Bicycle Mechanics - Flat tire problems

Ok-

Yesterday, I noticed my tire was flat. I thought nothing of it after checking the tire and not seeing any noticeable holes in the tire. I went out and ran my errands after blowing up the tire. The tire was fine.

This morning, the plan was to teach my aerobics class, then go for a long ride today. I go out to my bike and check the front tire, and it's completely flat again. I checked the tire again- I really don't see any holes, so I pump the tire again, but I'm worried now, because maybe there's something wrong with the inner tube, but I had to get to class.

After class, I check the front tire again- it's low on pressure. So now, I ride home and I take the front tire off and take it back up to my apartment. I check the tire, and there's no hole. I check the inner tube, and I see no hole. I'm at my wit's end- it's 12:15pm, and I still want my long ride in. So I'm now back on bikeforums.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I might do to solve this problem? I'm going to change the inner tube, but I'm worried that there might be a problem I don't know about, and I'll get way up north and get stuck and have to walk home with my bike. That doesn't sound like fun.

Whatever the problem is, there's a slow leak somewhere being caused by something. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Koffee

Most punctures can not be seen with the neked eye if the tire is flat...you have to feel for the pressure leak.

with the tube out of the tire...pump the tube up until it is 2-3" around....wet your hands (wet hands can feel moving air easier) and run them around the tube...you will probably find a small hole.


Also run your fingers around the inside of the tire and see if you feel any thing stuck in the tire.

Cool-

I took it one step further. Re-inflated the tire to the dimensions you specified and put it in the dishwater, and I found the hole! Shoot, it's small... now, I've just applied the glue and I'm getting ready to patch the tube. I've also checked the inside of the tire, and nothing is stuck in the tire that I could see.

I'll be ready to go in the next 10 minutes. Thanks Roadie!

Koffee

Koffee,

If the hole is that small that you couldn't see it
you'll never (unless your eyes are REALLY good)
see what caused it.
I suggest taking some cotton, and running it along
the inside of the tire. It will snag on whatever
caused the hole in the tube, then all you do is
remove it with tweezers.

Hope you enjoyed your ride,
Marty

Thanks for the idea, Lotek. I'm getting ready to run some cotton through my tire insides right now.

KB

Flat tires are a fact of bicycling life. A couple of things.

The first thing that I would do would be to find the hole in your inner tube. Take the inner tube out of the tire and pump it up a little. You can usually feel the escaping air if you hold the inner tube close to your face. If that doesn't work, pump it up really big. Sometimes if you submerge the tube a section at a time in the toilet that helps.

You almost surely have a puncture. They are usually caused by a thorn or small piece of glass sticking through the tire. Most of the time it will stick through, do its damage, then leave without a trace except for the leaky innertube. The cotton trick may or may not identify the source of your flat. Whenever I install a tire, I line up the colored label with the valve stem. That way, after I find the leak in the inner tube, I know where to look for the glass or thorn.

Lots of flats are caused by crummy rim strips. If your leak is on the inside circumference of the tube, that's what caused yours. Check the inside of your rim until you find the place where the rim strip is leaving a spoke or spoke hole uncovered. It only takes a tiny crescent of spokehole to cause a hole in your inner tube.

Call me paranoid but problems like yours are why I carry 2 spare tubes and a patch kit. Only had to use both tubes once.

Yeah. I had a patch kit and a spare inner tube. I just couldn't figure out what was going on there- but luckily, I got it figured out in a jiffy, and I was off and riding for the afternoon. It was a great ride- even rained for a bit, but I had my raingear, and I got it on just in time, and I watched all those other poor saps running for cover.

Another nice ride planned for tomorrow, although a little shorter, since I do my volunteer work every Sunday.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Koffee