Commuting - A strange cause for a flat tire

This probably happens all the time, but I've never read about it here.

Last night I had a flat tire on my way home. When I examined the tire, I found a sharp object embedded in it. When I dug it out, I was surprised to discover that it was a wood splinter. Looking further, I discovered two more splinters that had also penetrated the tire. I had been riding on our town's Rivertrail just before I lost pressure. There are many board walks and bridges on this trail, all made of wood. Evidently one of these rough, weathered wooden sections had given me three flats for the price of one. Of course I've been riding on the trail for years and this was the first time I had problem.

I guess I learned two lessons. The first was to watch the wood more carefully when I ride. The second was that if you find the object that caused a flat--keep looking! There might be more sharpies still embedded in the tire.

Roody, the one that gets me is those little metal "splinters" which come from steel belted tires. You almost can't see them, but when you run your fingers around the inside of the tire, it'll let you know it's there by pricking you nicely.

Yea, there has to be a better way than using your hand to find the sharpies - anyone want to enlighten me?

^^^^ A ball of cotton.
The cotton will shred and small strands will stick to the sharp stuff.

^^^^ A ball of cotton.
The cotton will shred and small strands will stick to the sharp stuff.

Excellent!! This is worthy of being published in BICYCLING mag. If it does, you get something back from them.

those little metal "splinters" which come from steel belted tires.

Is that what those things are? Two flats in one ride last week. What are people doing to their tires to fire shards of metal all over the place?

About the cotton idea: I like it. I could stuff the cotten in the handle of my pump and it also might stop that annoying rattle.

Would it work for glass though? Sometimes glass shards "peak" through inside of the tire only when the rubber is flexed a bit.

Is that what those things are? Two flats in one ride last week. What are people doing to their tires to fire shards of metal all over the place?

People let their tires get so worn that the wire belting inside is exposed and fraying off. Here's an extreme example:
http://www.driftsession.com/galleries/jan4pictures/mattstire.jpg



About the cotton idea: I like it. I could stuff the cotten in the handle of my pump and it also might stop that annoying rattle.

Would it work for glass though? Sometimes glass shards "peak" through inside of the tire only when the rubber is flexed a bit.

I usually inspect tires by folding them inside out as I go around. This stretches the inner surface of the tire and makes any holes or lodged objects stand out more than just looking and feeling alone.

I helped someone fix a flat the other day that was caused by a tiny pebble lodging itself in the tire. It was JUST pointed enough to penetrate the tire and tube. Once it was pulled out, it didn't look like much more than a largish grain of sand.

Is that what those things are? Two flats in one ride last week. What are people doing to their tires to fire shards of metal all over the place?

People let their tires get so worn that the wire belting inside is exposed and fraying off. Here's an extreme example:
http://www.driftsession.com/galleries/jan4pictures/mattstire.jpg



About the cotton idea: I like it. I could stuff the cotten in the handle of my pump and it also might stop that annoying rattle.

Would it work for glass though? Sometimes glass shards "peak" through inside of the tire only when the rubber is flexed a bit.

I usually inspect tires by folding them inside out as I go around. This stretches the inner surface of the tire and makes any holes or lodged objects stand out more than just looking and feeling alone.

I was preparing to leave my house this past Saturday morning.
Was all geared up and ready to go, about 30 minutes prior, I'd pumped the tires on the road rig to the usual 120psi, now was reaching for my socks and BOOM!! :eek:
My rear tube blew, right there parked in my living room…

My cat hurled himself through the air and up the stairs, I don’t think he even touched the ground…
poor lil’ guy…. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/LilSprocket/cat7.gif

I found no cause whatsoever for the blowout… save for a tiny hole near the valve. I changed it out and rode 40 miles. I suppose better to blow out in the house than on the ride. :)
A friend suggested it was simply the tubes time…

I had a thorn puncture a kevlar MTB knobbie. It looked like a animal's tooth.

I just had two flats in a row. One coming home last night, and the other this morning on my way to work. Same spot in the tire, and almost the same spot on the commute.

I patched it last night on the road, then after I got home and waited a couple hours it was obvious the patch wasn't holding 100% (it was leaking about 5-10 lbs an hour just sitting there). So I changed the tube. I checked the tire and couldn't find anything still embedded in it... but today I got another flat, in almost the exact same spot on the tube. Again I patched it (I think the patch is holding this time) but I really gave the tire a thorough examination. It was slightly rough on the inside where it had been punctured, but still no sign of what caused the hole. I dunno, I guess maybe it was just an "opportunistic" puncture... something happened to come in through the hole that was already there in the tire. Or maybe it's one of those tiny grain-of-sand things, but hopefully in that case the patch will be thick enough it won't give me another hole.