Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Tubes and Tires help

Ok , I am seeing a lot of other threads on tubes and tires and didnt want to derail anyone so....here is my tale of woe and plead for help ......

So in 300 some odd miles Ive had 5 blow outs . Now some of these have been operator error , 2 of em I pinched . And I would probably attribute some to changing my route's , there really are no good clean ( read safe ) bike lanes here , it mostly shoulder with lots of trash ( construction and other wise .) So I had picked up some Hard Cases had the shop change them , to make sure it was not my technique. And they blew out too. So where to go from here . Rims are true , tape is good , had the "pro's " change out the tubes . I am getting really good at changing em , but would rather not do it with such frequency . Any suggestions ?

Try changing the tape with some better quality stuff, even if you think it looks good. I had a troublesome wheel when I started and that fixed it for me.

I don't mean to sound like a jerk but..... Examine the failed tube. Is there a puncture on the "tire" side or on the "rim" side? This should give you some indication....

No not a jerk at all , very valid observation . To me most of them looked like punctures maybe a tear also , but I would keep the tire in place and look for a hole that would match up . Didnt find any .

You can't always see holes in the tire tread. Also, I'm assuming that by "blow-outs" you just mean flats. Or, do you really mean you heard a very loud "Bang!" and your tire went flat immediately? And when you inspected it, the sidewall of the tire--and not just the tube--had a huge gaping hole in it?

If the hole in the tube looks like a slice, it's probably a pinch flat. Usually--but not always--there are two of these, looking like snake bites. They occur when you hit something and it pinches the tire/tube down to the rim of the wheel. Solution: wider tires, higher pressure, and watch where you're going! :D

If it's one hole--not a slice--, it's probably a puncture. You hit a sharp object. Solution: watch where you're riding! :D

Last, it could be the rim tape has moved and uncovered (barely) a spoke hole. I used to get these all the time until I found out what it was. Solution: wider rim tape, or a rim without spoke holes (some of the modern rims--like my Mavic Ksyrium Elites--have this).

Seriously, you don't have to ride on the shoulder, just close to the white line. In most states, the law says you can move to the left to avoid obstacles. Do it.

You can't always see holes in the tire tread. Also, I'm assuming that by "blow-outs" you just mean flats. Or, do you really mean you heard a very loud "Bang!" and your tire went flat immediately? And when you inspected it, the sidewall of the tire--and not just the tube--had a huge gaping hole in it?

If the hole in the tube looks like a slice, it's probably a pinch flat. Usually--but not always--there are two of these, looking like snake bites. They occur when you hit something and it pinches the tire/tube down to the rim of the wheel. Solution: wider tires, higher pressure, and watch where you're going! :D

If it's one hole--not a slice--, it's probably a puncture. You hit a sharp object. Solution: watch where you're riding! :D

Last, it could be the rim tape has moved and uncovered (barely) a spoke hole. I used to get these all the time until I found out what it was. Solution: wider rim tape, or a rim without spoke holes (some of the modern rims--like my Mavic Ksyrium Elites--have this).

Seriously, you don't have to ride on the shoulder, just close to the white line. In most states, the law says you can move to the left to avoid obstacles. Do it.

Yup..what he said....


No not a jerk at all , very valid observation . To me most of them looked like punctures maybe a tear also , but I would keep the tire in place and look for a hole that would match up . Didnt find any .


I assume that you are trying to match the tube hole to find a hole in the tire that the pucture is on the tire side? If on the tire side, probably not a rim issue. If on the rim side....... well there ya go...... Are all the punctures in the same general area? When reinstalling your tire, it is a good practice to mount the tire on the rim with the tire label near the valve stem as a point of reference - it's not just being anal retentive.
Does the hole/tear repeat in the same general area relative to the tire? Perhaps something is embedded in the tire that you can't see. Fold the tire inside out and look...maybe you'll get lucky. If you carefully run you finger along the "tube side" of the tire casing & you may be able to feel a sliver/thorn/glass shard etc...

Hope that helps...good luck!

Seriously, you don't have to ride on the shoulder, just close to the white line. In most states, the law says you can move to the left to avoid obstacles. Do it.[/QUOTE]


I really wish I could , but this is South Florida , there are more 80 Plus year old drivers , Illegals and dump trucks here then anywhere on the face of the planet . And to top that come Nov 1 . the population doubles here , which means even more Snow Birds who dont know where they they are going , ( ya know that thing while driving at 50mph and going 'i'll turn here , no wait here, no here ) which spawns aggressive driving locals .