12 miles + new bike = flat tire

Make sure there's rim tape on there.  My bf's bike builder neglected to put this on the rims.

I look at the rim tape, it's in there. I ran my fingers all around it to make sure there wasn't anything sharp or didn't belong in there. It felt smooth all around.

Upgrade the rim tape. My new P2C wouldn't hold air in the tires longer than a day or two. I've heard similar stories from other P2C riders.

At least you had some practice changing a flat on your new bike, so you're ready if you get one during a race.

another concern may be tire pressure.  If you run your tires too low, you can get pinch flats or "snakebites" fairly easily.  This is caused by your tube getting pinched by your tire and rim.  I would recommend getting a pump with a pressure guage if you don't have one already.  Run it at, or near the max psi rating on the tire to help prevent this. 

I was running at 110 psi. The min was 100 and the max was 120. Would it be better to run the max then right in the middle? Also can i patch and reuse the old tire?

If the rim strips were that plastic crap, invest $4 in Velox cloth rim strips. I had the same problem with my new QR two years ago, and had at least half a dozen flats in the first six months. Replaced the cheap plastic rim strips, and haven't had one in the two years since. (knocking vigorously on wood... )

I thought you said you looked for cuts, holes and debris in the tire and found none. If that's the case, you should re-use the tire. If you do have a cut, in the sidewall = trash tire. You could boot it (or patch in your vernacular), but that's a temporary solution and you should replace the tire. A small scratch cut in the rolling surface is OK if nothing's imbedded in it. You could super glue it if it is ~1mm deep or it bothers you to see open.

You could theoretically patch the tube, but I don't. I'll carry stick on patches to get home if something goes wrong a second time during a ride, but I don't use that tube after I get home. Glue on patches are more permanent, but they too can easily be put on wrong, especially road-side. If you hit a super sale, you can get tubes for $1-$2 on line when you buy 10 or more. At the LBS, they're about $5. New tubes are a cost of the sport.

Install you tire such that you know from the hole in the tube where the problem is with the wheel or tire. This is why we instal tires so that the label is at the presta valve. We can find the hole in the tube and map out where on the wheel and tire the problem is.

Rim tape: What kind? Get a roll of Velox cloth rim tape. If it's that silly rubber or plastic rim strip, throw that away and buy a roll of Velox and properly tape the rim. Do both wheels even though "the front is fine". Borrowed time until it does fail.

When did you check that pressure, yesterday or today. Check it every day. If you have latex tubes or re-inflate with a CO2 cartridge, that'll change dramatically in 24 hours. Every ride, every day.

What kind of wheels? Are they properly built with even tension? Are the spokes the correct length? If your flat occured on the inside and is 1 not 2 holes (hence the term "snake bite") you might have a spoke protruding too far into the rim cavity.

Edited by pitt83 2008-05-04 7:11 PM

Thank you for all the information on this topic. I checked the pressure right before i left. It looks like I will be getting some new rim tape and some extra tubes. I am using the stock wheels that came with the P2C ultegra. I will look at the spokes when I change the rim tape.

Edited by Organic Steam 2008-05-04 8:44 PM

I think the bike is defective. I'll be happy to take it off of your hands, cheap.

Tire pressure depends on rider weight and the tires. I have some super light Kenda Kaliente tires that I have to run at 120 to 125 or I'll pinch flat the back. I also have some Vittoria Zaffiro 700x25's that I can run at 100 all day long with no issues.

X2 on switching tape.  My bike came with the cheap plastic stuff and I kept getting flats.  Basically, I was told the cheap stuff slips and move the stem a little and breaks it off.

My 2nd ride on the new P2SL with prorace2s and same deal, rear flat. My old beater road bike never got a flat although it also had the 2-ton armadillo tires. Had all the gear and changed it out in a few minutes - definately invest in a full kit with extra co2, tubes, patch kit, etc. Was at 120, single hole probably from a tiny glass shard or rock.

Count me lucky -- 3000 miles last year, one flat. Michelin ProRace 2's and inexpensive tubes.