Northern California - Four rides, five thorns

It's been absolutely brutal lately. Getting sick of the thorns, I switched to a Conti Ultra Gatorskin I had sitting around this morning. 2 miles into my ride, yep, another thorn. It's never been this bad for me before; normally, I get one or two flats a year. :notamused:

I might be picking up Armadillos this afternoon in an attempt to complete a ride.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Yep. Stupid goat heads are out in full force down here. An exceptionally bad year.
What's causing it? Global warming? Karma? Pete??

Just this week our Tues group ride had three flats and the Wed group ride had five flats. Two riders had double flats :eek:

BR

I feel your pain. I rode over 500 miles with no flats while on vacation in Washington and Oregon.
Today, sticker flat. I fixed it, then in less than half a mile I had a glass shard flat.
Earlier this week I had a glass flat on my commuter bike.

I am, though, getting reasonably competent at changing tubes and patching tubes.

I'm surprised the Gatorskins didn't even help. I've found those to be just this side of bulletproof. In fact, one bike I built up with Gatorskins two or three years ago is still on its original tubes. Maybe try doubling up the protection with some Mr. Tuffy strips or slime tubes?


Four rides, five thornsI guess you could say that...

♫ ...Evvvvv'ry ride has its thoooorn,
Just like evvvvv'ry night has it's daaaawn! ♫

I'm surprised the Gatorskins didn't even help. I've found those to be just this side of bulletproof. In fact, one bike I built up with Gatorskins two or three years ago is still on its original tubes. Maybe try doubling up the protection with some Mr. Tuffy strips or slime tubes?

I guess you could say that...

♫ ...Evvvvv'ry ride has its thoooorn,
Just like evvvvv'ry night has it's daaaawn! ♫

Gawd, won't the 80s ever die? :rolleyes:

I've had bad luck with Contis in the past-the poor run continues. I was thinking something like Mr. Tuffy if I don't see an improvement. Did get me out of the habit of replacing tubes every time there's a problem. I now patch.

I'm surprised the Gatorskins didn't even help. I've found those to be just this side of bulletproof. In fact, one bike I built up with Gatorskins two or three years ago is still on its original tubes. Maybe try doubling up the protection with some Mr. Tuffy strips or slime tubes?

I guess you could say that...

♫ ...Evvvvv'ry ride has its thoooorn,
Just like evvvvv'ry night has it's daaaawn! ♫

Man, I don't believe you went for it ... but if anyone would, you would. :roflmao2:

One of my tubes has a very slow leak (goes completely flat over the course of ~5 days). I know, I need to replace it...but does anyone have any ideas what could cause that? I can't find the source of the leak.

Thorn resistant tubes = combined 9000 miles of flat free rides and still going.

One of my tubes has a very slow leak (goes completely flat over the course of ~5 days). I know, I need to replace it...but does anyone have any ideas what could cause that? I can't find the source of the leak.

Have you tried immersing the tube in a bucket of water?

Have you tried immersing the tube in a bucket of water?

+1 - a small hole near the valve perhaps?

+1 - a small hole near the valve perhaps?

Maybe the valve itself?

Is there any way to change thread titles? Went out to the garage just now and noticed another flat.

Thorn resistant tubes = combined 9000 miles of flat free rides and still going.

What brand?

You might dig through the tire and look for thorns. One person on today's ride had 4 flats as a result of thorns from a previous ride. She's going to just replace the tires. Can't find all the little buggers.

Speak of the Devil, yesterday I was talking to a guy at work who's just getting back on his 30 yo 12 spd. Complained about thorns and flats. I told him "Just get some modern tires, they're impervious to thorns." I haven't had a thorn flat in more than 20 years.

Is there any way to change thread titles? Went out to the garage just now and noticed another flat.

Page x136 for a cleanup in aisle 5

What brand?I've used Performance brand without any problems.

Hmmm, I had immersed the tube in water before but not the valve itself...guess I will try that when I have a moment between trips. Thanks for the suggestion.

Speak of the Devil, yesterday I was talking to a guy at work who's just getting back on his 30 yo 12 spd. Complained about thorns and flats. I told him "Just get some modern tires, they're impervious to thorns." I haven't had a thorn flat in more than 20 years.

I had 2 last weekend. You're about due now that you've mentioned that :roflmao2:

stop riding though all the rough stuff on the side of the road. theres usually no debris where car tires go

1 Flat on Friday, 3 yesterday. Think I will be carrying an extra tube and the Road Morph today.

Slime. With it you just pull the goat heads out and let the slime do its job of plugging the holes. I buy generic tubes and add the slime myself. To get it into a tube with a presta valve you can just cut into the tire, squirt the slime in, and then patch it up.

Just got back from leading my son's boy scout troop on rides around Bass Lake and Yosemite. Not a single flat, fortunately.

Looks like it's just local. Thanks for all the suggestions.

... I had immersed the tube in water before but not the valve itself....

Specific to the valve, you should wiggle it (the valve stem) around because there are times it won't leak in one position, but will in another, so you should look at the base carefully, especially if it's an old tube.

Last Tuesday two flats in 5 miles. One was a goathead, other probably was too.

Specific to the valve, you should wiggle it (the valve stem) around because there are times it won't leak in one position, but will in another, so you should look at the base carefully, especially if it's an old tube.

I finally got a chance to check it again yesterday. Guess I wasn't patient enough before, there was a teeny-tiny pinhole in the rubber near the valve that had a really slow leak (one bubble every few seconds). I dug around the tire with a cotton ball but didn't find anything that might have caused the hole. Perhaps just a defective tube? It was relatively new (although it seemed to be fine for a few weeks before this developed).

Anyway, it's replaced now, new tube seems to be holding air fine. :thumb:

I finally got a chance to check it again yesterday. Guess I wasn't patient enough before, there was a teeny-tiny pinhole in the rubber near the valve that had a really slow leak (one bubble every few seconds). I dug around the tire with a cotton ball but didn't find anything that might have caused the hole. Perhaps just a defective tube? It was relatively new (although it seemed to be fine for a few weeks before this developed).

Anyway, it's replaced now, new tube seems to be holding air fine. :thumb:

You may want to check the area where the tube meets the rim tape or the rim. I've had this problem before where the edge of the hole on the rim tape ate at the tube a little at a time every time I inflated the tire which caused me to flat when I least expected it. When I looked at the tube there was a gash at the base of the valve stem where it went into contact with the rim tape. Fixed it by placing a couple layers of duct tape over the rim tape hole and punched a hole only big enough for the valve stem to go through.

You may want to check the area where the tube meets the rim tape or the rim. I've had this problem before where the edge of the hole on the rim tape ate at the tube a little at a time every time I inflated the tire which caused me to flat when I least expected it. When I looked at the tube there was a gash at the base of the valve stem where it went into contact with the rim tape. Fixed it by placing a couple layers of duct tape over the rim tape hole and punched a hole only big enough for the valve stem to go through.

Thanks for the tip, but it wasn't actually that close, it was a couple of inches away and up on the side of the tube (touching the sidewall of the tire).

Hadn't flatted since January. 2 flats in the Dunnigan Hills Road Race yesterday. One was pinch flat and one was a goathead. Not a good day. Rode 75 miles today, guess what- another goathead flat! 3 is the magic number right?

I flatted on Friday and replaced the tube. This brand new replacement tube had a slow leak from mile one and I just figured out the cause today. It has a removable presta valve core and there was a leak between the valve and the stem. I tightened it up with some pliers and the leak is gone. I don't think I have ever had presta valves that are removable before ... you learn something every day I guess :)

Hadn't flatted since January. 2 flats in the Dunnigan Hills Road Race yesterday. One was pinch flat and one was a goathead. Not a good day. Rode 75 miles today, guess what- another goathead flat! 3 is the magic number right?

Welcome to my world. I live about 10 miles south of the start of Dunnigan Hills. It's really weird though-I normally average one flat a year. Not this year.

Not even a Gatorskin will stop the goatheads.

My co-workers were riding home along the American River Bike Trail and were detoured due to a fire. The park ranger told them to try a trail that led to a levee to get around. Well, all 8 tires were punctured repeatedly. This one took the worst of it (he was in the front). And the ranger gave bad directions too :rolleyes:. All but one of them took the SAG wagon home.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/3832131265_866582a847_o.jpg

Holy crap.