LBS tube quality?
06-14-19, 03:36 PM
#1
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LBS tube quality?
So this year I have ridden about 475 miles before experiencing my first flat (700X40 Clement gravel bike tires). Yep, Im a Clyde too.
Being lazy and always wanting to check out the latest shiny gravel bikes and such I took the bike to the LBS.
They repaired the flat.
The next day I took the bike out on the local MUP. I made it exactly 3.1 miles before having another flat, it was a rapid failure.
Took the bike back to the LBS. They showed me that the square patch of rubber where the valve stem area ties into the main tube had split. They fixed the flat again.
I left the bike in the garage all week. Went out to load it up for an evening ride a bit ago and the same tire was yet again flat.
Took it back to the bike shop for the third time and the mechanic said the same thing happened again. The little square area of rubber split.
So Im wondering if my LBS is buying a cheap brand of tubes in bulk or what?. I'll plan on fixing the flat myself next time as I think they are tired of looking at me. Or maybe I should just go tubeless?
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Being lazy and always wanting to check out the latest shiny gravel bikes and such I took the bike to the LBS.
They repaired the flat.
The next day I took the bike out on the local MUP. I made it exactly 3.1 miles before having another flat, it was a rapid failure.
Took the bike back to the LBS. They showed me that the square patch of rubber where the valve stem area ties into the main tube had split. They fixed the flat again.
I left the bike in the garage all week. Went out to load it up for an evening ride a bit ago and the same tire was yet again flat.
Took it back to the bike shop for the third time and the mechanic said the same thing happened again. The little square area of rubber split.
So Im wondering if my LBS is buying a cheap brand of tubes in bulk or what?. I'll plan on fixing the flat myself next time as I think they are tired of looking at me. Or maybe I should just go tubeless?
Any thoughts are appreciated.
06-14-19, 03:48 PM
#2
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Have you been putting air in the tube between all the failures? I got a couple flats several years ago because of the stem separating from the rubber.
The chuck on my tire pump was getting harder and harder to remove after topping the pressure off in the tires and I decided that was the likely culprit. Bought a new hose/chuck combo and haven't had that issue since.
Might also be an issue if you don't have the nut on your presta stem and are pushing the stem down into the rim when you fill the tube with air.
The chuck on my tire pump was getting harder and harder to remove after topping the pressure off in the tires and I decided that was the likely culprit. Bought a new hose/chuck combo and haven't had that issue since.
Might also be an issue if you don't have the nut on your presta stem and are pushing the stem down into the rim when you fill the tube with air.
06-14-19, 04:19 PM
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Seems reasonable. I have a relatively new Giant Control Tower pump. I’m not having trouble with the chuck but I have been topping the air up between rides. Should I try cinching the nut down a bit tighter on the valve? Any other tricks?
06-14-19, 04:25 PM
#4
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Probably not cheap tubes, but rather a bad batch of tubes. We had a bad batch of tubes from Specialized that were defective back around 2010. Mold seams were splitting and presta valve stems easily pulled out of the tubes. Received 4 cases that had problems. It happens.
06-14-19, 05:37 PM
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Overtight knurled jam nut?
It can pull the tube up through the valve stem hole.
The knurled nut isn't needed on tubed tires. Just get rid of it.
-Tim-
It can pull the tube up through the valve stem hole.
The knurled nut isn't needed on tubed tires. Just get rid of it.
-Tim-
06-14-19, 07:41 PM
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It does make getting the chuck onto the valve easierif you have a new or flatted/repaired tube without any air to hold the valve from pushing into the tire. But don't tighten it as much as you can, just enough to support the valve or you may overstress the base of the valve.
06-15-19, 12:23 PM
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So this year I have ridden about 475 miles before experiencing my first flat (700X40 Clement gravel bike tires). Yep, Im a Clyde too.
Being lazy and always wanting to check out the latest shiny gravel bikes and such I took the bike to the LBS.
They repaired the flat.
The next day I took the bike out on the local MUP. I made it exactly 3.1 miles before having another flat, it was a rapid failure.
Took the bike back to the LBS. They showed me that the square patch of rubber where the valve stem area ties into the main tube had split. They fixed the flat again.
I left the bike in the garage all week. Went out to load it up for an evening ride a bit ago and the same tire was yet again flat.
Took it back to the bike shop for the third time and the mechanic said the same thing happened again. The little square area of rubber split.
So Im wondering if my LBS is buying a cheap brand of tubes in bulk or what?. I'll plan on fixing the flat myself next time as I think they are tired of looking at me. Or maybe I should just go tubeless?
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Being lazy and always wanting to check out the latest shiny gravel bikes and such I took the bike to the LBS.
They repaired the flat.
The next day I took the bike out on the local MUP. I made it exactly 3.1 miles before having another flat, it was a rapid failure.
Took the bike back to the LBS. They showed me that the square patch of rubber where the valve stem area ties into the main tube had split. They fixed the flat again.
I left the bike in the garage all week. Went out to load it up for an evening ride a bit ago and the same tire was yet again flat.
Took it back to the bike shop for the third time and the mechanic said the same thing happened again. The little square area of rubber split.
So Im wondering if my LBS is buying a cheap brand of tubes in bulk or what?. I'll plan on fixing the flat myself next time as I think they are tired of looking at me. Or maybe I should just go tubeless?
Any thoughts are appreciated.
06-15-19, 12:42 PM
#9
Banned
the LBS does go through several boxes of tubes , this time of year...
Want a special brand named tube, like Conti or Schwalbe, ast to order some resrock at wholesale lrvers are ptrtty frequent
But some shops Order a lot in one go* so wholesale stocks may be reduced..
* Schwalbe AV for Bromptons go fast, the same tube in PV is in stock longer.. for example ..
Want a special brand named tube, like Conti or Schwalbe, ast to order some resrock at wholesale lrvers are ptrtty frequent
But some shops Order a lot in one go* so wholesale stocks may be reduced..
* Schwalbe AV for Bromptons go fast, the same tube in PV is in stock longer.. for example ..
