General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Never try anything new in a race...especially getting a flat Rss Feed  
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2009-07-02 9:11 AM

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Subject: Never try anything new in a race...especially getting a flat

So I had a flat yesterday while out on a short ride which still put me 5-6 miles away from home. Fortunately I had a friend riding with me otherwise it would have been even worse. I do have one of those little CO2 cartridges and an extra tube with me so I figured, alright no big deal I'll just switch out and inflate and be on my way.

Unfortunately I had never used the CO2 cartridge thing a ma jig before and in trying to figure out its intricacies I snapped the little screw bit off the presta valve on the new tube. At the same time I managed to use up most of the CO2 in the cartridge without actually filling up the tire. Fortunately another bike store was close by (about 1.5miles) so my friend went off and picked me up yet another tube. After getting this tube on is when I found out I had used up too much CO2 and didn't have enough to inflate the new tube. We start walkin back towards the store until finally a friendly roadie offered some CO2 to pump up the tube so I could get to the store and use the pump.

Apparently I'm not very good at fixing flats/I didn't check the tube for what caused the flat and it was flat again by the time I got back home. Long story short...I now have three tubes, two with patches and one with a broken presta valve, and an empty CO2 canister that none of the CO2 actually went to filling a tube.

I'm just glad I figured out how to use the CO2 on a training ride even if it did cost me a couple tubes and a whole bunch of time rather than on race day.



2009-07-02 9:16 AM
in reply to: #2257915

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Subject: RE: Never try anything new in a race...especially getting a flat
Dude, been there! They seem so easy, until you try it! :-) Glad you got it sorted out in a non-race situation.
2009-07-02 10:38 AM
in reply to: #2257915

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Subject: RE: Never try anything new in a race...especially getting a flat

I've been telling myself for a while now that I need to practice using the C02 cartridge so I don't get stuck during a race.  You have now inspired me to get to it this weekend!

2009-07-02 11:52 AM
in reply to: #2257915

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Subject: RE: Never try anything new in a race...especially getting a flat
Don't feel bad.  The same thing more or less happened to me and probably most of the people here.  Three weeks ago I was riding my new P2C, got a flat, took out my new CO2 inflator and proceeded to snap the top of the presta valve off while trying to inflate a new tube.  When I took the inflator off, the cannister emptied and I was left at the side of the road with one punctured tube, one tube with a broken valve and no way to inflate either of them even if that would have made a difference.  Walked the two miles home thinking the exact same thing you said, just glad it happened during a training ride and not during a race.
2009-07-02 12:08 PM
in reply to: #2257915

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Subject: RE: Never try anything new in a race...especially getting a flat
that happened to me at mile 25 (of 50) going through the deserts of Arizona. Two CO2 canisters and two tubes down the drain...and stuck. Luckily, another cyclist showed up after about 20 minutes and I was able to get home. I had called the wife to come and get me, and had to call her back.
2009-07-02 12:24 PM
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Subject: RE: Never try anything new in a race...especially getting a flat

You also might want to try changing a tube after you have new tires installed. Different tires come off differently. I was suprised when I found a flat BEFORE a ride. (Actually the best time to have a flat.) I went to to change the tube and was amazed how different it was with the new tires. Just beware. Maybe it was just the newness of the tubes.



2009-07-02 12:39 PM
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Subject: RE: Never try anything new in a race...especially getting a flat
And this is why I do not use CO2!! Heard too many horror stories! I have a small pump, light as a feather, that goes in the back of my jersey. Now having said that I have NEVER had a flat....oops.....did I just jinx myself?????
2009-07-02 12:45 PM
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Subject: RE: Never try anything new in a race...especially getting a flat
aquagirl - 2009-07-02 12:39 PM And this is why I do not use CO2!! Heard too many horror stories! I have a small pump, light as a feather, that goes in the back of my jersey. Now having said that I have NEVER had a flat....oops.....did I just jinx myself?????


The problem with those tiny pumps is that it is virtually impossible to inflate the tires to anything like the correct presssure. They're fine for training, as you can inflate the tire enough to get you home. In a race, however, you'd be racing with one tire very poorly inflated.
2009-07-02 1:05 PM
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Subject: RE: Never try anything new in a race...especially getting a flat

lengthcroft - 2009-07-02 10:45 AM

The problem with those tiny pumps is that it is virtually impossible to inflate the tires to anything like the correct presssure. They're fine for training, as you can inflate the tire enough to get you home. In a race, however, you'd be racing with one tire very poorly inflated.

http://blackburndesign.com/road_pumps.html

I've never tried one of these mini pumps, but if you can get anywhere close to 160 psi in a tire from one of these then that would be great.  I only run 110-120 psi.



Edited by SevenZulu 2009-07-02 1:05 PM
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