Flat tire again

[Shazaam]

Ok I am really new to riding and this website but I did do a quick search and didn't find what I was looking for.

Anyways I just bought a new bike on 2/15 and on the very first ride 2/16 I was about a 1 mile into a street ride when I turned off to a trail and within the first 30 seconds I popped a tire. I couldn't believe it, I told my wife I wasn't going to be long so no cell or replacement tube (which I hadn't even bought yet cause I figured I could do a few rides). Anyways after a walk back with my bike (funny how no ones stops to see if you are alright when you are walking a bike) and a trip to Performance I got new tubes and a pump and a multi-tool. So I changed out the tire brought it to work today to go on my first good trail ride and pop the tire again. This was maybe a good 35 minuets into the ride and pretty good off-road trail (maybe harder than I should be doing with exactly 1 mile under my belt, but I did it) anyways I had an extra tube so I made my first on the trail covered in mud and in the rain tube change (do I get a patch for that) got back on the trail and made my way back on street (we were at the end of the trail).

So what is the best tire and tube combo, I want to be able to ride street and trail and don't want to buy tires for each terrian, but I am sick of 1 ride = 1 tube there has got to be a better deal than this. Any suggestions would really help.

[prendrefeu]

Q1: Road or MTB?
Q2: Have you changed a tube before?
Q3: Check for pinching?
Q4: Are you riding intelligently? (as in, manuevering around things that would cause a flat?)

You shouldn't have a flat that often. I live in K-Town with LA's worst roads (guaranteed***) and haven't had a flat in about 2000 miles. I ride to and from my rides out in Malibu... so there's no "driving there" crap to claim. Then, I just may have jinxed myself.

[nesdog]

[QUOTE=prendrefeu; Then, I just may have jinxed myself.[/QUOTE]

POP!

[Shazaam]

Q1 - MTB it is an Iron Horse Mavrick 5.5
Q2 - Yes but not in a long time
Q3 - I really don't think I was pinching, it did last about .5 mile of 1 mile and than about 30 min trail before it popped.
Q4 - I would say yes I was under control of my bike the entire time not just flying around and for the most part didn't run over anything more than mud, puddles, and some short grass, maybe a few sticks and grass or short brush.

The first flat came on the stock tires and tube from when I bought it. So I couldn't have pinched the first tire. So any suggestions on the tire or tube?

[DScott]

This is complicated, but it does sound like it might be an install issue.

You can pinch flat if you're under-inflated and not running at correct pressure. Otherwise, there may be something nicking the tire. You'd have to look very carefully inside the tire and at the tube to see how it's getting punctured.

Otherwise, please review Sheldon's fabulous site on all things bike: http://sheldonbrown.com/flats.html

Be seeing you!

[BFD]

It sounds like an internal puncture from the rim side. Too common on a new bike as they don't take the time/effort to do finishing touches correctly. Remove tire and tube. Check the rim, and use steelwool or fine sandpaper as necessary to remove burrs, etc. Apply and or check the rim tape. I hope you have rim tape! The cloth stuff that goes in the rim gutter, that protects tube from the spoke holes. Reinstall and ride...

[Shazaam]

Alright I will remove the tube and tire again and make sure nothing rubbing or poking the tube. As for the rim tape that was installed when I bought it. The first popped tube came from something on the road or trail cause I saw the spot where it was popped was on the top of the tire not touching the rim at all so that was not the problem there. As for the second tube not sure, but my buddy that I was with did a quick inspection on the tube before we changed it again and rode back.

So no one has an idea as to a better tube I use Forte MTB Tubes are these just not very good? Should I be looking at better tire for more protection?

[BillyB]

If you're not running high pressure tires, then buy self sealing tubes, or add "Slime" to your existing ones and make sure to carry a small pump.

The Slime won't do a bit of good if you slash your tube on a piece of glass, but on slow leaks from thorns, etc. it will slowly leak through the pin hole and dry up. You may have to stop and pump up the tube a couple times to get home, but it's still quicker than doing a tube change. It will then dry up over night and hold air no problem.

When I removed my tire to replace a spoke one time, I counted 11 "Slimed" pin holes that had sealed them selves.

[igoyippy4skippy]

for mountain bikes i would just use a slime tube

[Focused1]

Also, where are you riding? Believe it or not, some areas are more flat prone than others. You'll get to know the term "goat heads" as they are the bane of mtbrs. Run your finger along the underside of your tire again before re-installing. More than 50% of the time I've flatted on my mtb. the thorn is still sticking thru to the inside of the tire

[maddmike]

First of all, check the rim strip inside the tire. This is a extremely common problem with new bikes. If the rim strip is off just a bit on the inside of the wheel, a small portion of the tube will squeeze out where your spoke is inserted into the wheel and you'll get what looks like pinch flat -- but it isn't. I would be dollars to doughnuts that's what your problem is, especially since it is a new bike.

In my experience the best tire is a Bontrager Race Lite hard case (http://www.bontrager.com/Road/Wheelworks/Tires/5731.php). I have spent two to three times what the Bontragers cost and don't get a third of the mileage from them. Performance racing tires are designed for that -- performance. I was barely getting 200~300 miles out of tires that cost between $50~$60 retail. I get close to 2000 miles with the bontragers and I rarely get flats. Jax usually has them for about $30/ I do long distance riding (centuries double centuries) so not flating is pretty important.

In my opinion the tube doesn't matter that much if you have the right tire. Again, stay away from the racing ultra light tubes and just use the standard tubes.

[Scootcore]

and sometimes you just have bad luck......i once got five flats inside of about two miles.....stupid goatshead thorns......never had a chance...

[Shazaam]

Thanks for all the help, I took my bike back to Performance and told them what was going on and the guy took a look at the second popped tube since I only had that one with me in my pack.

He found the hole right away after he pumped air into it and it was a puncture around the top of the tube so no pinching flat.

I told him that was about the same area as the first one so he had me bring my bike in and he inspected the tire. When I popped the first tire it sliced through the tire and cut the tube. When I inspected the tire I didn't notice the slice just that the tube was popped. Sort of like when you slice your finger sometimes how the skin will lay back over the cut and you won't really see the cut anymore.

So when I went and rode the second time in a more off-road area it tore that flap "sliced piece" of tire off and I had exposed tube which is why I popped the second tube so easy.

He replaced the tire for free and gave me a few suggestions on tubes and tires so I bought a few more tubes and was out of there.