Problem getting flats, what to do?
#1
Problem getting flats, what to do?
I got a flat on the front about a week ago, I had not inflated the tires for a week or so at the time of the first flat and suspected that to be the reason. Yesterday I got another one after putting air in the tires before I rode. I was riding city streets in NYC.
Rims are Alex DA-13 700c, 32 hole, tires are Maxxis Detonator 700c x 25. Tanwall
Do I just have awful rims, bad tires? could I be putting too much air into the tire? Not enough? Bad luck?
I am trying to figure out do I need to buy something new, change the air pressure in the tire, or just be more careful?
Thanks
Rims are Alex DA-13 700c, 32 hole, tires are Maxxis Detonator 700c x 25. Tanwall
Do I just have awful rims, bad tires? could I be putting too much air into the tire? Not enough? Bad luck?
I am trying to figure out do I need to buy something new, change the air pressure in the tire, or just be more careful?
Thanks
#3
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Hello akkando. there are dozens of reasons for flats. I am not familar with your tire/rim combo but unless you are a Clyde your x25 should be good tires.
there reason for your first flat was likely a "pinch" flat from hitting something on the road (big crack, whole, debris, up or down a curb) with your pressure low. did you patch that tube and reuse it? a pinch flat usually has two small holes close together. if you patched the tube it is possible that you missed one of the holes, there were more that one or two holes or the patch did not work.
or you first flat may have been a 'puncture' the object that caused it is still in the tire. it is a good idea when you are changing a flat to run you fingers around the inside (carefully) of the tire to be sure nothing is still embedded in the casing.
also pinching the tube with a tool can cause a flat.
always pump up your tires before riding (or atleast check if you ride everyday)
there reason for your first flat was likely a "pinch" flat from hitting something on the road (big crack, whole, debris, up or down a curb) with your pressure low. did you patch that tube and reuse it? a pinch flat usually has two small holes close together. if you patched the tube it is possible that you missed one of the holes, there were more that one or two holes or the patch did not work.
or you first flat may have been a 'puncture' the object that caused it is still in the tire. it is a good idea when you are changing a flat to run you fingers around the inside (carefully) of the tire to be sure nothing is still embedded in the casing.
also pinching the tube with a tool can cause a flat.
always pump up your tires before riding (or atleast check if you ride everyday)
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
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yeah, I agree, adriano. Your tone has become especially sarcastic, dry, and, more importantly, degrading as of late.
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thats where you went wrong... haha but really, check your rim tape and also check to see if you have any little pieces of glass lodged inside of your tire. im almost positive your flats were pinch flats because i have gotten 2 flats on 1 ride before(one for each tire :S) when my tires were at a very low psi. now i just pump my tires before every ride and i havent gotten a flat in 2 months.
#8
Hello akkando. there are dozens of reasons for flats. I am not familar with your tire/rim combo but unless you are a Clyde your x25 should be good tires.
there reason for your first flat was likely a "pinch" flat from hitting something on the road (big crack, whole, debris, up or down a curb) with your pressure low. did you patch that tube and reuse it? a pinch flat usually has two small holes close together. if you patched the tube it is possible that you missed one of the holes, there were more that one or two holes or the patch did not work.
or you first flat may have been a 'puncture' the object that caused it is still in the tire. it is a good idea when you are changing a flat to run you fingers around the inside (carefully) of the tire to be sure nothing is still embedded in the casing.
also pinching the tube with a tool can cause a flat.
always pump up your tires before riding (or atleast check if you ride everyday)
there reason for your first flat was likely a "pinch" flat from hitting something on the road (big crack, whole, debris, up or down a curb) with your pressure low. did you patch that tube and reuse it? a pinch flat usually has two small holes close together. if you patched the tube it is possible that you missed one of the holes, there were more that one or two holes or the patch did not work.
or you first flat may have been a 'puncture' the object that caused it is still in the tire. it is a good idea when you are changing a flat to run you fingers around the inside (carefully) of the tire to be sure nothing is still embedded in the casing.
also pinching the tube with a tool can cause a flat.
always pump up your tires before riding (or atleast check if you ride everyday)
I got a new tube after the first flat. I had an LBS change the tube the first time. The guy there inflated the bad tube and eventually pointed out a small puncture that seemed difficult to find. Maybe there were two but I thought I only saw one. He then flipped the tire inside out and looked for anything in the tire for a while, but didn't find anything. He seemed to look like he knew what he was doing. Maybe he didn't. I sure don't know what I am doing.
#9
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Adriano... the
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#10
thats where you went wrong... haha but really, check your rim tape and also check to see if you have any little pieces of glass lodged inside of your tire. im almost positive your flats were pinch flats because i have gotten 2 flats on 1 ride before(one for each tire :S) when my tires were at a very low psi. now i just pump my tires before every ride and i havent gotten a flat in 2 months.
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yeah I mean I agree it was a stupid question to begin with as the OP stated 700c, but no need for wise ass comments. Also, it isn't specific to this thread, that's the only reason I said something. People who make smart ass comments all the time get annoying, that's all.
EDIT: akkando---did you use a patch to fix your first flat? Did you check the inside of the tire for sharp little buggers that could have punctured your tube again?
I had a run of bad luck last year where I got like 5 or 6 flats within a 2 month span. I was running crappy tires, but I was also doing other stupid stuff like not inflating properly and not checking for shards after each flat. Detonators should be good enough that they don't get this many flats. I am guessing it has to do w/ user error somehow
EDIT: akkando---did you use a patch to fix your first flat? Did you check the inside of the tire for sharp little buggers that could have punctured your tube again?
I had a run of bad luck last year where I got like 5 or 6 flats within a 2 month span. I was running crappy tires, but I was also doing other stupid stuff like not inflating properly and not checking for shards after each flat. Detonators should be good enough that they don't get this many flats. I am guessing it has to do w/ user error somehow
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ok fine it was a stupid question. i didn't read the entire post. jeez
edit: NOOOOOO xlazymx! come back!
edit: NOOOOOO xlazymx! come back!
Last edited by das_pyrate; 06-28-09 at 02:43 PM.
#14
What do you guys think about Panaracer tires or Continental tires for city street riding? That's what the guy at the bike shop recommends. He says the maxis detonators I have are not puncture resistant and they may be the problem but I am not wise enough to know if he is just trying take my money.
Somone asked if the original tube was patched or replaced. It was replaced.
Somone asked if the original tube was patched or replaced. It was replaced.
Last edited by akkando; 06-28-09 at 04:59 PM.
#15
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Quality tyres are the way to go... with those tyre liners become redundant unless you live in goat head territory.
Gatorskins if you want a lighter tyre.
Schwalbe Marathons if you never want to fix a flat.
Gatorskins if you want a lighter tyre.
Schwalbe Marathons if you never want to fix a flat.
#17
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LEarn how to fix a flat too. You don't need a new tube every time you get a fraggin puncture.
After a while you will learn to use the force and avoid a lot of flats (most of which tend to be glass shards as the most common cause of flats for me), but everyone has bad runs every now and then.
After a while you will learn to use the force and avoid a lot of flats (most of which tend to be glass shards as the most common cause of flats for me), but everyone has bad runs every now and then.
#18
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LEarn how to fix a flat too. You don't need a new tube every time you get a fraggin puncture.
After a while you will learn to use the force and avoid a lot of flats (most of which tend to be glass shards as the most common cause of flats for me), but everyone has bad runs every now and then.
After a while you will learn to use the force and avoid a lot of flats (most of which tend to be glass shards as the most common cause of flats for me), but everyone has bad runs every now and then.
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#20
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Yeah man, under 5 mins is pretty easy if you're just replacing a tube. I don't think I've ever waited 10 mins for a patch to dry either. 5 tops if I'm patching on the road.... probab;y about 3 mins I wait usually.
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akkando,
Here's what I do:
1. pull everything apart and run a cotton ball along the inside of the tire. You do carry cotton balls right (ha ha)? The cotton will pull on anything stuck in the tire. If something is stuck then time to get it out.
2. Run a finger along the inside beads and trench of your rims. Pull back a bloody digit? Rim issue - time to change and next time run your fingers over slower.
3. If 1 and 2 are good then you know for sure it's a tube issue. I pump some air in the tube and pull it under my nose until leaking air gives me a tickle. Kinda' fun in it's own way. Repair with some form of speed patch and get back to it.
Actually, I check 1 and 2 and throw in a fresh tube and deal with the puncture when I get back home. The reasons why a tube flats out are myriad but if you are flatting regularly and 1 and 2 are good then it's probably pressure.
Here's what I do:
1. pull everything apart and run a cotton ball along the inside of the tire. You do carry cotton balls right (ha ha)? The cotton will pull on anything stuck in the tire. If something is stuck then time to get it out.
2. Run a finger along the inside beads and trench of your rims. Pull back a bloody digit? Rim issue - time to change and next time run your fingers over slower.
3. If 1 and 2 are good then you know for sure it's a tube issue. I pump some air in the tube and pull it under my nose until leaking air gives me a tickle. Kinda' fun in it's own way. Repair with some form of speed patch and get back to it.
Actually, I check 1 and 2 and throw in a fresh tube and deal with the puncture when I get back home. The reasons why a tube flats out are myriad but if you are flatting regularly and 1 and 2 are good then it's probably pressure.
#23
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What do you guys think about Panaracer tires or Continental tires for city street riding? That's what the guy at the bike shop recommends. He says the maxis detonators I have are not puncture resistant and they may be the problem but I am not wise enough to know if he is just trying take my money.
Somone asked if the original tube was patched or replaced. It was replaced.
Somone asked if the original tube was patched or replaced. It was replaced.
#24
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I got a flat on the front about a week ago, I had not inflated the tires for a week or so at the time of the first flat and suspected that to be the reason. Yesterday I got another one after putting air in the tires before I rode. I was riding city streets in NYC.
Rims are Alex DA-13 700c, 32 hole, tires are Maxxis Detonator 700c x 25. Tanwall
Do I just have awful rims, bad tires? could I be putting too much air into the tire? Not enough? Bad luck?
I am trying to figure out do I need to buy something new, change the air pressure in the tire, or just be more careful?
Thanks
Rims are Alex DA-13 700c, 32 hole, tires are Maxxis Detonator 700c x 25. Tanwall
Do I just have awful rims, bad tires? could I be putting too much air into the tire? Not enough? Bad luck?
I am trying to figure out do I need to buy something new, change the air pressure in the tire, or just be more careful?
Thanks
#25
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heh.. I dunno if it's that inspiring, but maybe try looking at some road racing forums for a video. I've never timed it, but when I ran through the process in my head I'm sure I can get it done in 5 mins or less.