Fifty Plus (50+) - Taunting the flat tire demons

The other day I realized I've not had a flat since sometime last fall, over 3k miles ago. No special tires or tubes. Since then, I've started worrying about it, figuring that thinking about it would jinx it. But today, I decided to mock the flat tire gods. There is no such thing as a jinx. So, yeah, I've not had a flat, and I'm proud of it. To the flat tire gods, I cast ye out. My tires are strong, they are invincible, they are woman. To the flat tire demons, I fart in your general direction.

Bad ju ju.... very bad! You must never speak of this again! I disavow all knowledge and responsibility for this heresy! :eek:

To the flat tire demons, I fart in your general direction.

Your mother is a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries. Watch out for holy hand-grenades Kurt!

I think the Flat fairies have shares in Puncture repair kits and I don't mind contributing to their funds occasionally. In fact to appease them- I think I will go out and buy a couple more for the summer after Kerlenbachs blatant mocking of their boss.

I'm thinking they must not have goat heads in Florida.

Not only did you post your no-flat diatribe, you posted it in the 50+ forum, dooming ALL of us to a similar fate of a record number of garage and on-the-road flats. Shame on you.:)

Michigan doesn't have goad-heads, but there are plenty of other tools for the Flat Fairies(tm) to utilize. Over the years, most of my visitations have resulted in the destruction of the tire; so I have a healthy respect for them and don't do anything to make them angry.

Michigan doesn't have goad-heads, but there are plenty of other tools for the Flat Fairies(tm) to utilize. Over the years, most of my visitations have resulted in the destruction of the tire; so I have a healthy respect for them and don't do anything to make them angry.

I've seen a few smelly deer heads in the ditches.

I've seen a few smelly deer heads in the ditches.

In Missouri somebody will have cut off the antlers and left the rest.

Bad timing, Kerlenbach. I'm about to take delivery of my first ever set of tubulars. A flat means a full tire replacement. If I get one right away, I'm sending you the bill!

OP,

I was where you are two weeks ago, including the fact that I commented on "no flats over the past several thousand miles."

Since then, I've had two flats and have replaced a tire.

You have been warned.

Bad timing, Kerlenbach. I'm about to take delivery of my first ever set of tubulars. A flat means a full tire replacement. If I get one right away, I'm sending you the bill!

Ohhhhh. And I'm thinking Phoenix surely must be goat head land. Good call on giving Kerlenbach time to save up for your replacement tires.

OP,

I was where you are two weeks ago, including the fact that I commented on "no flats over the past several thousand miles."

Since then, I've had two flats and have replaced a tire.

You have been warned.

I won't say, "Serves you right." - Oops - I just said it.

Bad timing, Kerlenbach. I'm about to take delivery of my first ever set of tubulars. A flat means a full tire replacement. If I get one right away, I'm sending you the bill!

I did that back in the 80's--- Once, Never again,(think PITA,covers it)never figured out the advantages of it,,,
Bud

Ohhhhh. And I'm thinking Phoenix surely must be goat head land. Good call on giving Kerlenbach time to save up for your replacement tires.

I often think Phoenix is the 'Garden of Eden' for goatheads... the source of all goat-heads everywhere.

I'm thinking that the OP has decided to take one for the team. By going out on a limb with a fully functioning and rev'd up chain saw he will draw in all the flats the rest of us were destine to have this year. Kerlenbach - You are my hero, if we had one I would bestow upon you the BF50+ medal of honor.

202015

Continental Gatorskins. The flat tire demons really hate these.

Continental Gatorskins. The flat tire demons really hate these.

The goatheads just love the taste of the Gatorskins, and eat the Armadillos for dessert.

In Missouri somebody will have cut off the antlers and left the rest.

Same here. Every sportsman carries a hacksaw in his vehicle for that purpose. Gotta have some rattlin' anters.

I'm thinking they must not have goat heads in Florida.

No, but we do have sharks. Time to cue up the Jaws theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCfWHqrYUqo).......

KA-b-o-o-m!!!

24 hours since posting this, and still no flats.

24 hours since posting this, and still no flats.

The relevance of your is statement is diminished, although not entirely, if you didn't ride the past 24 hrs.

Yesterday my oldest son sent me a text message saying that he got his first flat of the season. When I didn't respond, he called to ask if I was OK. I tried to explain to him that there are somethings in life better left undiscussed, because they'll come back to bite you in the backside. He just laughed and said, is this a generational thing? I responded that he would find out soon enough. About 15 minutes later he called again to say he got a pinch flat inflating the replaced inner tube, because he forgot to make sure it wasn't seated under the tire bead. Being a good father, I didn't laugh, but since he couldn't see me, I did grin a bit.

I made the mistake of telling someone, last week, that I hadn't had a flat in about 3 months. I got really lucky. I went out and rode 25 miles on Saturday morning with no problems. Sunday evening, about 5:00, I went down to put Powerade in one of my bottles to get them chilled for my 7:30 ride, and I spotted my flat back tire. It had a split in the tube about 3 inches long, on the side next to the rim. the rim tape was good and it looks like it just decided to split along one of the molding seams. I was so lucky to have it wait until after I finished my Saturday ride and to catch it before it put me behind on getting ready for my Sunday ride.

I don't expect the other 2 that will happen, in rapid succession, to be so easy to deal with.

My Neighbour that I am trying to get into riding is borrowing my bike. Changed a few things for him and that includes the wheels. Got a "New" set of training wheels with New Mich lithions mounted and they are just a respectable set of wheels for winter and foul weather riding. Until I put these on the bike I had my handbuilt wheels with Mich PR2s mounted on them but Changed to the training wheels just in case he was a heavy or careless rider.

Well next weekend he is doing a 50 miler with 8,000ft of climbing so to be kind to Him I decided to put the handbuilts back on the bike to give him an easier ride. Took them off the wall and a bit of instruction on how to change a wheel. I took the front off and he put the Handbuilt on. I took the back off and he put the rear wheel in. Then check pressures. Front still had 70psi in but the rear only had 20. He pumped them up and we put it up in the rafters. Tonight I had an inkling that 20 psi was low so checked the pressure again--It is back to 20.

I am not blaming anyone for this but 3 weeks ago that tyre was fine. I washed it down before putting it on the hook and checked for debris in the rubber. Nothing there. There is now- one tiny piece of Flint that makes a hissing sound at 120psi. I swear it was not there 3 weeks ago.

I've had more flats in the last six months than I can ever remember having. Three different tires have had the tread delaminate, resulting in one successful boot and. two "rides of shame." Another puncture too close to the valve to repair, a "fixed" tube that didn't get fixed, and a spare tube with a Schraeder valve. I've had so many flats my can of tube repair fluid has dried out. I think the puncture fairy has taken up permanent residence in my bike shoes.

(Will that wailing be sufficient to ward off flats for the next 6 months?)

Flats are a blessing but I am wholly undeserving.

Bad timing, Kerlenbach. I'm about to take delivery of my first ever set of tubulars. A flat means a full tire replacement. If I get one right away, I'm sending you the bill!

I had tubulars on my first ten speed. I patched them when they punctured.