cuda2k

On my first lengthy ride with my new Mavic Open Pro wheelset and my Gazelle Champion I also experienced my first blowout. Front tube none the less. Gladly I was able to keep the bike under control without further incident and managed to call for a ride home (stupidly) I had no spare tube on me.

1) moments before the "POP" I noticed something on the front tire. The tread on my tires are blue with black sidewalls, and the extra "something wrong" was black. So either the tire pulled free of the rim or there was something black stuck in/on the sidewall.

2) tube ended up with a 2" slit on the left side of the tube, approx along side the stem. Does not appear that the root cause was the stem though.

3) new wheels, new tube, new tires. All with less than 50mi on them. Brand new rim strips, which do not appear to have moved at all.

2manybikes

Most likely,a small part of tube pinched between the bead of the tire and the rim. It sometimes takes a while for it to wear through the tube. This is especially typical right near the stem where it is more work to get the tube to fit down in the tire correctly. Since it was along side the stem, that would be my best guess. It happens mainly when people are just learning how to change a tire.

fogrider

this is classic operator error. when installing the tube/tire, it is important to have a little air in the tube, this will allow the tube to sit in the correct position. but after the tire is in place pump the tube up to about 20 psi, and go around and squeeze the tire and visually check to make sure the tube is not caught between the tire and the rim, check both sides, this happens more often than not.

DannoXYZ 

Good idea, don't install the tube flat. Pump it up so that it's round.

Also after getting the tyre fully on, push up on the valve-stem into the tyre to make sure the tube is stuffed all the way in. A lot of times, the tube gets pinched between the tyre and the rim near the valve stem due to the thick reinforcement around the stem that doesn't bend easily.

Then pull the tyre sideways to look in the gap between the tyre and rim to make sure there's no tube sticking out. Work your way around the entire circumference on BOTH sides. There should be no tube visible anywhere. Finally, pump up the tyre with floor pump after all these checks (hand/frame pump is only for emergencies).

serotta

Once the new tire and tube are on the rim to my satisfaction, I always deflate the tube as much as possible, then push the valve stem as far as I can into the tire. At that point, I check to see if the tire appears seated on the rim, then pull the stem back down as far as I can. Then proceed to air the tube and complete seating the tire.

jsharr

Cuda:

Sorry to hear about the flat. I think the tube got pinched under the bead and failed after a bit of riding. Agree with the others about inflating tube a bit, checking for pinches/twists, seating tire, looking for pinches again, then inflating. Also, if there is a nut on the stem, do not overtighten it against rim.

Jeff

cuda2k

Thanks for the feedback everyone. It was my first time mounting a folding tire and a 700c wheel (fair bit of experience with 26" and 27" though). I did have some air in the tube when I mounted the tire, and did go around it to check the bead set, but apparently not close enough. Picked up two new tubes tonight at the LBS, next time I won't be caught 3miles from home in road shoes stranded and praying my cell phone battery lasts long enough to get a call out to someone who can help.

On the upside, I survived my first front blowout without major incident! Looks like it's going to rain around here till Sunday, but hope to get back on the road asap.

C4Byke

+1

USAZorro

Don't know if this might have happened or not, but I've learned to not fasten the little nut that secures the stem in place until after the tube is fully inflated. Tightening it before the tube is inflated can keep the tire bead from seating securely.

wagathon

I read years ago and followed (right or wrong) an install routine, as follows: (1) don't use tools to put the tire on the rim; and (2), inflate the tire fully, and then deflate entirely (you can hear the tube inside the tire, twitching and squiggling) and reinflate again.

Nachoman

I try not to use tools, but I ALWAYS inflate, deflate, and reinflate.

cuda2k

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'll be sure to double check the rear tube when I mount the new front. Live and learn, and then ride some more.