Bicycle Mechanics - Constant Flats on touring bike.

I just bought a new Fuji Touring bike. Like the bike. But each ride -it is driving me nuts. Each ride a flat. Even twice on one recent ride. It is about to go on a 360 mile tour. I must solve this problem. Change flats fine on my other bikes. No problems.
It has 700x 30 mm tires. Richey slicks. New. Still using what came with the bike tires/tubes. Flats seem to be small punctures at various locations. Can feel no foreign objects within the tire.
I must solve this problem if I am to complete a 360 mile tour and stay up with the group.
What kind of tires/tubes to you use on a touring bike?

Try getting into some slime tubes...The ones that seal the hole with slime that comes in the tube...Ive never used one but i think they would work...

I'm a BMX'r and my friend double tires on his wheels...
Never tried it but it sounds good

Hope this helps,
vfr

I reccomend using tire liner's. You can go woth Spin Skins: http://www.warwickmills.com/01spinskins.html
Or Mr. Tuffy: http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=1186&sku=1889&storetype=&estoreid=
The Mr. Tuffy web site links do not seem to work. Anyway the Mr. Tuffy liners weigh alot more, but IMHO are more durable than the Spin Skins. The Spin Skins are real real light though. The ultimate way to go is thorn resistant tubes with a type of sealant such as slime and liners it makes your whells weigh a ton more, but if you flat, then you will flat anywhere.

Just occured to me. My road bikes take over 100 psi to inflate. My touring bike takes only 80 psi. Think it likely you pick up flats more readily at lower psi's. Thanks I will look into liners.

Make sure you have good rim liners. If your rims came with flimsy rubber liners, they may be the source. Get rid of them ASAP! Use Velox rim tape. It will eliminate those mystery flats. From what you are describing, you didn't have the same problems with other bikes on the same routes???? I wouldn't go to all the trouble of slime, tire liners, etc...Check the rims for burrs and sharp edges, switch rim liners. I had similar problems and it was a simple switch of liners, hope that's all you need. It would be a shame to buy a light weight bicycle and have to add all that weight...

Good luck :)

I think the higher PSI, the easier to get flats...

Thats what i think, thats not a fact...
If thats not true please tell me..

What type of flats are you getting? Are the punctures on the outside or the inside of the inner tube?
When you fix your next one, note where about on the rim it is.

I run several kinds of touring bike tyre (Continental Top Touring 32mm at 80psi, and Panaracer Pasela 32mm at 100psi). Neither is particularly prone to punctures. They both have a kevlar liner built in , and extra liners are not really neccessary.

I agree with Wild Hare. Check that your spokes are the correct size and do not poke out into the inner, de-burr the valve hole with some emery cloth, fit Velox rim tape and some decent tyres (Conti TT are good for for loaded touring). Check that the valve holes are correct for your valves (ie not too large)

When you fit the inner back under the tyre , put a little air in and seat the valve and inner correctly.

Yes Velox is the king!
Hey Wildhare come out here and ride without tire liners! :p

Originally posted by Hunter
Yes Velox is the king!
Hey Wildhare come out here and ride without tire liners! :p

Nope!!!!! :D Just dirt and rocks please. Had my share of thorns :beer:

Take a close look at the RIM TAPE, and make sure that there have been no breaches from spoke ends. Also, look for BURRS on the rim, particularily around the valve hole, but also along the entire length.
If you are still getting flats, and they are all coming from the tread, get yourself a couple of good tyres, such as Conti top touring 20000's , or specialized turbo armadillos. Liners work well on ATB's, but not for long rides.

We need more post-mortem! Every flat has to have a cause. If tire pressure were a problem, you'd have pinch (a.k.a. snakebite) flats. If nothing is in the tire casing, it either penetrated and came back out, or something else did the damage. When you remove the tube, note it's orientation so you know where to look on the tire when you find the leak. Are there a lot of thorns or briars where you've been riding? If so, the liner route is probably your best bet. If nothing's penetrated the casing, then maybe you've just gotten a-hold of some lousy tubes. Just curious, do you talc the tubes before mounting them? I guess the current thinking is that it does no good, but I do it anyway.

Originally posted by MichaelW
When you fit the inner back under the tyre , put a little air in and seat the valve and inner correctly.

Very important! Often, consistent flats are the result of poor assembly. If I may quote from JonR in a similar thread:


Originally posted by JonR
The tube ought to be partially inflated, and seated, then the tire placed back on the rim. Then inflate some more, and before going all the way with it, examine all around to see that the seating is just right. Also try to get the bead, right next to the rim, exactly equidistant all around. Sometimes this isn't possible, but it usually is, and I have started all over when it was crooked. It's much easier to do the thing two or three times and get it right than to have a flat and your tire tool goes down a storm drain or the pump blows up or something--fifteen miles from home. :(

If you are using presta valves, this is easily done by screwing in the little "dorknut". I even use this when mounting tubulars, and leave them on until the glue sets.

I would second the suggestion to check the rim tape. One of the dudes in my bike club was having a problem with flats and it turned out to be the rim tape. Try heavy duty tubes also.

Took my bike today to my bike shop. Getting it ready for my Big Sur tour. Leaks have been snake bites at various locations. Usually outside not facing rim.
Old tires, still really pretty new- we replaced. I am about 185 pounds. Touring will probably be 220. Took off the non-kevlar tires, 30 mm and replaced with 35mm. Old one's took 80 # psi. New ones are rated at 100 #.
My main point. It rolls far better. Less resistance, I note. Felt I had to work less. Kevlar more PSI we will see how flats go. The mechanic could find nothing wrong with what he could see.

A kevlar belt will do nothing to reduce snake-bite flats. The only thing that will help is to be careful when you run over curbs, pavement breaks, etc., so that you don't pinch the tyres as much.

I had three flats today! I put some Velox tape, checked my tire throughly to ensure that they had no stuff inside. One flat, onether tube exploded when I was inflating it, then another flat. In fairness the tube where 20x25 and my tire was 30, that may not help.

Got back to thorn resistant now (my prior experience with them was disappointing) and so far (after a 3 hours ride) so good.]

yes, the tube was too small, but that alone would'nt make it explode. Check the entire rim for burrs. While you are at it, check the inside of the tyre for sharp objects, too. Sometimes stray bits of wire and of kevlar will stick inside, and cause punctures.