vol

Since I don't know how to repair tires and naturally never carry those tools, I pray I will never have a flat tire on the road. I ride exclusively on city streets, mostly smooth but some can be bumpy/patchy. Is it still unavoidable that I'll have a flat tire some day? Anyone has never had it? How often do you get a flat tire which ruins your ride?

10 Wheels

one every 575 miles.

CbadRider

I have gone over a year without a flat, but I've also had 3 flats in 1 day. I've only had 2 rides where I ran out of tubes (the 3-flat day was one of them) and had to call for help getting home.

It's really not that hard to change a tire. The first time I did it (rear tire) it took me 45 minutes. Now I can do it in about 5 minutes.

bigbadwullf

I'm at 600 miles on new bike. No flats.
My group went riding Saturday(without me) on a section of highway I told them not to ride because I thought it would induce flats. 4 flats later I think they now might just believe me
Can't ride next to a busy highway and not expect not to get flats. Glass, steel from car/truck tire belts that get flung off especially in hot weather.

Pete In Az

Year and a half... So far.

beezaur

I went 8500 miles with no flats, then ran over something coming back from the grocery store.

My usual strategy is to have a patch kit and pump, but riding with walkable shoes can work too, if the distance isn't great and you don't have a load that will wreck the tire walking the bike.

globecanvas

I've gone over a year with no flats, and I've had 2 flats within a half hour. There's no predicting it.

Don't fear the flat though. With a very small amount of practice, you can change one in just a couple of minutes.

bigbadwullf

Bicycle tires are EASY to change. Many times they can be done with no tools. Try a dirt bike tire some day

DataJunkie

Answering this thread is a great way to curse yourself.

bigbadwullf

I will have one for sure tonight

oldster

you are correct!,,,Bad luck will follow....

JanMM

I am not at liberty to answer the question.

Learn how to fix a flat.
Make sure that your tires are reasonably easy to take off and put back on.

Mr. Beanz

I used a big heavy Armadillo for some training on mountian climbs (700X25) on the rear of my bike. Not one flat in 5,000 miles!

SethODucks

Brand new bike. 3rd ride out on a trail. Ride went fine. That night, front was flat. Found a sticker in the tube. Went to the bike shop and bought 2 heavy duty tubes with Schrader valves and got rid of the Presta's. So I drilled out my rim and put on the HD tube. But me, being stupid, decided to leave the rear. Next ride, it went flat. Sticker again. So swapped it. Haven't had any problems since.

I suggest you learn to change your tires. It's very simple and requires no tools if you have quick release wheels.

scarlson 

I toured through Europe for about 4 months on a Vredestein Perfect, 700x37. No flats for the duration. Tire went from new to bald, on 60-100km per day, and no flats. I cherish the fond memories of that tire.

But god, what a terrible wheel it was on. I broke 15 spokes during that time!!!

Northwestrider

It's been so long ago that I can't remember how long ago it was that I flatted. But I know I will flat again, you will as well. I suggest you learn how to fix a flat, and pick up and carry the small kit that will allow you to do so. It's easy

jdon

2 years.

StephenH

I've been running Vittoria Randonneur Cross tires (35x700) on my Raleigh Sojourn. In 17,000 miles, I've had two flats, and both were from rim issues, nothing through the tires. I won't say they're unflattable, but sure better flat-wise than what everyone else uses, it seems. I've been getting about 5,000 miles on the rear tires and 10,000 on the front.

joejack951

I'll be impressed if someone can beat me on this. No lie: no puncture flats between September 2004 and June-ish 2010 (can't remember exactly the date). During that period I put about 6000 miles on a set of 700x25 Armadillos, 10,000 miles on a set of 26"x1.5" Armadillos, another ~5000 between some Schwalbe Marathons, two other sets of Armadillos, and some Vredestein Fortezza Tri Comps, and finally ~5000 miles on some Continental Grand Prix Four Season tires that finally punctured one day on the way to work last summer (tire went flat during the day). I've since punctured once more after another ~5000 miles running the same Continental tires (but a new pair after the first wore through to the cords after 6000 miles).

The 700x25 and 26x1.5 Armadillos were retired due to wear without ever allowing the tubes to be punctured. Impressive.

During that puncture-flat dry spell, I did flat two times. Once was due to a poorly installed tube in the 26" Armadillos. Somehow, I had the tube slightly twisted when I installed those tires and 6000 miles later it flatted on me at 10pm on a dark road. I also had a flat due to improperly installed rim tape under the tube in my Vredestein front tire. Luckily the tube let go while I was taking a nature break on a ride. Scared my wife who was standing next to the bike and had me really confused when I returned to a flat front tire.

And for the record, I've always carried tools/tube to repair a flat even though I rarely get the chance to use them.

bkaapcke

I went two years without any flats, but this year I had two in two days. bk

Farmer Dave

Haha for sure! By the way, (hope this doesn't sound too weird) I always like your posts and the way you think. To me, you seem to always contribute really good things to any thread, whether it's a funny quip or deep words of wisdom.

cyclist2000

My last flat was last year.

Years ago I would try to ride my tires until they showing the cord. Most of the time I would start getting flats before the cord showed through. So I started to change my tires every year (3000-5000 miles). My flat problems stopped happening. Now that I have a few bikes, I don't change the tires that often, but if I get a flat I examine a tire for the cause, if the tread looks very flat then I get new tires.

fietsbob

Heavy duty tubes and or high quality puncture resistant wider tires
have made punctures pretty rare..


I did a Puncture free bike tour from Southwestern Ireland to Northeastern Scotland.

gpsblake

Over 10,000 miles and 4 years without a flat here in South Carolina. 2007 was the last time I had one (knock on wood, knock on wood).

However, with this new skinny tire Schwinn I got with 700x28 tires, I bet I start getting more of them.

Machka 

Bumps probably won't cause flats, unless your tires don't have enough air in them.

But many other things can cause flats.