Fifty Plus (50+) - Re-Flatting: What Would You Do?

Two days ago I had a flat, and fixed it by the side of the road. It was one of those fixes where things went wrong (had trouble getting the chain back on without getting grease on my hands, dropped things, cyclocomputer fell off, etc.). When I finally got it all pumped up and ready to go, I realized that I'd forgotten to check the inside of the tire to make sure the sharp object wasn't still there.

What would you do: remove tube and check or ride off and hope it wouldn't re-puncture?

I took the middle ground and left the tire on the wheel, but unhooked one side and checked. There was nothing there (flat turned out to be due to a failed patch). Luckily, I also took a quick look back, and noticed that my tire irons were on the ground.

It is worth your time to put something in your kit bag to keep your hands clean when missing around with the chain. Some carry a couple of rubber gloves or cotton glove liners as they are small and take up little room. Some use an old sock to hold tools or a spare tube. This is useful as it prevents the tube from being scuffed during the season or can quiet a group of loose tools. Use the sock over your hand to keep it clean. This keeps most of the crud off your bar tape.

The sock can also be used to sweep around the inside of the tire to find a sharp. This is much better than bleeding fingers which also mess up bar tape.

One of the reasons I wear Black shorts- Greasy marksfrom where you wiped the hands don't show.

Last puncture I had was a couple of months ago. Repaired with a patch at the roadside- but yesterday- I had that nagging feeling and took the tube out. The patch was not properly sealed round the edges and in Prying it off- I put my finger straight through the tube. It had perished. Then reckoned out how old the tube was and as I get about 5 punctures a year on the various bikes- This tube was old- It had 4 patches on it.

And why is it that I always get punctures in the rain. I know there will be more grit around- but new tyres or tubes at home and I always put plenty of talc on the tube. This tube had no talc- it had washed off when I got the puncture- and it was already stuck to the tyre.

What would you do:

I would have pumped some air into the flatted inner tube to see where it leaked out. A hole in the inner or outer circumference would have had me removing the tire for a closer check. Since it turned out to be a failed patch job I would have been simply on my way.

One of the reasons I wear Black shorts- Greasy marksfrom where you wiped the hands don't show.

Last puncture I had was a couple of months ago. Repaired with a patch at the roadside- but yesterday- I had that nagging feeling and took the tube out. The patch was not properly sealed round the edges and in Prying it off- I put my finger straight through the tube. It had perished. Then reckoned out how old the tube was and as I get about 5 punctures a year on the various bikes- This tube was old- It had 4 patches on it.

And why is it that I always get punctures in the rain. I know there will be more grit around- but new tyres or tubes at home and I always put plenty of talc on the tube. This tube had no talc- it had washed off when I got the puncture- and it was already stuck to the tyre.

Tiny objects stick better to a wet tire than a dry tire. The tapping of the road as the tire comes around each revolution is better than using a hammer to drive the offending object home. Also, the water on the tire acts as a lubricant to help the penetration process along.

Oh you mean on a bike! Yesterday when my left rear tire on the van disentigrated with the whole family in side, I just cussed a bit. (mostley at the drivers on the freeway not moving to the far lane. Sound familiar?)

Two days ago I had a flat, and fixed it by the side of the road. It was one of those fixes where things went wrong (had trouble getting the chain back on without getting grease on my hands, dropped things, cyclocomputer fell off, etc.). When I finally got it all pumped up and ready to go, I realized that I'd forgotten to check the inside of the tire to make sure the sharp object wasn't still there.

What would you do: remove tube and check or ride off and hope it wouldn't re-puncture?

I took the middle ground and left the tire on the wheel, but unhooked one side and checked. There was nothing there (flat turned out to be due to a failed patch). Luckily, I also took a quick look back, and noticed that my tire irons were on the ground.

I hate those kinds of days!!


I probably would have taken my chances with the tube not flatting again, and I likely would have been wrong, and get to fix the tube/tire twice!

I did the same thing twice. In both cases I recognized my mistake after I had pumped the tire so I just let it go figuring if there was something sticking thru the damge was probably done..

I'm too slavishly habitual to remount a tire without checking for sharp objects.

I'm also too distrustful of tire patches to do more than ride home and change out the patched tube to a fresh one.

My faults sometimes work in my favor.

After that I would have ridden Directly home and gone to bed, hoping that tomorrow would be a better day.

Tiny objects stick better to a wet tire than a dry tire. The tapping of the road as the tire comes around each revolution is better than using a hammer to drive the offending object home. Also, the water on the tire acts as a lubricant to help the penetration process along.

Agree completely with this - and to add to this

Little sharps act like icebergs in the wet, floating sharp side up. On a recent Denmark tour, very wet from first to last, a hugely more than typical number of punctures.

Running a cotton wool pad around the inside of the tyre before re-mounting it can save your fingers and identify any residual sharps

Back in the olden days ,there were little brush type things held on the down tube, or some other suitable place, that rubbed on the center of the tire tread, and dislodged stuff before it got back around to get rammed in further. are these things still used???
Bud

Back in the olden days ,there were little brush type things held on the down tube, or some other suitable place, that rubbed on the center of the tire tread, and dislodged stuff before it got back around to get rammed in further. are these things still used???
Bud
"Tire Savers" can still be found on eBay now and then. They were mostly used with tubular tires (sew-ups) and seem to have fallen out of favor somewhat since good lightweight clinchers have become commonplace.

The sock can also be used to sweep around the inside of the tire to find a sharp. This is much better than bleeding fingers which also mess up bar tape.

This may work for some "sharps" but it usually does not work for me with goatheads which can recess into the tire casing, only to reemerge when the tube is inflated and inside the tire and the tire is bearing weight.

If I can't find the culprit, I turn the tire inside out as much as possible, pusing from the outside to get the nasty to show its ugly little pointy thingie.

On a recent Denmark tour, very wet from first to last, a hugely more than typical number of punctures.
I experienced this too in Denmark - tiny needles of flint, no more than 4mm long, all over the place, especially on that long road to Esbjerg. Arrgh! Almost missed the boat to Newcastle.

First thing I do after taking tube out is deduce what caused flat and remove object that caused it. Don't use finger to run round the inside. A fellow bike store worker ended up with a broken end of a hypodermic in his finger!

Don't waste time patching at roadside. Carry a spare tube. Only use the patch kit you are also carrying if you use up spare tube(s).

Here's the kit (http://www.veloweb.ca/randopages/randokit.html) I carry for long distance. The tool kit is pretty much standard for any distance, except for spare tyre.

First I would curse.

Then I would kick something.

Then I would call myself a twit.

Then would come more cursing and kicking.

Eventually I would take my chances and ride on it, because I hate changing tires and if I bothered to take it off again and found nothing, then I would be really irritated.

Two days ago I had a flat, and fixed it by the side of the road. It was one of those fixes where things went wrong (had trouble getting the chain back on without getting grease on my hands, dropped things, cyclocomputer fell off, etc.). When I finally got it all pumped up and ready to go, I realized that I'd forgotten to check the inside of the tire to make sure the sharp object wasn't still there.

What would you do: remove tube and check or ride off and hope it wouldn't re-puncture?

I took the middle ground and left the tire on the wheel, but unhooked one side and checked. There was nothing there (flat turned out to be due to a failed patch). Luckily, I also took a quick look back, and noticed that my tire irons were on the ground.

You usually take the whole tire off to check? Or to change tubes? Why?

Tiresavers!?
You canb bend some cold coathanger and attach it to brake bridge or brake to make an efficient tiresaver.

If I have to patch a tire on the road. When I get home I take it off and throw the tube away and use a new one. Maybe its just me but I can feel the the patch when Im riding.

You usually take the whole tire off to check? Or to change tubes? Why?

I take the whole tire off because I think that it's much faster and easier to fish the valve stem through the rim.

I take the whole tire off because I think that it's much faster and easier to fish the valve stem through the rim.

I can't see how it's faster to remove and remount the tire to pull a tube out, but I guess YMMV...and if you're checking the tube for cause of flat then you've lost your reference point too (of course unless your anal about exactly how you mount your tire labels in relation to the valve hole).

I learnt many years ago and two punctures on a ride and the cause can't be found-and the tyre comes off. Many of the "Blackthorns" we have over here will break off very short in the tyre but gradually get pushed through the rubber. It punctures the tube but hand round the tube and nothing found as on deflation- it disappears back into the tyre. Tyre off- turn it inside out and you will find it- And the other 6 that are also there.

Yes, I always line up the valve tire logo, doesn't take any extra time to do this

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a39/TromboneAl/CCRide/CCRide018.jpg

-- this has helped several times.

I only take the tire off on one side. If I can locate the leak before removing anything, I pull out the tube and fix it on the bike. I always prefer to patch on the road rather than replace.

I don't discard tubes until they have 5 patches on them.

It is worth your time to put something in your kit bag to keep your hands clean when missing around with the chain. Some carry a couple of rubber gloves or cotton glove liners as they are small and take up little room. Some use an old sock to hold tools or a spare tube. This is useful as it prevents the tube from being scuffed during the season or can quiet a group of loose tools. Use the sock over your hand to keep it clean. This keeps most of the crud off your bar tape.

The sock can also be used to sweep around the inside of the tire to find a sharp. This is much better than bleeding fingers which also mess up bar tape.

I carry a couple of wet naps too.
very handy.

Yes, I always line up the valve tire logo, doesn't take any extra time to do this

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a39/TromboneAl/CCRide/CCRide018.jpg

-- this has helped several times.

I only take the tire off on one side. If I can locate the leak before removing anything, I pull out the tube and fix it on the bike. I always prefer to patch on the road rather than replace.

I don't discard tubes until they have 5 patches on them.

You must be a better patcher than I!!

I always end up with a leak or something when I try to patch "on the go" and even sometimes in the basement!!

I used your technique (patching on the wheel) once with another roadie. He thought I was nuts.

I can't see how it's faster to remove and remount the tire to pull a tube out, but I guess YMMV

I'm thinking that you've never tried it.

I used to do it your way but several years ago I tried installing the tube into the tire while it was still separate from the rim. The time saving comes from not having to fight the valve stem past the tire bead.

I'm thinking that you've never tried it.

I used to do it your way but several years ago I tried installing the tube into the tire while it was still separate from the rim. The time saving comes from not having to fight the valve stem past the tire bead.

No need to add another step, so no need to try it....and have not had a problem placing the valve past the bead with the tire half off. Smallest tire I run is a 23 on a 700c rim, though, maybe that's part of the equation?

The only time I've taken the tire off to solve a flat was to track down a stubborn re-occurring flat caused by a bit of metal that was residing in the tire but was not evident from the inside or outside by sight or feel and only found when turning the tire inside out and flexing it in the area the pinholes in the tubes must have been coming from...

No need to add another step, so no need to try it....and have not had a problem placing the valve past the bead with the tire half off. ...

So, since your mind is obviously closed, why'd you ask in the first place?

So, since your mind is obviously closed, why'd you ask in the first place?

It's not closed, just no need to add complications to a simple task; I've not known anyone who removes the whole tire to change a tube...now I do!

It's not closed, just no need to add complications to a simple task; I've not known anyone who removes the whole tire to change a tube...now I do!

I remove the tire.
Now you know two who do.

fight the valve stem past the tire bead.

This is why I take all my clothes off to pee. ;)

This is why I take all my clothes off to pee. ;)

No evidence without pictures

It's really a matter of each particular case. If I can see what caused the puncture from the outside of the tire, and pull it out (completely), then I leave the tire on.

If I can't find the cause with the tire on, the tire comes off for close inspection and finger fondling to locate the sharp bit. If I suspect an impact puncture (snake bite), I try to inflate the tube and look for the tell-tale bite marks.

Conclusion: Some-kinda-way or another, I want to know what caused the flat before I put in a new tube (most likely), or patch the existing tube (when/if all the spares in my bag are gone).

Rick / OCRR

This is why I take all my clothes off to pee. ;)

:lol::lol: Snorted my coffee out on that one...but look at the bright side, since this is the 50+ group, in that you have the time to get your clothes off first....now I picture a Flomax commercial with that in mind; starts with those poor gentleman driving around in that convertible....

[QUOTE=bikinfool;8644937now I picture a Flomax commercial with that in mind; starts with those poor gentleman driving around in that convertible....[/QUOTE]

How about a commercial with the four men sprinting on bicycles to a rest room?