Sculptor7

Cruising down a good hill I felt a sharp jolt; must have been a road defect. Front tire went flat. Pinch flat?
After 4 years (10,000 miles) am suddenly cursed with flats. Decided to carry two tube spares so I don't have to curtail my trips. Fortunately, it was right near the Spurwink River bridge and a nice pier/outlook that offered a good place to change tubes. Rear wheel fit nicely into the rail uprights like a bike rack. Beautiful view of the nature preserve and enough breeze to keep away the mosquitoes. Front wheel, easier to change. Could not understand why my computer sensor was not working until I saw that I had installed the wheel with the quick release on the wrong side. Took me 20 minutes or less. New hard case tires too.

cafzali

You don't say how many miles are on your current tires, but that may be one place to start. It's pretty common for tires that are near the end of their lifespan to start developing flats, especially the rear because it shoulders the most weight and especially in wet weather when your tires pick up more junk off the roads.

I'm assuming you've changed your tires in those years because while I've seen some tires that are pretty long-lasting, I've never seen/heard of any that will give you 10,000 miles -- half that if you're lucky.

OldsCOOL

Only 2 flats?

GravelMN

I've got Specialized Armadillo Elites and I get about a year out of a set (2,500-3,000 miles) but I usually change tires before they get to the frequent flats stage and pass the used ones on to the local bike co-op while there are still a few miles left in them. The Armadillos aren't a fast tire by any means, but they are about as flat resistant as anything I have tried.

Two flats over the summer is hardly a bad average.

Dave Cutter

I had a flats-spell where at its peak.... I had three flats in less than 100 miles. It was frustrating! I decided... in my case that the new higher pressure tires I was using dimpled the spoke holes in the rim tape. So I put the snap-on plastic rim tape on the wheels and decided to use fresh tubes and new tires.

Then on a bike mechanics recommendation (and in a fit of over-kill) I used the thorn-proof thick walled heavy tubes. I don't recommend them if not needed. But in my case... my flats-spell ended.

Rick@OCRR

I agree, I don't think you should be feeling down about 2 flats in 10,000+ miles. I was enjoying a flat-free run of several months (4,000+ miles) when I had three in one day!

Luckly, 3 is also the number of spare tubes I carry, and also luckily all 3 were on the front. Unluckily, one flat was caused by a small rock that found it's way out into the roadway (as I was descending off of Cloudburst Summit on CA Hwy 2) and hit so hard I had to boot the tire, plus it put a small dent in the rim .

Looking on the bright side, even though I was descending at 30+ mph and the deflation was pretty darn quick, I was able to come to a stop with the bike still upright . Lots of rocks on the road that day! Had two more (both pinch flats) before I reached Grassy Hollow.

Thankfully no flats on the way back since I was out of good tubes.

Rick / OCRR

Sculptor7

Just bought the tires at the beginning of the summer. Yes, there was a tire change during the 10,000 miles; but only one as I recall.

Sculptor7

Keep a pretty good record of my bike and rides. So the only thing I can attribute to my flat-free existence so far is that perhaps I don't ride as hard as many of you younger guys in your fifties and sixties. Also, I make it a rule to always look for any new debris I may have picked up before and after my ride. (Slowly turning the wheels and inspecting the tires).

Am very glad it was a controllable flat as I was going downhill at about 25 mph; fast for me.

jyl

Flats seem to come in waves, for me. I carry 1 spare tube and a patch kit. When the tires get worn thin, flats increase and I replace the tire. Aggravating but just try to be zen about it.

rubic

You know, it's funny. I have had 3 flats this summer. However, all 3 have been discovered the next day. So I made it home on a slow flat. Each time, I removed the culprit in the tire if found and installed a new or repaired tube. It seems luck is on my side, for now. I hope this post doesn't jinx me for the next flat out on the road.

BigAura

Check your karma

NVanHiker

I generally run 28's, and long ago I realized that pretty much every flat I ever had was something picked up in the tread, or more often, the siping. Buying only smooth tires has really made a difference - I can go an entire year of commuting and touring without a flat. Weirdly, I have never had a flat touring, which could be due to carrying three spare tubes!

Velo Dog

Just for the record, here in the Land of Big Thorns (western Nevada), I expect a flat every 40 miles or so. I've had nine on a century and three on my 25-mile round trip commute. My lack of sympathy for people who say "Waah waah, I had my second flat this year" is almost palpable.

raqball

Try a different tire if you are getting that many flats..

I live in the land of goat heads as well and I don't get anywhere even close to the # of flats you describe..

MinnMan

10,000 miles on a road bike and only 2 flats? You can only beat the odds for so long. You don't have the problem of goat heads in New England, but every place I know has some amount of glass, staples, nails, etc.

You can be ride prudently and keep a close watch on tire wear, etc., but it's better to just get used to the idea that flats are gonna happen and be prepared.

BTW, I learned about goad heads the hard way some time ago when I was riding near Las Vegas. Taking a break along side the road, I made the mistake of riding on to the unpaved shoulder. And the rented bike didn't have hard case tires. BAD NEWS.

OldsCOOL

OP may have a flat before this thread is over.

Velo Dog

I've been riding since 1970; I've tried about everything there is. I was using Armadillos when I had the nine-flat century. Pasela TGs are probably the best combination of toughness and feel I've had so far. I put a new pair of Schwalbe Little Big Bens on the Atlantis yesterday and ran a locust thorn through the tread four miles into the first ride. I weigh 240, which may be a factor, but we have thorns that go through a Kevlar belt and a Mr. Tuffy like it wasn't there.

Wileyrat

Earlier this year I posted to a thread on flats saying I almst never get them, and that was a big mistake.

I ordered some stuff for my mountain bike yesterday, and while checking it out I noticed my front tire was flat, making that my fourth flat since my bad karma inducing post.

Social Climber

Try riding in my area. The roads are so bad from last winter that twice now I got 2 flats on the same ride. I've had about 1/2 a dozen his season. In the silver lining department, I can now change a flat in about 5 minutes.

runner pat

I live in goathead country. I can expect at least 2 flats a week during the dry months. I'm limited in tire choice as my handcycle is 650c but I do run Gatorskins.
My record is 5 flats in 28 miles.

ksisler

If it is really a pinch flat, then the pressure is too low or/and the tire volume is to small for the total weight. But even on the best of everything/best laid plans of men and mice, occasionally a flat is going to happen. If I got up to two a season, I don't think I would complain yet...that isn't that bad even with fate figured in.

/K

Daspydyr 

Southern NV has those fire hardened goat heads. I flat about twice a month. 4-500 miles a month. I just switched to Cont. Gran Prix and have been flat free for about 4 weeks. I probably just jinxed myself.

GFish

Had my first ever pinch flat last Friday, 21 mph on a flat road. Using 25mm Gatorskins pumped to 110 psi, rear tire. I went back to see what I ran over. There was a solid steel wedge, apx. 1" x 1" x 3/4" thick. The tube blew out with two holes opposite of each other.

I weigh 175 lbs, didn't think I was to heavy for the volume or that the psi was to high. In my case, I think the hard steel edge was the cause.

Pamestique 

I was thinking the same thing! I have 5 bikes I ride on a regular basis and 4 have flats I need to change out (won't be surprised if I go home today and the fifth bike also has a flat - I too live in the land of thorns)... did a MTB ride Sunday where I got 2 flats and my friend also got two...

consider yourself lucky! I am convinced finally to change out my MTB tubes (the rims are tubeless ready) and use Stan's (or some equivalent)...

ksisler

GFish; A chunk of crap that size would do it...whether metal, wood, glass or whatever...including ice. Don't think that flat falls in the formal definition(sic) of a pinch flat, but I'll go along with you on it. I would note that on my commuter, tourer and tandem bikes, I would not have really noticed a piece of FOD-bait like that. Schwalbe Marathon Plus in 700c x 1 3/4" on 48-spokes at 65psi are almost unflatable, but undoubtably take a few extra watts to keep spinning [.

/K