First flat.
05-04-07, 11:45 AM
#1
Do I use too many commas?
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First flat.
It had to happen sometime. I had my first flat since I started riding last August. Luckily it was in the garage when i discovered it. I was showing my frankenbike the "Red Ryder to my brother from Las Vegas when he said, "You have a flat!"
Took off the rear wheel, pulled the tube, which still had some pressure, added some air, no leak!
Took the tube inside, put it under water, no leak! Started squeezing the tube in sections under water, finally found bubbles. Obviously, it was a very small hole.
I went back to the tire to look again now that I knew where the leak was and found a tiny black dot showing on inside of the tire, nothing visible on the outside. A closer inspection showed a tiny slit in the tread. I finally managed to extract what looks like a tiny piece of flint. I never would have found it on the road and probably would have ended up with two flats!
I wonder if I should get puncture resistant tires.
Took off the rear wheel, pulled the tube, which still had some pressure, added some air, no leak!
Took the tube inside, put it under water, no leak! Started squeezing the tube in sections under water, finally found bubbles. Obviously, it was a very small hole.
I went back to the tire to look again now that I knew where the leak was and found a tiny black dot showing on inside of the tire, nothing visible on the outside. A closer inspection showed a tiny slit in the tread. I finally managed to extract what looks like a tiny piece of flint. I never would have found it on the road and probably would have ended up with two flats!
I wonder if I should get puncture resistant tires.
05-04-07, 11:55 AM
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Flats are a drag. You were lucky to find yours right I home. I got my first flat last week about two miles from home. Just too far to walk pushing a bike. So, I limped along as best I could until I finally just had to stop and swap out the tube. I would've made it home quicker had I walked. Found the hole when I got home and patched it up. All better.
05-04-07, 11:59 AM
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You would have found it on the road as much more riding and the flint would have worked its way further into the tyre and hence the Tube. Then as the tyre deflated it would have worn a bigger hole in the tube with the added impetus of a big hole suddenly appearing, the tyre would have gone down instantly just as you got to 45 mph downhill and as you would not be able to brake quick enough- The tyre would have shredded and been thrown off the wheel leaving you on the rim that would have crumpled up and wedged in the fork. Instantly you do a very quick somersault over the bars- breaking on your collarbone- but the Truck coming the otherway will run over your leg and break it, But you will not feel it for a while due to the road rash that has taken all the skin of your buttocks.
Everything will be fine though as other than a new wheel and a few scratch marks- The bike is fine so you can rebuild it at your leisure in the time you will have to have off work to get the bones to heal.
This of course would be the worst case scenario- and does not happen very often. Probably you would have got to the furthest point on the ride before it went down and that will be when you find out that you left the wedge with the spare tube and tools at home.
Everything will be fine though as other than a new wheel and a few scratch marks- The bike is fine so you can rebuild it at your leisure in the time you will have to have off work to get the bones to heal.
This of course would be the worst case scenario- and does not happen very often. Probably you would have got to the furthest point on the ride before it went down and that will be when you find out that you left the wedge with the spare tube and tools at home.
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05-04-07, 12:31 PM
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Glad you found it in the comfortable place while fixing is easier....... I have one in the garage on my Linear that I need to fix.............peace
05-04-07, 12:52 PM
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That beats four flats in the last five rides that my son has gone on with me. I think he's going to take them back. Specialized All Conditions, with kevlar bed for extra flat resistance? Ha! Guess there is such a thing as too cheap.
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05-04-07, 02:03 PM
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Do I use too many commas?
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I just patched the tube and it is back on the bike. Now for a long ride.
05-04-07, 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by stapfam
You would have found it on the road as much more riding and the flint would have worked its way further into the tyre and hence the Tube. Then as the tyre deflated it would have worn a bigger hole in the tube with the added impetus of a big hole suddenly appearing, the tyre would have gone down instantly just as you got to 45 mph downhill and as you would not be able to brake quick enough- The tyre would have shredded and been thrown off the wheel leaving you on the rim that would have crumpled up and wedged in the fork. Instantly you do a very quick somersault over the bars- breaking on your collarbone- but the Truck coming the otherway will run over your leg and break it, But you will not feel it for a while due to the road rash that has taken all the skin of your buttocks.
Everything will be fine though as other than a new wheel and a few scratch marks- The bike is fine so you can rebuild it at your leisure in the time you will have to have off work to get the bones to heal.
This of course would be the worst case scenario- and does not happen very often. Probably you would have got to the furthest point on the ride before it went down and that will be when you find out that you left the wedge with the spare tube and tools at home.
Everything will be fine though as other than a new wheel and a few scratch marks- The bike is fine so you can rebuild it at your leisure in the time you will have to have off work to get the bones to heal.
This of course would be the worst case scenario- and does not happen very often. Probably you would have got to the furthest point on the ride before it went down and that will be when you find out that you left the wedge with the spare tube and tools at home.
Other than that it's really not much of a problem. Don't worry about it.
05-04-07, 07:27 PM
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Flats are a fact of life. My Specialized All Conditions starting having frequent flats at around 2,000 miles. They weren't worn out, but I had a couple of big rides coming, so I got new tires, planning to put the old ones back on for a bit.
The new ones are Continental Ultra Gator Skins. I have had 1 flat in about 1100 miles, and that one was whilst the bike was sitting in the garage. I'm not even sure it was a real flat, but I replaced the ube any way.
The best advice I have seen is that when you start having multiple flats, or can see the casing, replace. Of course, I don't want to wait that long because I ride before work twice a week and don't want to be slowed down and get to work any later than the normal ride causes! For what biking has done for me, replacing tires every 3,000 miles or so is well worth it.
The new ones are Continental Ultra Gator Skins. I have had 1 flat in about 1100 miles, and that one was whilst the bike was sitting in the garage. I'm not even sure it was a real flat, but I replaced the ube any way.
The best advice I have seen is that when you start having multiple flats, or can see the casing, replace. Of course, I don't want to wait that long because I ride before work twice a week and don't want to be slowed down and get to work any later than the normal ride causes! For what biking has done for me, replacing tires every 3,000 miles or so is well worth it.
