DrPete 

So today was a gorgeous day, and I actually had enough time away from the hospital during daylight hours to get a ride in. Not wanting my Zipps to feel neglected by the fact that my racing schedule is done for the year, I threw the race wheels on and grabbed a Vittoria Pit Stop in my pocket just in case.

So I'm cruising down the road at a nice, quick pace, enjoying the angry hornet sound of my Zipps on the road, when it happens: my front tire gets punctured and flats. Once thing I instantly noticed is that tubulars really are MUCH easier to control than clinchers when they go flat.

So I pull over and whip out my Pit Stop, thinking I'm set. Not quite. Turns out the puncture was big enough that the Pit Stop couldn't seal it, so as an added bonus to my flat my 404 is now hemorrhaging sticky white foam for the next several minutes. Dammit.

No problem, I think to myself. It's time for a call to the team car (read: wife). Little did I know, though, that her phone's battery had just died, so her phone was turned off while it was charging. AAAAAARGH!

It was a "perfect storm" of sorts. Thankfully, the actual storm stayed away (there were some very ominous clouds rolling in) and I managed to limp back home at 6-10mph, praying that I wouldn't trash my lovely Zipp rim. Fun times.

What really sucks, though, is that this was my first real opportunity for a few hours on the bike in several weeks because of work. I'm getting really demoralized about the complete and utter lack of miles on the bike lately. And then this. It just really, really sucks.

Ryanf

Did your bike get fixed yet? Or are you riding the Caad?

DrPete 

Still the CAAD8. A few other expenses have been a bit more pressing, so the repair work on the Pinarello is delayed for now. I really enjoy riding the CAAD8, though.

thelazywon

perhaps you should go spend some time in equal danger with equal courage with the infantry

DrPete 

Thanks to the Air Force's CCATT flights, the war gets shipped direct to me right now...

thelazywon

lmao. sorry to hear about your ride. I seem to be prone to flats as well.

EventServices

You know when you're out on a ride and you ignore someone's calls by saying you had no signal?
This is a wife's version.

kuan

Heh... the phone was off. She wasn't pissed off at you or anything before you went out right? Not like wives like to spend time with their husbands on weekends....

Zipps4Me

I'd patch a flat with my own scrotum before I'd call the wife for a ride. That's just nuts.

Surferbruce

at least your wheel is in decent shape. see my post about the recumbent rider who tried to ride under my campy zondas today...

Talewinds

HAAAAAAHAAA!!!! Nice.

Robert C Wells

Last time I got a flat I couldn't fix, I was 4 miles from the house, so I walked home rolling the bike on the flat. Not that I didn't consider calling for help, but decided it would be good exercise anyway. Here's to wishing you better luck on your future rides.

haimtoeg

This sucks. At least your wheel is repairable, unlike Millar's - the gods were after him big time!

Cleave

Hello DP,

Sorry to hear about your mishap. Haven't ridden tubulars for training in many, many years, but when I did I always carried a spare.

Just remember, race wheels only feel neglected if you race on training wheels. When you do that they get slow leaks.

Hope you get a bettter ride in next time and soon.

fogrider

sorry to hear of your bad luck. I ride tubulars all the time and I always carry a spare.

unbelievably

Hey DP,
Any regrets getting the tubular version of the 404's?

55/Rad

I'll be calling a cab before I ever call my wife again - and I don't think I'll ever be riding on a flat Zipp. You are brave my friend.

BTW - I must have missed it - whatever happened with your Fulcrum 1's? Do you still have them? I just picked a set up off Ebay....

55/Rad

elgalad

I feel your pain.

Elgalad carries two spare tubes at all times in case of flats.

Guess how many flats he got on his training ride today?

Yep, three. Had to walk about two miles to the nearest bike store to get replacement tubes.

DrPete 

... No, really, she encouraged me to go for a ride. Or at least I think so...

Actually this was the first time that I've ever called home while riding, so it's not like she was accustomed to having her phone at her side when I'm riding anyway...

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

DrPete 

Nah, no regrets at all. Still the absolute finest wheels I've ever ridden. I'll just invest in a spare tubular to bring along instead of relying solely on the Pit Stop.

patentcad

Duh, Duh, and double Duh.

DrPete 

Yes, Zipps rule. The end.

I think I'll be switching to the new Conti Competitions, though. Might prove to be a bit more puncture-resistant...

patentcad

I can only tell you that I raced on the same Conti Sprinters in the 1990's for 5+ seasons and subsequently sold those race wheels with the original tires still intact in 2005. The #1 key to avoiding flats of any kind: don't ride those tires on wet roads. I get 75% of my punctures on damp roads. When the roads are wet, I ride the clinchers.

mollusk

The cycling gods were busy yesterday with messing up tubulars and wheels. First David Millar and then you.

Like everyone else has already said, if you are going to take the tubs out for a ride you should carry a spare tire.

El Diablo Rojo

When you sell your soul to the Devil for quads like yours you have pay somehow......