Bicycle Mechanics - Flats

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Vince868
06-08-09, 07:22 PM
Is it fairly common to blow out an inner tube by running over a sharp rock? I just switched tires from 700x35 Bontragers to 700x28 Conti Gatorskins and had this problem on my second ride on the Contis. Also do most riders change out the tubes as opposed to patching? Appreciate the feedback.

dwr1961
06-08-09, 07:28 PM
I suppose it depends on how big the rock is and how hard you hit it! :)

I, and most riders I know will simply swap out tubes on the road and then patch at home.
MudPie
06-08-09, 08:36 PM
I guess it depends what you mean by "blow out" a tire. Often, if you hit a hard, sharp object, you can pinch flat, which could lead to rapid air loss, but not a huge "kapow".

Personally, I swap out tubes on the road or trail, but will patch when I get back home. Some of my buddies throw away tubes, reasoning they're relatively cheap (you can get them for like 10 for $20 or $25 via some mail order places). However, I have the combination of being cheap and don't like to waste resources, so I patch.

Al1943
06-09-09, 10:12 AM
Be sure to fully inflate your tires before each ride.

Al
Longfemur
06-09-09, 10:36 AM
You shouldn't blow out a tube just by running over a sharp rock. You would probably have to damage your rim before that happened. Unless you got a pinch flat, but that wouldn't be a blow out. But strange things happen sometimes. Maybe you just reached the limit of a bad rim strip or something. Or you just happened to have pinched the tube between the tire and rim when you installed the tire, and it eventually blew out when you stressed it.