Originally Posted by
Iride01
Do you figure out why you got the flat every time you have one? Unless you live where goat heads abound, you probably have some other issue causing your flats. I haven't flatted in about three years. I do nothing special. I only ride on pavement though, maybe some very brief stretches of gravel. You didn't say what your ride conditions are.
Not always. Only when it happens after I hit something hard, or if I find it still stuck in the tire. My latest adventure was actually a failing patch. Ironically, it was a store-bought self-adhesive patch. There were 2 other patches on the tube that I made myself, and they were fine. I think I've used that tube for 2 or 3 years without any problem before this latest loss.
I'm a pavement rider as well, and I ride a mountain bike (26" diameter wheels). I live in Wisconsin where Goat heads aren't a thing, which I'm very thankful for after hearing how much of a pain they are causing to bicyclists.
I don't get flats often, but when I do, it always makes me think of ways to not let it happen again. Or at least reduce the chances of it.
Oh, and I always patch tubes when possible. I get more satisfaction from fixing something when possible rather than replacing it. Frustration happens when I put everything back together and pump up the tire, only to find it flat at the end of the day. But when it works, hooray!