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4 rides, 3 flats
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 2016-10-03 10:51 AM |
 701  |  Subject: 4 rides, 3 flatsNot had a lot of time to ride outside. 5 weeks 4 rides 3 flats 2 wheelsets 1 not terribly upset rider A couple weeks ago, I posted about flatting out on my rear tire twice within a week. First flat: 'used bike', no clue of condition Second Flat: tube was at least a year old, sitting curled up in a seat bag, under who knows what conditions. Checked tire, rim tape, etc. Nothing. Not too worried as I was getting new wheels. Fast forward: New wheels. New Tubes, New tires. Same results. Anyway....this is why I am almost sure it was road hazard. There was one of those 'seams/joints' where they had resurfaced one lane, then another. And that seem has become quite separated...and jagged. It's not like just a 3/4" seem. It look to be more like 2-3 inches and quite irregular. I distinctly remember seeing that thinking...."please, please please.....don't let me get caught in that....there's no telling what it could do". And yep.....stuck. Rear wheel. The front wheel was fine. I was getting bounced around and I almost felt like I was sort of sideways, like a plane 'crabs' when landing. I remember even thinking, that is going to blow my tire, or worse....bang up my new wheel. 2 seconds later....I could feel the flat. The sidewall of the tire took some serious abuse. Not sure if it's just some surface damage or not, but I will likely replace it in the spring. I can see where the new rim took some abuse. Nothing that has me bummed over the cost of it. I did Dremel out what felt like a touch of 'sharpness' where the tire 'clinches'....probably not even likely to touch tube. Nothing more than a scratch in the soft aluminum (it'll happen, I do some aluminum manufacturing...more like a burr than anything). Not frustrated. Other than my thumbs hurt from putting on 2 new tires, fixing one flat....then taking one off again to examine it and put it back on again...all in the course of less than 12 hours. |
| 2016-10-03 11:00 AM in reply to: jhaack39 |
Pro 15655  | Subject: RE: 4 rides, 3 flats Originally posted by jhaack39 Not had a lot of time to ride outside. 5 weeks 4 rides 3 flats 2 wheelsets 1 not terribly upset rider A couple weeks ago, I posted about flatting out on my rear tire twice within a week. First flat: 'used bike', no clue of condition Second Flat: tube was at least a year old, sitting curled up in a seat bag, under who knows what conditions. Checked tire, rim tape, etc. Nothing. Not too worried as I was getting new wheels. Fast forward: New wheels. New Tubes, New tires. Same results. Anyway....this is why I am almost sure it was road hazard. There was one of those 'seams/joints' where they had resurfaced one lane, then another. And that seem has become quite separated...and jagged. It's not like just a 3/4" seem. It look to be more like 2-3 inches and quite irregular. I distinctly remember seeing that thinking...."please, please please.....don't let me get caught in that....there's no telling what it could do". And yep.....stuck. Rear wheel. The front wheel was fine. I was getting bounced around and I almost felt like I was sort of sideways, like a plane 'crabs' when landing. I remember even thinking, that is going to blow my tire, or worse....bang up my new wheel. 2 seconds later....I could feel the flat. The sidewall of the tire took some serious abuse. Not sure if it's just some surface damage or not, but I will likely replace it in the spring. I can see where the new rim took some abuse. Nothing that has me bummed over the cost of it. I did Dremel out what felt like a touch of 'sharpness' where the tire 'clinches'....probably not even likely to touch tube. Nothing more than a scratch in the soft aluminum (it'll happen, I do some aluminum manufacturing...more like a burr than anything). Not frustrated. Other than my thumbs hurt from putting on 2 new tires, fixing one flat....then taking one off again to examine it and put it back on again...all in the course of less than 12 hours. Next time throw your tire in the dryer for 5-10 minutes before you mount it.........makes life more enjoyable for your thumbs. |
| 2016-10-03 11:12 AM in reply to: Left Brain |
409 Durham, North Carolina | Subject: RE: 4 rides, 3 flats Originally posted by Left Brain Next time throw your tire in the dryer for 5-10 minutes before you mount it.........makes life more enjoyable for your thumbs. Mind blown! To the OP. Make sure you aren't pinching your fresh tube when you install it. I had that problem w/ new tires because they were super tight and I was a noob. |
| 2016-10-03 11:18 AM in reply to: 0 |
| 701 | Subject: RE: 4 rides, 3 flats Originally posted by Left Brain Next time throw your tire in the dryer for 5-10 minutes before you mount it.........makes life more enjoyable for your thumbs. For the last effort last night, I enlisted my son. Now, if I could just get him to mow the lawn. FYI....that intersection.... Just east of the old SBR location. That bike lane ends in the right turn only lane.....only to reappear 2 lanes over....with a nasty crack throw in for good measure. Actually, in 100% honest, I feel less anxious on a bike than I do in a car. SOME people are decent to cyclists. We complain about drivers being jerks to cyclists....and while many are......some are pretty cool about ot. 100% of drivers are jerks to 100% of other drivers. And for the love of all that's holy, why can't people in this town learn to merge? That whole stretch blows.... The bike lane just west of there has two MASSIVE potholes in it. I mean like....10" deep. Straight down. Not like 'bowl' shaped. More like sinkholes. If you hit either of them, you are going over your handlebars and your tires and rims are done for. If you're going to have a bike lane.....and want me to stay out of traffic....maybe....just maybe fill some of those holes? It's not like they opened up this year. They've been there for two years. Edited by jhaack39 2016-10-03 11:26 AM |
| 2016-10-03 11:23 AM in reply to: jhaack39 |
| 701 | Subject: RE: 4 rides, 3 flats To top it off..... It was a bit of a shoot show. I have one of those plastic inflators. You know the kind. Not the little metal nibs. The kind that are two part screw together thingies and cost about $6. And, while it has seen a lot of use lately....it's not well built. The 'head/nozzle/working portion' kept blowing itself apart. Finding little O-rings and metal threaded collars in a grassy area? I was very lucky. Usually, I don't have that kind of luck when I lose little bits and bobs. I had to take it and bang it against the curb...put a chunk of concrete on it and stand on it with full weight to try to swedge it all back together. I'm not gonna lie about this part, there was some MacGyver going on. And while that sucked, and I cut my ride short by 25 miles and I was wearing the butyl bandolier yet again..... The wheels have to be faster. I recorded my highest non-moped assisted speed on a bike ever. |
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