Road Cycling - Aagh! Flat Tire! D@%& potholes!

Second ride on the new bike and I'm riding down a street I've ridden a hundred times and in the shadow of a tree is this pothole waiting for me. It was a foot in diameter and 6 inches deep with sharp sides. I was cruising along at about 18mph, I saw the hole, but because of the shadow, it was too late. WHAM! WHAM! Both wheels hit hard. I stopped immediately to check the tires and the back one had blown alright. I checked both rims and sure enough, both are way out of line. I was 25 miles into the ride and was planning on doing about 10 more when this happened. The tube is shot! Two 1/2 inch gashes in it. The tire, somehow, is fine. I can't believe the front didn't blow. I just got this bike so I don't have a pump with the presta valve yet so I got to walk home. On the bright side this part of my route had me about 2 miles from home. I had my cell in case something like this happened when I was further out. I went to the LBS and got this little converter thingy that will let me use my pump on presta valves. It works pretty good. I got a new tube and now I have to true up the wheels and I'll be ready to ride. What a pain for a stupid pothole!!
Does anyone else hate potholes?

Second ride on the new bike and I'm riding down a street I've ridden a hundred times and in the shadow of a tree is this pothole waiting for me. It was a foot in diameter and 6 inches deep with sharp sides. I was cruising along at about 18mph, I saw the hole, but because of the shadow, it was too late. WHAM! WHAM! Both wheels hit hard. I stopped immediately to check the tires and the back one had blown alright. I checked both rims and sure enough, both are way out of line. I was 25 miles into the ride and was planning on doing about 10 more when this happened. The tube is shot! Two 1/2 inch gashes in it. The tire, somehow, is fine. I can't believe the front didn't blow. I just got this bike so I don't have a pump with the presta valve yet so I got to walk home. On the bright side this part of my route had me about 2 miles from home. I had my cell in case something like this happened when I was further out. I went to the LBS and got this little converter thingy that will let me use my pump on presta valves. It works pretty good. I got a new tube and now I have to true up the wheels and I'll be ready to ride. What a pain for a stupid pothole!!
Does anyone else hate potholes?

Man do i hate them too. i almost craked my fork!

I was a little farther from home when I hit a pothole this morning (probably just before 5:00am). I couldn't believe it. I was riding along, and suddenly, after I went over what I thought was a not so bad pothole (couldn't see because it was still pretty dark), I heard this strange pssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssst noise, and then suddenly, my bike was wobbling, and I knew my back tire was shot. I was not happy, and I had to ride the flat for about another block or two until I got to an open intersection with light so I could upturn the bike and change the flat. Up until that time, I'd been riding about an hour and a half, and I was riding really well, and I felt really strong. I did get to change my tire because I always carry a spare, but I did a sloppy job, and I had a difficult time putting air in the tire because of it. Once I figured out that I wasn't going to get anywhere anytime soon rushing it, I was able to get the air in the tire and ride home without incident. Still, I will have to check the tire by letting all the air out and taking the tire off the bike. Thank God I have the work stand. I hate having to do this in the dark on the street.

Why is it always the back wheel and never the front wheel?

Koffee

Yikes that sucks. I hate potholes too, just not as much as I hate teenagers and senior citizens driving cars.

The front didn't blow because most of your weight is over the rear wheel. Good arguement for a slightly larger tire on the rear, it may have helped...it may not have. But it's instances like that is why I carry an extra tube and tire and a spoke wrench (to name a one of the tools I carry); I also ride in remote areas far from home so I make sure I can get back home.

I usually carry a tube and/or patch kit, a pump, and other tools but since I didn't have a pump for the presta valve, no sense in carrying the tire stuff.

My first ride on my last new bike was interrupted after five miles by a flat tire.

But dude, you just spent how much on a new bike? You maybe could have splurged on a new pump. ;) Or maybe your LBS didn't tell you it had presta valves.

Now get out there and watch out for those potholes! :)

I have a Zepal and the converter is not in yet. I should have it by Monday or Tuesday.

I was cruising along at about 18mph, I saw the hole, but because of the shadow, it was too late. WHAM! WHAM!

Thought for the future: A bunny-hop or something like it might have been able to save you some damage. I would say that at least in wet weather a person could bunny-hop a man-hole with less advanced notice than that required to go arround it. I reqularly hop bridge-joints, speedbumps etc.

The same applies even if you don't leave the ground. By loading the bike before an obstruction and unloading as it passes over an obstruction, you give the bike less load on the vulnerable tires/wheels during the time of impact.

Anyway, sorry about your tweaked wheels. That's a bummer.

As a side note. I once saw a front wheel completely ripped off a Caravan when it hit a man-hole that was missing its cover. The Caravan was probably doing 50 or so and spun 1 1/2 times before crossing the median and landing in the other lane. Thankfully nobody was hurt.

Look out for those man-holes without covers!

I know exactly what you are talking about but I was on the hole before I saw it. I was coming out of bright sunlight into the tree shadow. I just couldn't see it. No way could I react.

Man do I hate potholes. And they are alllll over philadelphia. I must have popped about 8 tires this summer already. I kept buying new ones but now I patched them all up so I have about 6 spares. I keep two spare tubes and some irons in my seat bag on my bike at all times with a frame pump. It has saved my ass a long walk home so many times. Ive also gotten pretty fast at the whole tube changing process.

Yeah, I'm supposed to go on a 100 miler Friday and Saturday. I'm taking an extra tube, a pump and patches!

I should really think about getting a seat bag and adding some patches, tire levers, co2 in there just incase. I was riding about 30miles today and it would've sucked if i had a flat espicially since i have Speedplay cleats, walking would be a pain in the a$$.

Also ive hit several potholes, bumps, branches, ect and never had a flat or untrue wheel. There are many, many of those in NY and I guess im just lucky. :)
But sooner or later its going to catch me, i can just feel it :(

That stuff will all fit in a seatbag. I have one and it is great. It's a real pain when I ride one of my bikes that doesn't have a seat bag. Then its "fanny pack" time. It really isn't that bad though, I just rotate it around to the back.

btw - I got my tire fixed and both rims trued up!! I rode 20 miles yesterday with no problems.

Get a larger tire and this problem simply disappears.

Yup ... it's the combo of the bright sun, the shade of a tree, and dark sunglasses that does it ... got to be ESPECIALLY careful around here while zipping downhill at 30+ mph ...