General Cycling Discussion - Specialized Nimbus Armadillos punctured...finally.

After reaching about 500 miles I finally had my first flat on these tires. I was running them at 100psi when I ran over a patch of glass that looked as though it was from an accident, very small pieces. I didn't think much of it since I have intentionally ran over a beer bottle before. So I got to work locked it up and went on to my work day. When I got back out to my bike the rear tire was completely flat. Being lazy I called for a ride since I could. When I got home I examined the tire closely and found the piece of glass. Here are some pix...how could something so small ruin my day?

http://www.pwrdbytrd.net/gallery/albums/wpw-20050816/DSCF3430.JPG
http://www.pwrdbytrd.net/gallery/albums/wpw-20050816/DSCF3431.JPG
http://www.pwrdbytrd.net/gallery/albums/wpw-20050816/DSCF3432.JPG
http://www.pwrdbytrd.net/gallery/albums/wpw-20050816/DSCF3433.JPG

Chunka' glass will do it everytime..

That's not even *small*! Try catus thorn, goathead or even a piece of metal from steel belted radial tires that get torn up along the roadside from cars/trucks!
Have had standard clincher tires last way more than 500 miles before the first puncture; however, also had a brand new tire get a flat within the first 10 miles. Karma!

Pwrd, so you're commuting to work now?

Pwrd, so you're commuting to work now?
Sure am. I'd like to extend my rides a bit but normally after work my ride home is quite tiring.

hell I found a flat on my bike over the weekend changed the tube and I can't fidn a hole in the tube anywhere. it has had air in it for two days now and the tube is still full.

Well one of the officers came in tonight with a flat... upon checking the tire there was a 3 inch nail from the construction site sticking out of the side of the tire... it ended up through the rim and bent a spoke... :eek:

I should of taken a picture of the staple that ended my last race of the season... now that was nasty!

I have not had a problem with glass. the last two flats where staples or a pin through the side of the tire. not much helps that.

I picked a piece of glass amazingly like that out of my front tire, a Conti Gatorskin, while I was waiting at a left turn lane in an intersection. Who knows how long it had been there lol. So, now, when I'm waiting and bored, I'll often check for stuff like that.

No tire's perfect.

Sharp object + a lot more pressure than the average rider = Flat tire in just about any circumstance regardless of tire type. Granted you stand a better chance with a Armadillo, but there are some things you're not stopping if you hit them wrong. They're puncture resistant not flat proof :D

A similar sized piece of glass gave me the only flat I've ever had on my Armadillos (700x28). I've ridden over bigger pieces before, but I guess the angle it hit at plus the pressure I exert (220lbs, 100psi) was enough for it to just make it through to the tube (the glass had only pierced the inside of the tire).

Very flat resistant, but not quite flat proof.

Simple get the thicker specialized tubes with the slime inside them.

I used the previous model Armadillos on my commuter and tandem and got years and years of use out of 'em before I finally got my first flat. Never flatted with 'em on the tandem (knock on wood).

Simple get the thicker specialized tubes with the slime inside them.
That sounds like alot of work...I can handle a flat every 500 miles. I was just kinda amazing since I had intentionally ran over glass before without issue, there are quite a few gashes in the tire. I guess this one just worked it's way through.

plus the pressure I exert (220lbs, 100psi)

A little physics for ya... 100 PSI means 100 PSI. a 200 lb guy will have approximately 2 square inches of tire flat against the ground, a 100 lb guy will have 1 square inch... The pressure against the piece of glass however is almost exactly the same (barring slight differences based on the resistance of the tire to being squished etc).

I noticed an interesting effect in my old car, the exact same vehicle with 30 psi in the tires would roll over walnuts, with 45 psi it would crack them.

A little physics for ya... 100 PSI means 100 PSI. a 200 lb guy will have approximately 2 square inches of tire flat against the ground, a 100 lb guy will have 1 square inch... The pressure against the piece of glass however is almost exactly the same (barring slight differences based on the resistance of the tire to being squished etc).

I noticed an interesting effect in my old car, the exact same vehicle with 30 psi in the tires would roll over walnuts, with 45 psi it would crack them.
Bah, semantics ;)

A 100lb guy would be crazy to run the same tyres at 100psi, though... :p

No flats on my armadillo yet after about 300 miles.

A little physics for ya... 100 PSI means 100 PSI. a 200 lb guy will have approximately 2 square inches of tire flat against the ground, a 100 lb guy will have 1 square inch... The pressure against the piece of glass however is almost exactly the same (barring slight differences based on the resistance of the tire to being squished etc).

I noticed an interesting effect in my old car, the exact same vehicle with 30 psi in the tires would roll over walnuts, with 45 psi it would crack them.


may i ask what normal person drives over walnuts with their car?

man, poor walnuts. :(