DnvrFox

3 tubes and you are out.

I know, I know, we aren't supposed to discuss flats .... but . . .

Bicycling on a new- to me - trail with unmarked cross streets, I went down the sidewalk a bit to see a cross street sign (in case of an emergency it is kind of nice to know where you are) - there was a cement abutement to my right.

Turned the bike around to come back - at least 12 goatheads in EACH tire.

OK, I had two tubes with me, found a bench and fixed the tires. Of course the old tubes were not of much use, each containing at least five leaks. While fixing the tires, my water bottle fell of the bench and broke.

A mile down the road, "thunk, thunk, thunk." The front tire was not seated correctly. Let the air out, reseated, and pumped again. However, the entire valve core blew out during the pumping process.

Called the "rescue wagon" who smilingly came and retrieved me.

I wanted to go 40 miles, only went 21!

This is the same trail on which I got two flats the last time. I think I will find another trail!!

Sorry, just had to vent.

unixpro

I think someone is trying to send you a message. As we get older our hearing tends to drop down a bit, but I think you're being yelled at

jppe

Dnvr-do those of us coming out for the 50+ ride need to bring more tubes than normal for these goatheads you speak of?

DnvrFox

I don't know what your "normal" is, but I always ride with two tubes and a patch kit.

I don't believe the goatheads are as common in GWS as they are here.

If I had really wanted to, someone pointed out a bicycle shop about 1.5 miles away, and I could have walked there if no "rescue wagon" was available. By that time, I was tired and frustrated, and just wanted to get home.

BluesDawg

I've had my share of flats, but I never broke a water bottle. That's some seriously bad luck. You were probably wise to get home ASAP before something really bad happened.

old&slow

Funny....

yesterday

2 flats
1 slow leak
foot cramps
fixing flat in an area full of weeds triggered allergies
finally....
a bee stung me behind the knee while peddling

so I cut 15 miles off my ride and I stll enjoyed the peddling time

DnvrFox

So, I just ordered a Topeak Road Morph with gauge, as my old pump is not that great.

On sale at Nashbar.com for $29.95 with an additional 20% discount = $23.96.

(Oh, and I ordered 6 tubes and 2 water bottles).

And, yes, I enjoyed my ride, despite all.

old&slow

I am stocking up on tubes also

Need to look for a pump. I went through 12 bucks worth of co2.

turtlewoman

That CO2 business is for the birds! Use some muscle and work that pump, baby!!!

BikeWNC

I had to walk almost a mile last week when I ran over a piece of metal and flatted the rear tire. It was my first flat in a year and rusty as I am pinched the tube under the tire bead. Doh. I only carry one tube and now a small adhesive patch kit. I hear goatheads will make you want to quit cycling. I can remember my last 5 flats, one each year. Most happen because I run my rear tire down to the threads.

Dchiefransom

I left my Topeak Road Morph on top of the spare tire the last time I drove to a bike ride and lost it. I'm left with a Topeak Turbo Morph with gauge. Kind of strange to pull out a mini-pump with a round gauge on it.
Maybe it's time for some Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires for the goatheads.

Louis

Goatheads and punctures = business as usual. But a "broken waterbottle"? As Blues Dawg mentioned, that's some really bad luck. Can you explain?

DnvrFox

I haven't had a goathead flat this year except on this one trail - twice.

So, I will modify my behavior and not go on this trail any more.

I've had Armadillos - just too slow. I have them on my "utility road bike."

Don't know about Schwalbes, though

McQz

I have the pump, but the mount takes up a water bottle space. Does anybody have a source for a side-mount for this pump? I've emailed Topeak and received no response.

I don't usually carry 2 water bottles, but I do carry other things in the cage and I'd rather not give that up. For now I'm carrying a tiny Blackburn pump that only takes about 200 strokes to get up to an undisclosed pressure.

doctor j

Now that you've broached this highly distasteful topic, I'll have to admit that I thought about you and goat heads about a week ago. I was riding my southwest loop, going out into the wind and returning with it. There's a hill that's about a mile long. I got up out of the saddle for a bit and looked down at the front tire. It was flexing under the load a bit more than normal. I stopped, looked at the tire, and low and behold, there was some sort of ugly thorn protruding out of the radius of the tire. It was at this point that thought of you and your goat heads. I touched the thorn with the thought of removing it. It hissed at me and I recoiled. Since there was enough air to hiss at me, I left the thorn in the tire and road home. Fortunately, it stayed in the tire until I got back to the barn.

And I may have set a record for flats last year during a wet stretch of the Dam Jam ride. Three flats in two miles! No such luck so far this year.

old&slow

The co2 was a gift. I have never used one before and uffda, the cartridges add up.

I was riding a newly acquired Miyata 718a. I am not used to a road bike yet.
Is there such a thing as fast rolling thorn proof tires?

My city bruiser, an old mtn bike with kevlar tires and thorn proof tubes hasn't had a flat in a few years.

waldowales

There is a trail paralleling the Jordan River through Salt Lake County, that is beautiful scenery, and a nice ride, but I've had to give up on it because of the goat heads. On a bike with fat tires, with tire liners and Slime tubes, you stand a fair chance of not getting a flat. Almost certain to flat with road bike tires. One city, Murray, out of all the entities along that trail, controls the thorns fairly well. Salt Lake City sprayed last week, after the vines had overgrown the trail and matured, then left them lying on the trail!

BengeBoy 

I'm impressed by the "smilingly" part.

cranky old dude

You forgot to ask Dnver what size tubes he uses.

Retro Grouch 

Ask just the guys who live in goathead country what tires they use. I'm no help because I don't live in the goathead belt and I only get about 1 flat tire per year. I'm thinking you will be happier with a puncture resistant tire like Gator Skins.

Esteban32696

I hate those things, too !

ModeratedUser150120149

I'm happy you didn't take me down that trail! At that point I only had a minimal flat kit and even more minimal changing skills.

Oh yes, tell me what trail you were on so I don't have to learn about it first hand. Please, Please.



But, to add to the Flat Fun while I was out in Nome last week working we had two almost simultaneous flats on our host's SUV. We were on a dirt/gravel/rock road about 33 miles from town headed for a scenic lake another 20 or so miles out. Both rear tires went flat within a minute of each other. Of course no air in the spare. We did have an air compressor but no way to plug the holes.

After awhile along came another vehicle, not a lot of traffic out there, with a tire plug kit. Plugged both tires, pumped them up and drove back to town. All this without giving the bloodthirsts girls "mosquitoes" too many meals. Never did get to the lake.

Guess what is going in my vehicle?

chainstrainer

From your thread title I first thought you'd figured out how reduce bike frame construction to two tubes or less. Now that would be a feat! Unicycles not withstanding.

TromboneAl

The mounting bracket that came with my roadmorph can also be mounted at other locations, not just at the water bottle spot. You can see where mine's mounted in this photo.

stapfam

I never thought of mounting my Road morph in this spot just using the Zip Tie form of mounting it- Thanks Al.

I know some have taken the mount from another pump and with a bit of heat- just closed the diameter of mounting to fit the Morph series.