General Cycling Discussion - Took my road bike for a walk last night.

Tap tap tap tap tap.....Not again! I know that tap all too well now.
Its the 5th flat in as many days. Never has something like this happen
before during the last 8 years Ive been a serious rider.
The thorn. Its the same type that is responsible for all my other flats this week.
The thorn invasion started last weekend while I was on a nice morning
ride on my road bike . I took a shortcut on a small dirt trail that runs
through a empty grassy lot. Ive rode all three of my bikes through this lot many
times without any problems but this will be the last time. As soon as I hit
pavement I noticed the odd tapping noise comming from my front tire.
Dozens of thorns were stabbing my front tire as well as my rear tire. Each time
I pulled a thorn out of the tire,......ssssss
My angry wife had to come pick me up. At least I was near a Starbucks.
So rather then repairing I just replaced those tubes. The next day I felt like
riding on the trail along the creek. But I discover my mtn bike has a flat tire this time.
And sure enough. Hidding between two nubs was that thorn again. Tube patched.
I go riding. Tire picks up the thorn again while on the ride. It was a slow leak so I
didn't noticed till I got home. Tube patched.
But while on another ride through town the next day, that same damn thorn is
picked up again, and I had to path the tube right away. Right next to the other
patch job I just did the day before. And I never even left pavement this time!
So yesterday Im dinking around with the bikes all morning.
Cleaning, lubing, adjusting. Things like that.
I notice that the front tire I just patched the day before was low on air. Screw it!
Tonight I'm a roadie. I rig my rd bike for the evening ride.
Flashing red light on the seat post and the rechargable nite hawk on the bars. Looks cool.
And Im off! Zoom zoom zoom. I love riding my road bike with traffic. But only when it's cool.
I get along better with the idiots when it's cool.
Then 5 minutes later I relized the I left my saddle bag with my patches on my mtn bike.
But I was confident that nothing was going to happen. Im just riding around
Downtown tonight anyway. The sun is just setting. The air is crisp and cool
as the Delta Breeze was finally cooling down the vally.
Life is good. God is great....tap tap tap tap!
Yup. That same thorn again. into the ride only 15 minutes maybe.
Took 45 minutes to walk the bike home. Walking the bike.
Tried to ride the bike but the leak was too fast. Had to walk the bike home.
While walking the bike home I was greeted by some nice folks who were walking the dog.
I saw another cyclist riding my way and thought maybe he'd help me out,
but I notice he had a red wagon sitting across on top of his handle bars.
Better just let him go on his way.
Did a little jogging with the bike also. Bet that looked silly.
Maybe I'll start a bike walking club.
Anyway I got home and patched the tire and got right back on saddle
and road for a couple of hours just in the area of my home.
Oh yeah. You bet I had the saddle bag with me this time.
I need some more patches though. I seem to be running low.

i think there has been a bumper crop of goatheads this year have found more than usal
this year

Hey that describes the little bastards perfectly. Goatheads.

I've had my first 2 flats this year in the last 2 days....

Those thorns are the one thing I have heard that slime is good for. You might want to try putting some slime in your tires. (If you aren't familiar with it, it's some green glue that you put in the tubes, it stays liquidish and will seal small punctures from the inside without requiring a patch. Downside is, it adds some weight, it makes putting air in the tires messier, and it doesn't work on large punctures (nails etc)).

Those thorns are the one thing I have heard that slime is good for. You might want to try putting some slime in your tires. (If you aren't familiar with it, it's some green glue that you put in the tubes, it stays liquidish and will seal small punctures from the inside without requiring a patch. Downside is, it adds some weight, it makes putting air in the tires messier, and it doesn't work on large punctures (nails etc)).
Damn! I forgot about that stuff, flats being so far and few between before the goathead invasion. Can I use it on both types of valve stems?

with the presta i think you have to have a special adapter(have only heard about it not sure if it is real) or make a small hole, slime the tire, patch the hole and you are good to go not as easy as shrader tubes

Three flats in a week then Slime filled tubes no flats in over 300 miles. Get Slime now!
Joe

Conti Gatorskins are good. I guess if all else fails you can always get Tufos lol.

My first encounter with goat heads was walking on them, barefoot. No kidding. Thus the hatred for them was instilled from the very beginning.