ChuBikes

So I started commuting to work with my new CAAD10 and on my third ride there I ended up with a flat at the rear. Luckily I was packing a patch kit and a mini hand pump.

I'm pissed because how can only three rides of using this thing to work I end up with a flat already? If you're curious, it was two small punctures next to each other about 1 inch apart on the side of the tire.

What can I do to prevent this from happening? Buy thicker tires? I wasn't riding off road or anything, just a regular road with a few slim cracks in it nothing uncommon. SIGHHHH....

ChuBikes

BTW, I'm taking the bike to my LBS who sold it to me because while taking off the rear wheel I kinda moved the brakes and can't seem to set it right... but anyway, what would a good LBS offer? Another free tube or something? Thanks.

09 NYTRO RDR

that to me sounds like a pinch flat if its on the side! flats are luck of the draw tho some times i go thousands of miles with no flats then get 2 flats on one ride. how much do you weigh and what air pressure are you running?

DiabloScott

1. It's almost certainly not your tire's fault.
2. LBS doesn't owe you anything.
3. To avoid flats, keep your tires at proper pressure and avoid sharp debris; but sometimes you're going to get one anyway... sometimes it's just bad luck and bad luck can happen anytime including your third ride on a new tire.

Lexi01

The funny thing about nails (or anything else that can cause a flat) they don't know you have a new bike!

From memory though, the tyres that come on the CAADs aren't the greatest...my SuperSix came with flimsy little Luganos that I swapped out before I got it home. I'd be surprised if the CAAD has anything better than those...

If you're using it for commuting I'd go for something a little sturdier. The Schwalbe site has a little chart for each tyre that rates them out of 6 for speed, puncture resistance and some other things...worth checking out. But if you're gonna leave those on be prepared for more flats.

Debusama

Flats happen. What pressure were you running? How much do you weigh?

milkbaby

Were the holes on the left and right of the tube right across from each other? If so, that would be a "snake bite" from pinch flatting. When you hit a big pot hole or other big seam/crack, you can mash the tire and tube against the rim of the wheel which then "snake bites" two holes where the tube gets mashed by the rim. Avoid this by avoiding big hits, checking your tire pressure everyday, and running the proper tire pressure for your weight.

If the holes were both on the left side or both on the right side, you may have just gotten unlucky and ran over some sharp debris. Try to avoid riding through crud and check your tires periodically to pick out any imbedded foreign objects before they work their way through the tire and put a hole in the tube.

You should always check the underside of the tire after a flat to make sure anything sharp that caused the flat is no longer there, otherwise you're just going to flat any new tube you pop in if you leave in the offending object. If you line up the tire label with the valve hole, then when you find the hole in your tube, you can also check the area of the tire that might have the sharp object that caused the flat.

Sometimes the edge of hard rim tape could cause a flat, but you can also dope that out with the tire label method and if the hole was I the tube on the side facing the rim instead of facing the tire tread...

Not sure the LBS will give you anything as flats are to typically user error (running over glass/junk, hitting big pothole, etc.).

P.s. I had stock Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tires on my CAAD9. The rear tire lasted over 3000 miles and only got replaced because I finally ran over something that cut the casing (I could see the cut casing cords). I moved the front tire to the rear and it's still going strong, not even squared off yet...

Psimet2001 

Pinch flat. Your fault. Pump your tires up before every ride. It's not a balloon tired beach cruiser with huge air volume.

Pinkbullet3

Gatorskins make some great commuting tires. Pricey, but worth it.

They're heavy, though, but it's not like you'll be racing in them or anything.

ChuBikes

I weigh 180 and the psi was at 120

Dammit!

Should I buy a spare tube? Or another patch kit? The stock caad tube is thin as heck and yes flimsy...

Psimet2001 

Hrm.....then I'm full of shiz. 120 should be fine. File this under shiz happens.

What you had is a pinch flat and it happens when the rim bottoms out on an hazard on the road. When that happens it pinches the tube flat and over the edges of the rim. The pressure of the rim pinching the tube between the hazard/tire and the rim sandwich....results in the tube failing. The snakebite is the teltale sign.

Pressure ok? Then it was from hitting something big, or otherwise "lead-assing" it through potholes, pavement ridges, etc.

Psimet2001 

...and yes...buy extra tubes. Never ride without one. Don't be that guy. Be the guy that always has one to stop and offer someone else.

Rx Rider

yes. the tube might have been twisted. flimsy and racy are the same.

a1penguin

Always carry a spare tube to replace in a hurry. Also carry a patch kit in case you flat again.

SPlKE 

Great advice. Don't leave home without 'em.

Having been on both the receiving end (ripped spare tube and had no patch kit) and the giving end, I say +1000 to that advice, brother.

datlas 

Poisson distribution.

Fancy statistical explanation for stuff happens.

Take extra tube with you. Two if you are neurotic.

eddubal

It took you that long to pinch flat?

Just bought my first road bike (read skinny tires) and did that on the inaugural ride! I think I hit a rock, and that's all it took. After not pinch flatting at all with my CX bike running some seriously low pressures, it was a bit disappointing. I did have a spare tube, but it was older, and the stem was too short! Luckily, another rider came up who had a tube that I bought off him. First stop after that ride was to get a couple of spares! It was still better than other mechanicals that I've seen.

Machka 

For what??? For a flat tire?? Yeah right. If they did that, they'd be handing out tubes by the dozens every day.

Flat tires happen. It's a part of cycling.

Don't buy a spare tube ... buy several of them. You can get them in packages of 10 or a dozen. Always carry a pump, tire levers, a tube or two, and patch kit with you. Buy a couple tires as well to have at home.

LowCel 

I just about always flat on my first ride on a new bike, it just happens. I always carry two tubes and a patch kit. Occasionally you manage to nail a big hole or rock with both tires, and sometimes that will result in two flats. This can also result in someone getting upset and throwing a bike (seen it happen).

Basic rules of riding.

1) Pump tires up before every ride.
2) Carry enough tubes, tools, etc to be self sufficient.
3) Carry at least $5, if you rip your tire the $5 bill can be used as a tire boot.
4) Accept that crap happens.

NWS Alpine

All the advice is all you need about flatting 101. I would recomend a CO2 kit to get you going quickly if you are commuting. This could be in addition to a small pump or shrader to presta adaptor so you can use gas station pumps in a pinch if you are in an urban setting.

I have a new caad10 and the stock tires are really bad. I would not expect to commute on them without flats weekly. I run over too much glass and weird stuff with no option to avoid it sometimes. I also don't commute on my caad10. You should look into some tires like the gatorskins etc. Along with all the suggestions of spare tubes and pump/co2.

nhluhr

When was the last time you pumped it up to 120?

GP

I wonder if it covers wear. I replace my tires every 3 months.

pgjackson

Get a little bag, hang it from the bottom of your seat and carry stuff to fix a flat. Flats happen, it doesn't matter what kind of tires or tubes you have...they just happen. Pump your tires up every single time you go for a ride. Don't do the old thumb-test (yep, doesn't feel flat), actually get a pump with a PSI gauge on it and use it every single time.

pallen

yep - if it was 120 on day 1, it probably wasn't by day 3.
All you can do is buy good tires and keep them inflated (check every ride). If you still get a flat, that's just the breaks. It happens - usually at the most inconvenient time.

hairnet

Learn to maneuver around cracks and get your ass off the saddle if you're going to ride over something. I'm 200lbs, I never pump to 120 and I dont remember the last time I had a pinch flat.