Commuting - 5 flats in 2 commutes!

Unbelievable! This is my new personal record. What is the most flats you have ever had in a short period of time?

Flat #1. On my Friday morning commute to work, I run over a piece of glass. I change the tube but in my haste to get to the office for a meeting, I forget to check for debris in the tire.

Flat #2. Occures about 1/4 mile down the road from Flat #1. I find the piece of glass I missed and fix tube with patch kit. I get to work and back home.

Flat #3. Monday night, I pump up the tires to the standard 100 psi. and leave the bike in the foyer ready to ride to work in the morning. About 2 hours later, the tire pops off rim and KA-BOOM! I inspect tire bead but there is no visible damage so I install new tube. I put the bike in the garage fearing another underwear filling explosion in the house.

Flat #4. Tuesday morning I ride to work and when I get off at 5:00, I find that the tire is off the rim again and the tube is obliterated. OK. Probably a bad bead. Needing to get home, I install my last tube.

Flat #5. Occures about 2 miles from the office, tire pops off rim and KA-BOOM! The tube explodes scaring a few pedestrians on the sidewalk. A couple of homies actually run for cover. I call a work collegue for a ride home. Bare wires from the bead are now showing.

Hah!
EVERY FIVE MINUTES A CYCLIST IN ALBERTA GETS A FLAT. THIS IS HIS STORY.

In the sprint category I have had two in one 12 mile ride to work. When I got 6 in one week I replaced the tires.

I had 5 in one day once, but it turned out I had a bad rim strip. I walked 7 miles that day, because I couldn't even keep the tire inflated for 2 minutes.

I had 5 in one day once, but it turned out I had a bad rim strip. I walked 7 miles that day, because I couldn't even keep the tire inflated for 2 minutes.

OK. You win. I don't feel too bad now. :)
Thank you..

Flat #5. The tube explodes scaring a few pedestrians on the sidewalk. A couple of homies actually run for cover. I call a work collegue for a ride home.


Muhahaha. I would pay money to see this.

Dude, get better tires. The bike gods have spoken!

Muhahaha. I would pay money to see this.
me 2 :D

Ah, cr*p! I've only got one spare in my pack right now. I'm gonna be paranoid the whole way home thanks to you guys!

Beej

My personal record is 2 flats in less than a second. Ran through a rough patch that got both tires.

One time after killing a rat before leaving for work, I had a flat at one intersection on my way to work and another flat at the same intersection coming back home. Opposite side of the street. The rat's revenge

Last week I had 3 flats in 24hrs. Specilized Armadillos stop a lot but not everything.
First - on the way home I picked up a short nail. I made it home without loosing air in the tire. It was at the edge of the tread and angle towards the sidewall. Hmm, maybe it didn't actually get the tube. Pulled it out with some pliers and Pewishhh. Nope, got the tube.
Second - next morning I was going down a side street in an area where people dump junk. The large pile of broken glass was hiden by all of the black plastic remains of a car fire, it was raining too. Tried to swerve but caught the edge of the pile. Front tire went down.
Third on the ride home, still raining, the rear went. I check my tires for glass after flatting and again at lunch time but I either missed a piece or picked up another one.

I usually have good luck with the dillo tires and a few I have worn down to the cords with no flats. I must have unknowingly killed a rat that day.

I failed to seat the bead on my old 10 speed in college once, and rode it into campus pumped to 80 PSI. It blew out as I was walking out of the Union while it was parked in the bike rack. Sounded like a gunshot, a few people were startled a bit, but this was the early 80's in a small town so nobody was too worried about the occasional gunshot-like sound.

I have never had a flat where there was a ka-boom. Most of mine have been a quiet puncture where I don't notice it until I notice I am riding flat.

Some persons line up their tire lable with their tire valve to assist in locating glass/metal shavings lodged in the tire. If not remove they will cause another flat.

Also, it's good to put a small abount of air into the tube to give it shape so as to pull away from the edge so as to avoid pinching the tube. Then once tube and tire are seated to inflate to full pressure.

Make a note in your diary, it's cheaper to buy better tires than the junk one's you have. It's not just tubes, your time is money too. How much is your time worth? How much would a good tire cost? see the savings?