Fifty Plus (50+) - flat centuries are not good

so club Hypoxia decided to do a "flat" century today or as flat as you can do in Colorado. We went out east & the first half was really good, we averaged around 17mph.

There were 7 of us, 2 gals & 5 guys and going east was good, only had one flat, then we headed north & the wind picked up & our average really slowed down and we had one more flat. Then once we started back west the flats started to come to frequently, & by the time we were done for the day we had 10 flats. I guess it is prime time for goat heads out that way so I don't think we will make this a annual fall ride. We did end up with 103.48 and an average speed of 15.8 so that part wasn't to bad and it was my 3rd century for this year.

Dang, I might be jinxing myself, but I average about one flat a year. That usually happens when I let a tire wear too thin. Glad I don't have to deal with those goat thingies.

I have only ridden a bike in Colorado one time. Flatted both tires immediately. Went to the local bike shop. He explained the goat things. I put the bike away and enjoyed some beer.

Give me NYC streets any day. There's nothing there that'll give you flats. ;)

i use those strips inside the tire - I flatted two tires, both two times - all at the same time on a tour last year - this was in Colorado between La Junta and Walsenburg.

the strips help, the goatheads still get into the rubber, but you can 'feel them' before they go through - dont know if the strips are any kind of guarantee though - those thorns are TOUGH

I still laugn at the flat fairy.:lol: The only flat in the last 3 years happened overnight in my shop. The tube was blown in the sidewall but I never found a reason. Installed a new tube and rode the rest of the year.

Around here, we have found that the goatheads are better off left on the goats....:D

Flats have stopped occuring on my road bikes-(Says me holding on to the computer desk that is made of wood) The reason they have stopped occuring is that after every ride- I wipe down the tread of the tyres and find the bits of grit- glasss and thorns that are in the tyre. I prise them out with a small screwdriver and if I get that hissing sound- I can repair it in comfort. Getting the debris out of the tyre stops it being pushed through the tyre and into the Tube.

Just wish it was the same with the Mountain bike.

Ya know, and I really shouldn't say this, I can't remember when I had my last flat. I can remember having it, but it's been so long I don't remember exactly when, either 2 years ago or maybe 3. That's a pretty long time. I know I haven't had any this year.

I ride GP4000 and pump them every time I go out to 110psi.

I do reckon it matters most where you ride.
I've posted before, and will reiterate that one of my favorite routes takes me from the New Hope, PA / Lambertville, NJ area along NJ Route 29 out to Frenchtown and back.

Unfortunately, you can see the road sparkle under the sun, as though chipped glass was a component of the asphalt mix. I can take a brand new set of tires over that route, and chances are good I'll flat at some point on the first ride. Try the route a second time, and I'm almost certain to have a flat.

I honestly can't tell if the glass is part of the road, or if there is some conspiracy on the part of some age component of the population that sprinkles ground up glass on the road just to get at us cyclists. It's definitely there, though.

I feel for you all with your goat thingies.

Caruso

I do reckon it matters most where you ride.
I've posted before, and will reiterate that one of my favorite routes takes me from the New Hope, PA / Lambertville, NJ area along NJ Route 29 out to Frenchtown and back.

Unfortunately, you can see the road sparkle under the sun, as though chipped glass was a component of the asphalt mix. I can take a brand new set of tires over that route, and chances are good I'll flat at some point on the first ride. Try the route a second time, and I'm almost certain to have a flat.

I honestly can't tell if the glass is part of the road, or if there is some conspiracy on the part of some age component of the population that sprinkles ground up glass on the road just to get at us cyclists. It's definitely there, though.

I feel for you all with your goat thingies.

Caruso

As with a trail that I rode on a few weeks ago, someone probably thought that recycled glass was a good "green" idea to toughen up the pavement. Unfortunately, the asphault is softer than the glass filler and eventually, the glass shards are extruded out into the open. I am told, that the government of Massachusetts has determined that it will never do this again............:twitchy: I rode 20 miles of that trail without a flat and consider myself lucky.

Goatheads. You have them in CO, I have them in CA. I use strips under belted tires but they still punch through or find the sidewalls. I average about two flats a week on my commute to work. I'm not complaining, it's just a fact of life. Much gladder that it didn't ruin your century!

so club Hypoxia decided to do a "flat" century today or as flat as you can do in Colorado. We went out east & the first half was really good, we averaged around 17mph.

There were 7 of us, 2 gals & 5 guys and going east was good, only had one flat, then we headed north & the wind picked up & our average really slowed down and we had one more flat. Then once we started back west the flats started to come to frequently, & by the time we were done for the day we had 10 flats. I guess it is prime time for goat heads out that way so I don't think we will make this a annual fall ride. We did end up with 103.48 and an average speed of 15.8 so that part wasn't to bad and it was my 3rd century for this year.




ten flats, what is wrong out there. Seven riders and ten flats??? What is a goathead?

Give me NYC streets any day. There's nothing there that'll give you flats. ;)

No flats but it must be tough dodging the muggers.

Goat head thorns are the devil's work. They are seeds with sharp spines. No matter how they fall, they have a spine pointed straight up. I moved away from So Cal 17 years ago and do not miss the thorns one little bit.

Lots of sharp vegetation in that part of the country. I remember a mountain bike ride where the 4 of us each flatted both tires at least once. I was in the habit of carrying 2 tubes and a fresh patch kit. You get real good at inspecting tires for foreign objects.

Thanks for helping a city kid to understand, MrPhill.:thumb:

ten flats, what is wrong out there. Seven riders and ten flats??? What is a goathead?

It's a rule of nature that all organisms will tend to have at least one predator. Zebras have lions, frogs have herons, and tires have goatheads.

http://www.klickitat-trail.org/images/goathead.jpg

Flat Century indeed.

Here's way more about tribulus terrestris than anyone really needs to know - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris

Sorry for the thread drift.

It's a rule of nature that all organisms will tend to have at least one predator. Zebras have lions, frogs have herons, and tires have goatheads.

http://www.klickitat-trail.org/images/goathead.jpg

This is a scary picture!

Thanks, MrPhil. Didn't realize that there may be places in the country without them. Got two in my tire on the way home last night. Sometimes I just have to leave them in just so the air won't leak out as fast.

Jim