LarrySellerz

My back tube popped (tire is worn out so not going to try and replace tube) right as I was leaving work, I have to ride 6.5 miles home and then another 6.5 miles back to work before I can realistically fix it. I don’t think I have a narrow enough tire at home. It feels like a bucking bronco but it’s nothing unmanageable if I keep the speed down, luckily it’s just the back tire.

how long is the longest you’ve ridden on a flat tire? What is the likely place the wheel will get damaged from doing this? I’m like 2 miles in.

LarrySellerz

Never mind walking after 5 miles

decided to get back on the bike, when I got home part of the rim looked like this


I bent it back close to normal with some pliers, gonna see if the new tire mounts.

Edit2: tire mounted fine, bike seems to be behaving itself

Troul 

four feet & 7 yards give or take 9". Rim damage happens.

tomato coupe

Any cyclist with minimal riding skills should be able to eke out a century on a flat tire.

diphthong

11 flattish miles.

ScottCommutes

I wouldn't ride on a flat tire, but I have gone perhaps eight miles on the keep stopping to pump plan.

urbanknight

For tubular tires, as long as the rider wanted/needed to.

easyupbug 

On a perfect road you could easily go for miles without damaging the rim to the point of loss if you have not the light weight rims like I and other would use on centuries.. Maybe if you're on a very flat and smooth road you could keep going for miles. For a serious failure you can go longer but risk rim damage to the rim and frame from tire rub, etc.

tomato coupe

/s

Yan 

I crashed, tore the tire and split the rim while touring in rural China in 2010 and rode 65 km (40 miles) with a towel stuffed inside the tire to get to the next city. Not quite a century in distance, but it took much longer than a typical century. So in my opinion one can reasonably consider it a century.

​​​​​It was on a hooked rim. Thomas De Gendt and I are no fans of hookless.

shelbyfv

I'm not surprised that destroying a rim seemed a smarter option to OP than replacing a tube.

datlas 

For future reference, please carry a spare tube and also a peel-back stick-on patch (in case of multiple flats).

Riding on a flat clincher tire is not a winning strategy.

Mojo31

Boy, you're sure taking the fun out of this.

ussprinceton

yeah, keeping a spare tube, or even a patch kit in a seat tube bag are basic necessities for any cyclist. So, when I once had a flat, I went, maybe a few feet before I got off and replaced the tube. I usually check the rear tire if it is too worn and needs to be replaced every so often. The rear especially, since it wears out first. The OP made it home, but should learn from this mishap

Polaris OBark

You could always fill the tire with dead leaves, pine cones and grass.

Or use run-flat tire inserts.

LarrySellerz

The tire was toast, I was riding it until it failed, no sense in replacing a tube in a severely damaged tire. Don’t have space in my saddle bag for a tube or patch kit

tomato coupe

Unless, of course, you want to avoid damaging your rim.
A patch kit takes up sooooooo much space.

genejockey 

And now you have a severely damaged rim.

Then what's the point of having it? And everyone has room for this:

genejockey 

"I did something I probably shouldn't have."

Yes, that's right. You shouldn't have.

"It's not so bad, and I didn't have a choice."

Yes, you did. Here are the ways you could have avoided it.

"Where's the harm?"

Right there in the picture you posted.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Mojo31

Waiting on Forrest Gump to chime in.

datlas 

Did you post your works in the "whats in your saddle bag?" pic thread??

genejockey 

See "work hardening".

Well, god forbid you don't have THOSE with you at all times.

These are not the only alternatives.

genejockey 

I consider them "get me home" patches. They'll get you home if all else fails. Then you replace the tube and/or fix it with a standard patch.

I actually used about 5 of them the time I road the farthest I've ever ridden on a flat tire, which was about 40 yards. I ended up with 3 pairs of snakebites, and because my spare tube's valve stem was too short, I couldn't use it and had to patch the holed tube. That got me back to the car.

njkayaker

[QUOTE=LarrySellerz;23209164]decided to get back on the bike, when I got home part of the rim looked like this
This sort of damage is nearly guaranteed (especially given your weight).

Was the effort saved here worth the cost of a damaged rim?

It's stories like this that make your repeated claims at being an "expert" ridiculous.

This. This too makes your claims ridiculous.

genejockey 

Also worth noting - the failure rate for patches you don't have with you is 100%.