Bicycle Mechanics - Chronic Flat Tire Syndrome

I seem to have more than my share of problems keeping my roadie tires from getting punctures on rides. I am using standard Giant 700 x 18/23 tubes on my bike. I try to keep them inflated to 100 psi for a ride but if I'm in a rush I may let them go a little softer. I switched the outers to Maxxis Detonators for a better effect but I still seem to have problems.

These days I have taken to carrying two spares, the irons and a pump on every ride just to make sure I don't get stranded. I can't do much about catching the odd rock on the road for a pinch flat but it seems like I just have rotten luck keeping air in the tires.

Does anyone have suggestions?

Andy

Tires of this size need to be checked before every ride. They normally lose pressure.
You can get tires with a Kevlar belt, or a tire liner to help with punctures. You need to carry enough to fix a flat anyway. Just think of it as "practice" so you get better at fixing flats. Flats happen. You also need to watch the road surface 100% of the time if you want to not get a flat.

What kind of flats? Are you talking about nails, thorns, etc., or pinch flats from underinflation? I had to fix 5 flats in one day between me an my wife's off-road bikes years ago, due to thorns. However, I have not had a single flat for the last several years (knock on wood) using 23s on well-paved roads. I always check the tire pressure but maybe there is a little luck involved too. :)

Being from the "old school", flats didn't used to be a big problem. On one of the bikes I got, with a flat tire, it had two thorns in it. .... But, the tires are like tissue paper!

It appears, that there has been a lot of compromise to obtain "light weight, speed and ??". The old bikes could go for seasons with no flats or tire pumps! .... we've come a long way.

I seem to have more than my share of problems keeping my roadie tires from getting punctures on rides. I am using standard Giant 700 x 18/23 tubes on my bike. I try to keep them inflated to 100 psi for a ride but if I'm in a rush I may let them go a little softer. I switched the outers to Maxxis Detonators for a better effect but I still seem to have problems.

These days I have taken to carrying two spares, the irons and a pump on every ride just to make sure I don't get stranded. I can't do much about catching the odd rock on the road for a pinch flat but it seems like I just have rotten luck keeping air in the tires.

Does anyone have suggestions?

Andy

How much do you weight? I suspect you are sufferring pinch flats. I ride virtually every day, and pump my tires up to 120 every morning. I can't remember the last flat. Also, I am basically running some light tires and tubes - Specialized S works Mondo tires, and Specialized super light tubes.

Thanks for the input.

I'm 6' tall and 227 lbs (97 Kg's for the metrics). I suspect that may have something to do with it. Most of the holes I find are the classic 'vampire pairs' from pinch flats. I have never found actual thorns or glass in the tire itself, and I can directly relate a fair portion of the flats to finding small rocks on the road or a hard bump that could not be avoided for one reason or another. I do try to avoid hazards when I can but it doesn't always work.

If nothing else I will check what the limit of the tires are and try to match it.

Thanks
Andy

Thanks for the input.

I'm 6' tall and 227 lbs (97 Kg's for the metrics). I suspect that may have something to do with it. Most of the holes I find are the classic 'vampire pairs' from pinch flats. I have never found actual thorns or glass in the tire itself, and I can directly relate a fair portion of the flats to finding small rocks on the road or a hard bump that could not be avoided for one reason or another. I do try to avoid hazards when I can but it doesn't always work.

If nothing else I will check what the limit of the tires are and try to match it.

Thanks
Andy

I weigh 152, and as I said I ride daily at 120 PSI, and run 140-150 in my race tires when I run my TT bike with tubulars. 100 (and apparently less) for someone that heavy will assuredly give you constant pinch flats.

I agree; you should be running max pressures and checking before every ride.

Powdered chalk in the tyre, lots of it.

Andy, I am in the 220 range also and I have **** loads of flats on my roadbike (23's). I have a touring bike with 32's and no problems with flats. My guess is too much weight and not enough tire! If your rims and bike frame will accept a larger tire, thats what I would do. Good luck, flats suck...