I have absurdly bad luck with flat tires.
02-06-24, 06:46 AM
#51
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Tom Pidcock uses them, but unfortunately they don’t include his handling abilities. However, no flats in 2 seasons on these tyres (Conti GP5000S TR) with Muc-Off sealant.
For the OP - If you want a reasonably fast, grippy tyre that has good puncture resistance (highest score for a road tyre on BRR), then try Pirelli Cinturato Velo. You can run these with tubes or tubeless for even better flat protection. I run them tubeless on my winter bike. No flats or even evidence of sealed punctures.
For the OP - If you want a reasonably fast, grippy tyre that has good puncture resistance (highest score for a road tyre on BRR), then try Pirelli Cinturato Velo. You can run these with tubes or tubeless for even better flat protection. I run them tubeless on my winter bike. No flats or even evidence of sealed punctures.
02-06-24, 08:17 AM
#52
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LOL. I worked in a gas station in HS, fixing flats was one of my duties. I've seen blunt and rounded things go through a tire. If it gets caught in the tread just right, it will continue to slowly pierce the tire until it goes through, usually it will cause a slow leak because it's then acting as a plug. The craziest ones were a spark plug and a spoon.
Back in October I developed a very slow leak in the left front. Had to put sir in it every couple of days. Finally took it to a tire place on a day off. There was a screw stuck straight in the tread.
02-06-24, 09:10 AM
#53
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The threaded end went into the tire. It was snowing out. The dash warning light came on just as I was circling the 'hood looking for parking. Found a space, got out of the car and started checking the tires. Right rear was leaking slowly.
Back in October I developed a very slow leak in the left front. Had to put sir in it every couple of days. Finally took it to a tire place on a day off. There was a screw stuck straight in the tread.
Back in October I developed a very slow leak in the left front. Had to put sir in it every couple of days. Finally took it to a tire place on a day off. There was a screw stuck straight in the tread.
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02-06-24, 12:42 PM
#54
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Sure, flats are annoying, but there's always a bigger fish. Your tire got you home and then when flat? That's absurdly good luck.
After long, hard experience, I've always carried two tubes on every ride. But a few years ago, I got three flats on one 60-mile road ride. (And yes, I've also learned from long, hard experience to carefully check the inside of the tire casing to ensure the piercing contaminant had been removed.)
Used up both my tubes and was walking 8-miles home in my thin cycling socks when a kindly fire-chief (shout out to the Elfin Forest FD in CA) and his wife picked me up and drove me home. Wouldn't let me pay for their gas or trouble.
Flats are part of the game. Thankfully cellphones and Uber are now also part of the game.
Edit: Absurdly bad luck is when you flat on a shoulderless, high-speed road on a hot day; standing sweatily in the dirt and rocks in your ridiculous plastic shoes with cars whizzing by while spooning the tire off the rim with sweat constantly getting in your eyes. Had that happen a few times. Made me question my choice of sport.
After long, hard experience, I've always carried two tubes on every ride. But a few years ago, I got three flats on one 60-mile road ride. (And yes, I've also learned from long, hard experience to carefully check the inside of the tire casing to ensure the piercing contaminant had been removed.)
Used up both my tubes and was walking 8-miles home in my thin cycling socks when a kindly fire-chief (shout out to the Elfin Forest FD in CA) and his wife picked me up and drove me home. Wouldn't let me pay for their gas or trouble.
Flats are part of the game. Thankfully cellphones and Uber are now also part of the game.
Edit: Absurdly bad luck is when you flat on a shoulderless, high-speed road on a hot day; standing sweatily in the dirt and rocks in your ridiculous plastic shoes with cars whizzing by while spooning the tire off the rim with sweat constantly getting in your eyes. Had that happen a few times. Made me question my choice of sport.
A hot sweaty experience like you talked about pushed me to adding a co2 kit to the mix....
and as to slow flats in general I always check that the valve is fully tight....which is not always the the case from the factory
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02-07-24, 11:57 PM
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Thanks for this. I've been wondering about it. But I do have a question with regard to the plugs. From what I've seen, they appear to be very similar to automotive tire plug kits, even down to the size. Is that the case? If so, do you not compromise the tire by using such a large plug in such a thin shell?
..
Thanks for this. I've been wondering about it. But I do have a question with regard to the plugs. From what I've seen, they appear to be very similar to automotive tire plug kits, even down to the size. Is that the case? If so, do you not compromise the tire by using such a large plug in such a thin shell?
..
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02-08-24, 05:52 AM
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Choices, choices:
1. Ride with Vegas Jen because, if I get a flat, she can change it for me in a flash since she has had so much practice.
2. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'm likely to get a flat.
3. Ride with Vegas Jen, because her flat karma will gobble up all of the flats out there and I'll never get one.
4. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'll be waiting by the side of the road a couple of times every ride while she changes a flat.
5. Ride with Vegas Jen, and leave her to the Gila monsters and horned toads when she, inevitably, gets a flat.
6. ... (I could go on, this is kind of fun.)
1. Ride with Vegas Jen because, if I get a flat, she can change it for me in a flash since she has had so much practice.
2. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'm likely to get a flat.
3. Ride with Vegas Jen, because her flat karma will gobble up all of the flats out there and I'll never get one.
4. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'll be waiting by the side of the road a couple of times every ride while she changes a flat.
5. Ride with Vegas Jen, and leave her to the Gila monsters and horned toads when she, inevitably, gets a flat.
6. ... (I could go on, this is kind of fun.)
02-08-24, 09:33 AM
#57
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Choices, choices:
1. Ride with Vegas Jen because, if I get a flat, she can change it for me in a flash since she has had so much practice.
2. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'm likely to get a flat.
3. Ride with Vegas Jen, because her flat karma will gobble up all of the flats out there and I'll never get one.
4. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'll be waiting by the side of the road a couple of times every ride while she changes a flat.
5. Ride with Vegas Jen, and leave her to the Gila monsters and horned toads when she, inevitably, gets a flat.
6. ... (I could go on, this is kind of fun.)
1. Ride with Vegas Jen because, if I get a flat, she can change it for me in a flash since she has had so much practice.
2. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'm likely to get a flat.
3. Ride with Vegas Jen, because her flat karma will gobble up all of the flats out there and I'll never get one.
4. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'll be waiting by the side of the road a couple of times every ride while she changes a flat.
5. Ride with Vegas Jen, and leave her to the Gila monsters and horned toads when she, inevitably, gets a flat.
6. ... (I could go on, this is kind of fun.)
02-08-24, 04:52 PM
#58
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Thread Starter
Choices, choices:
1. Ride with Vegas Jen because, if I get a flat, she can change it for me in a flash since she has had so much practice.
2. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'm likely to get a flat.
3. Ride with Vegas Jen, because her flat karma will gobble up all of the flats out there and I'll never get one.
4. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'll be waiting by the side of the road a couple of times every ride while she changes a flat.
5. Ride with Vegas Jen, and leave her to the Gila monsters and horned toads when she, inevitably, gets a flat.
6. ... (I could go on, this is kind of fun.)
1. Ride with Vegas Jen because, if I get a flat, she can change it for me in a flash since she has had so much practice.
2. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'm likely to get a flat.
3. Ride with Vegas Jen, because her flat karma will gobble up all of the flats out there and I'll never get one.
4. Don't ride with Vegas Jen, because I'll be waiting by the side of the road a couple of times every ride while she changes a flat.
5. Ride with Vegas Jen, and leave her to the Gila monsters and horned toads when she, inevitably, gets a flat.
6. ... (I could go on, this is kind of fun.)
02-09-24, 01:59 AM
#59
Senior Member
I had one flat with my road bike. An arrowhead piece of gravel through the rear tire. Bought a new set of tires and tubeless tape the same day and haven't flatted since. The new tires do have those telltale white spots, which imply I would have flatted a whole lot more without sealant.
I know sealant in tubes has been discussed as well but it's not nearly as effective. Part of the reason why sealant works better with sole tubeless is because instead of plugging a thin section of tightly stretched butyl or latex, the sealant needs to plug a hole that goes through the carcass and tread. A hole in a tubeless tire is going to be more rigid, deeper and have more surface area for the sealant to act against than with a hole in just a tube.
I know sealant in tubes has been discussed as well but it's not nearly as effective. Part of the reason why sealant works better with sole tubeless is because instead of plugging a thin section of tightly stretched butyl or latex, the sealant needs to plug a hole that goes through the carcass and tread. A hole in a tubeless tire is going to be more rigid, deeper and have more surface area for the sealant to act against than with a hole in just a tube.
02-09-24, 08:11 AM
#60
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sealant works well in tubes
I’ve been using it on motorcycle tires since the 1970’s
I’ve been using it on motorcycle tires since the 1970’s
02-09-24, 09:49 AM
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I'm kinda unlucky that way too, I guess. So many flats. Post tubeless conversion I have fewer overall flats but just as many catastrophic events.
At Paris Brest Paris 2023, my front tire grew a bulge and popped a few k outside Villainess. Brand new Goodyear tubeless; I think I cut it on a manhole cover in the city, and it took a while to totally fail. The safety motorcycle came along and stopped to see if I wanted to abandon. When I told him no I need a tire, he said bon chance and rode away
At Paris Brest Paris 2023, my front tire grew a bulge and popped a few k outside Villainess. Brand new Goodyear tubeless; I think I cut it on a manhole cover in the city, and it took a while to totally fail. The safety motorcycle came along and stopped to see if I wanted to abandon. When I told him no I need a tire, he said bon chance and rode away
02-11-24, 10:29 PM
#62
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Thread Starter
Tubeless: 2, goathead: 0
Picked up a 2015 Shiv yesterday. This morning, I swapped over my Reynolds AR80 tubeless wheels and gave it a quick tune, then I took it out on a 36 mile training ride. Stopped at a red light at about mile 16, look down and there it was, a class A goathead thorn. First thought in my head, "you sorry mother ******!!!". Next though was "these tubeless casings are a lot thicker, maybe it's not all the way through." So reach down and pull the thorn out. It was in pretty good, but when I pulled it out I saw a small dot of this orangy-white goop and a couple small bubbles, then nothing. Well, might as well test it out for real so I kept on. 20 miles later, I get home, still have air in the front tire. I unlock my gate and as I'm taking the bike to the garage, I look down and guess what? ANOTHER goat head thorn. I actually think I picked this one up after I dismounted because it was barely in there, but it was in enough that I certainly would have been worried about a tubed tire.
So far, so good.
Picked up a 2015 Shiv yesterday. This morning, I swapped over my Reynolds AR80 tubeless wheels and gave it a quick tune, then I took it out on a 36 mile training ride. Stopped at a red light at about mile 16, look down and there it was, a class A goathead thorn. First thought in my head, "you sorry mother ******!!!". Next though was "these tubeless casings are a lot thicker, maybe it's not all the way through." So reach down and pull the thorn out. It was in pretty good, but when I pulled it out I saw a small dot of this orangy-white goop and a couple small bubbles, then nothing. Well, might as well test it out for real so I kept on. 20 miles later, I get home, still have air in the front tire. I unlock my gate and as I'm taking the bike to the garage, I look down and guess what? ANOTHER goat head thorn. I actually think I picked this one up after I dismounted because it was barely in there, but it was in enough that I certainly would have been worried about a tubed tire.
So far, so good.
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02-11-24, 11:36 PM
#63
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Tubeless: 2, goathead: 0
Picked up a 2015 Shiv yesterday. This morning, I swapped over my Reynolds AR80 tubeless wheels and gave it a quick tune, then I took it out on a 36 mile training ride. Stopped at a red light at about mile 16, look down and there it was, a class A goathead thorn. First thought in my head, "you sorry mother ******!!!". Next though was "these tubeless casings are a lot thicker, maybe it's not all the way through." So reach down and pull the thorn out. It was in pretty good, but when I pulled it out I saw a small dot of this orangy-white goop and a couple small bubbles, then nothing. Well, might as well test it out for real so I kept on. 20 miles later, I get home, still have air in the front tire. I unlock my gate and as I'm taking the bike to the garage, I look down and guess what? ANOTHER goat head thorn. I actually think I picked this one up after I dismounted because it was barely in there, but it was in enough that I certainly would have been worried about a tubed tire.
So far, so good.
Picked up a 2015 Shiv yesterday. This morning, I swapped over my Reynolds AR80 tubeless wheels and gave it a quick tune, then I took it out on a 36 mile training ride. Stopped at a red light at about mile 16, look down and there it was, a class A goathead thorn. First thought in my head, "you sorry mother ******!!!". Next though was "these tubeless casings are a lot thicker, maybe it's not all the way through." So reach down and pull the thorn out. It was in pretty good, but when I pulled it out I saw a small dot of this orangy-white goop and a couple small bubbles, then nothing. Well, might as well test it out for real so I kept on. 20 miles later, I get home, still have air in the front tire. I unlock my gate and as I'm taking the bike to the garage, I look down and guess what? ANOTHER goat head thorn. I actually think I picked this one up after I dismounted because it was barely in there, but it was in enough that I certainly would have been worried about a tubed tire.
So far, so good.
(unless it's affecting the ride)
If you pull the thorn and the sealant doesn't work, best option is to be at a place where maintenance is easiest.
[same goes for being stabbed]
02-11-24, 11:43 PM
#64
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Thread Starter
I did think about it but given how shallow it looked, I was kind of hoping I had just picked it up right there at the stop and it hadn't actually penetrated the casing. I was mistaken, but it worked as it was supposed to and the tire is still holding air just fine.
