How to get a flat tire
 

This morning I was out on one of my morning rides, later these days to avoid the MUP crowds. I stopped on the way back at Walden Park since I knew there would be a picknick table in the shade there. After making a couple phone calls then I took my bike down the the path to go. Right away I could feel a thump thump and stopped. 26"x1.5 Schalbe Marathon tires. So I got right off and went back to the table. (rule number 1) Have a nice place to work on the tire. I could have just walked home, maybe a half mile but I hadn't had a flat in about 3 years so I wanted to know if I could still do it.

Settled in at the table. Took my bag off the rack. Released the back v-brake. Flipped the bike over with the handlebar in the grass. Used my antique adjustable wrench to loosen the wheel. Used my handy piece of spoke to release the 8 speed cable from the Alfine hub. Yanked the wheel out of the dropouts, moved the chain out and took the wheel out.

Rested the wheel down next to the bench (see rule 1). This tire had been on there for a while so it was easy to remove. I first released all the air pressure and then ran my hands around the tire to unstick the tire from the rim. After that was pretty loose then made sure all the pressure was out and pealed off the tire with my hands.

I ran my fingers around the inside of the tire but didn't feel anything sticking out. Pumped up the tube and it wasn't holding any air. Gave up on that old tube and got out my spare. I decided the new tube was the way to go. Pumped it up a bit and then put it into the tire just to give it some shape.

Put the tire back on the rim, rice to have a tire that's run for a while. Used my hands to get the tire with tube nicely onto the rim. Pumped up the tire and made sure it was all around even. Put the wheel back into the dropouts and reconnected the shift cable. Not any issues there despite internet experts who pronounce that Alfine wheels are hard to change. Put the v-brake back.

Pumped up the tire until it felt pretty good. Got on and rode home. Just for fun I passed a couple people on the MUP. Some issues for the home shop of course. But happy to know I can take care of my self.

Well done; mine have all been on the side of the highway.

Flats
 

The Iron and Canal trails have Goat Heads hiding just off the blacktop and waiting to grab you.
It's especially bad when the county brings in the weed whackers, those fling Goat Heads everywhere.

Glad you didn't need the Sag wagon.

Barry

Another Northern CA rider checking in. I enjoy the goatheads in Napa Valley also. I carry two tubes now.

I went tubeless. Goat-heads shmote heads, no more flats. 1300 miles and counting.
I did find a glass cut during my maintenance, but even that sealed and got me home.

Barry

Is it really that magical ? How do you fix a flat on the side of the road? I must have changed at least four to six flats this year. Granted a few of them where for my female friend.

I am really started to think I should switch.

Yes it that magical. I used to get a flat 2 out of 3 rides in Southern Calif, 40/60 dirt to street riding, very frustrating. Since going tubeless 3 years ago I have had 3 flats, one flat because I let the sealant dry out. I carry 2 oz of sealant put that in pumped up the tire and off I went. Two flats were sidewall punctures/cuts, put a plug in the sidewall added sealant CO2ed the tire and rode on. I have had so many goatheads in the tires and the only thing that happens is sometimes the sealant will leak a bit around the puncture.

I probably would have quit riding if it wasn't for tubeless, just too many flats before.

Yes that magical!
I’ve actually pulled a goat head from the tire and just gone on my way, smiling.

The glass cut I patched on the inside. Not sure I needed to, but I wanted to try. That was more time than a regular flat.
I finally decided I didn’t like that cut on the front, so I switched them. Once again, more time than regular tubed.

In summary
I may not be much ahead in maintenance time spent, but I’m way ahead on inconvenience avoided while on a ride.
Plus all my maintenance has been performed at home and on my schedule.

Barry

See rule number 1.

So now that you've had a chance to investigate, what caused the flat?

Tubeless road and no flats for a year. I'd guess about 2-3 K miles.

OK Whats with the tubeless tires and no flats ? I have never used tubeless but I might if they will reduce the high flat rate I have. I am using Gatorskins now and much better but they have a pretty harsh ride.

Tubeless gets holed by just as many sharp objects as regular tubed tires. The sealant in the tubeless just stops the leak.
And extremely well in my experience.
i’m riding 700x23 and very happy with them. I won’t go back to tubed.

Barry

Thanks Barry for the info. I think I will try tubeless and see if they reduce the number of flats i get. I now use Gatorskins and I have fewer flats but still more than I would like. Our area has poorly maintained roads and it is a continual problem. I am getting pretty good at fixing the flats on the road now though :lol:

It's been about a year since my last on-road flat, caused by a sharp bit of rock embedded in the tire > punctured tube. No trouble replacing the tube and getting back to the ride. A picnic table would've been nice.

tubeless and no flats?...pure BS, there are internet sites all over the web with people who had flats, which is why everyone recommends carrying a spare tube for tubeless tires, and some recommend carrying 2 tubes. No thank you, I don't want the headache or the expense! I carry spare tube with me now why in the hell would I want to do that with tubeless if supposedly their flat free! Because their NOT flat free. Besides, I haven't had a flat on my primitive tube tires in over 3 years either on my road, mtb, or my touring bike. I can guarantee you that if someone flatted their tubeless, and I flatted my tube tire, I would be up and running before the tubeless person is done.

You mean, you filled your tires with sealant, which seals the punctures automatically. Which is, of course, has absolutely nothing to do with tubeless. Anyone can use sealant, tubeless or not. Not everyone likes it, though.

Probably, but the tubeless guy will probably have less flats and can fix most flats with bacon in seconds.

Tubeless
 

GreatScott,
OK you caught me. I lied about my 1300 miles and counting.
I actually work for a manufacturer of tubeless tires and sealant.
My bonus relies upon me promoting sales of the trash.

:lol:

Barry

For me flats seem to come in clusters. Had two on consecutive days in March, the second one had me cursing and throwing tools on the ground! Not a good look... Riding here in NYC, it's almost always a pinch flat from a pothole or other road deformity i didn't see in time. The impact of your wheel hitting a hard edge with such violent force both sickens and infuriates the rider! You just coast along and wait for one of the tires to start going soft...

But it's always an impact, never a puncture it seems. Started using Ribmos w/ conventional tubes years ago, and now gatorskins since the last set of Ribmos wore out. Haven't had a puncture flat since.

Rookies. Just don't check the tire air pressure and head out. Pinch flats with two holes.

I wasn't saying that you in particular, what I was meaning to say was tubeless in general, kind of like on occasion someone with tube tires hasn't gotten a flat in 1,300 miles as you've said, I've actually gone quite a bit further than that on tube tire without a flat, but if I get one tomorrow I'm hunting you down!! But I hear how flat free tubeless tires are from various cycling online magazines and that's the BS I was calling tubeless out on because it doesn't match the rear world experiences, which is why people are carrying around at least one spare tube.

On my previous touring bike I went about 1,800 miles without a flat, on my current one I'm at 586 without a flat, on my regular road bike I'm at 2,200 and some odd miles without a flat; on my older road bike I'm at around 500 miles without a flat. Of course I'm not using Specialized Turbo Cotton racing tires either, but todays tube tires are far better at warding off flats then they were just 10 years ago. Of course on my old touring bike I was using Schwalbe Marathon Greenguard tires, on my current touring bike I'm using the factory stock Kenda Drumlin tires, not sure how good these tires will be but so far so good in the flat department but they're heavy as hell. On my regular road bike and my older one I use Specialized Roubaix tires, which I really like those tires. But I wore out a set of Vittoria Rubino Pro tires and never got a flat till the cord just started to peak through then had a flat, that was the tires before I got the Specialized tires, and that's the last flat I've had.

Sorry if it sounded like I was calling your experience BS, I was trying to refer to tubeless in general.

I'm only a rookie in online commentary with keyboard warriors. Been riding the streets of NYC and beyond since '90.

GreatScott,
I think you have it backwards. I was picking on you!
I know what I've recently experienced first hand, and I wanted relay it accurately in this thread.
That was my job... and a fine job I've done!

So no hurt feelings here

Barry