Commuting - Be careful what you post here...

I wrote that I had a great couple of rides back and forth, and that the tide had turned, commute-wise...

Last night I had a flat on the most dangerous part of my ride, carefully lifted my weightless bike over the wire fence, sat down in dry hay and changed the flat. Managed to pump my rear tire up to 4 atm/bar. Very happy, especially since I got to try out my new cell phone (which I have for just such an occasion) and ride happily home.

This morning, although rain was fortold on the radio, planned to ride in, and when I checked the rear tire...it was flat. Suppose I did a bone-head tube installation.

Oh well...maybe I'll get our tandem kid-friendly this weekend, and we can ride together tommorrow!

ride carelessly,
tt

Originally posted by Tom_The_Bikeman
Managed to pump my rear tire up to 4 atm/bar.
ride carelessly,
tt

Okay, what type of pump did you end up getting for that sweet 5200? I haven't had the opportunity to try out my CO2 system yet.

ThanX Tom!

Did you check the inside of your tire for what caused the first flat?

Usually a piece of glass or metal will get inbedded into the rubber, yet protrude to the point where it'll put a hole in your second tube.

There are a couple ways to check this. Usually, and standard for those in "the-know" mount their tires so the label is at the valve stem on the drive side. This helps locate the general area where the puncture occured. Before you install second tube. Inflate the first (punctured) to determine where the leak is. Find the corresponding general area on the tire and rub a cloth, or loose cotton, or your finger (careful with the fingers) along the inside of the tire. You may feel the cloth or cotton snag on whatever is embedded in your tire.

Now, this doesn't always work. My wife had something like 8 flats in 4 weeks. I checked the inside and nothing. I finally took the tire and rolled it lenghtwise in my hand and lo and behold. There were 3 tiny pieces of glass embedded, in the rubber, but didn't protrude through until she was on the bike and her weight put enough pressure on the tire!

Good Luck
& L8R

The pump I used is sitting at home on my Speckstein oven. I'll look it up and post on Monday.

The flat was due to strength lossage and stoopidity...I used a tire iron to lever the tire onto the rim.

Thanks for the tips though!

cheers,
tt

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
...mount their tires so the label is at the valve stem on the drive side.
a2psyklnut, what an excellent idea!

The pump I used is a Barbieri pump http://www.unico-jp.com/g/!airmano.jpg
(see the following links for pictures/ordering possibilities)

http://www.mwdyason.ltd.uk/shop.asp?no_category=19&text_company=BARBIERI

A really cool feature is the Manometer on the end of the pump...http://www.unico-jp.com/g/manomet.gif

Here's a photo with all of the goodies included http://www.unico-jp.com/g/tele01.jpg
and here it's extended http://www.unico-jp.com/g/tele02.jpg

The cause of my original flat was indeed a piece of glass. (duh) The cause of my second flat was due to castastrophic failure of the valve/tube joint.

As to the lining up of this and that...as we used to say at the shop I worked & managed at...gotta build to the conventions

Be careless out there,
Tom

Originally posted by Tom_The_Bikeman
The pump I used is a Barbieri pump

ThanX for the pix and the link, Tom!! :D

That's one reason I like the Topeak Morph pumps. They have a hose to connect the pump to the valve to avoid stress on the valve. They also have a foldout handle and footpeg, making them into mini shop pumps. The road morph has a gauge.

If you hold the pump and wheel in the air (supporting the wheel with the pump and valve stem, not with the ground or your hand), the stem does not get yanked around so much.

Has anybody got one of these or maybe just tried one. I'd be interested to know how good they are.



http://www.naturalcollection.com/images/products/13194-01.jpg