7:33 PM in reply to: #2805603 |
Pro 5011 Twin Cities | Subject: RE: 3 Rides, 3 Flat Tires Are they pinch flats? |
| 2010-04-20 7:37 PM in reply to: #2805535 |
Master 2426 Central Indiana | Subject: RE: 3 Rides, 3 Flat Tires Other things to consider are tire pressure, road conditions, and riding style. If you see two small holes in your punctured tube, like snake fang marks, you might be riding with too little air pressure. Some road debris will puncture most any tire (e.g. tacks, sharp glass, etc.). Avoid road junk when you can. Riding style can also be important. Larger riders and riders who hit every bump & pot hole hard are much more likely to flat. |
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