Mystery flat?
#1
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Joined: May 2015
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From: North Jersey
Bikes: 1975 Motobecane Le Champion lilac, 2015 Specialized Secteur Elite
Mystery flat?
Rode my bike 18 miles two days ago and when I garaged it both tires were at normal pressure.
Woke up yesterday morning to ride again and rear tire completely deflated.
After inspecting it I found no visible damage or puncture. The bike was in the same position I left it in so know it didn't fall over. Plus the valve cap was still on(yes, I am one of those people lol)and screw under it was tightened down in normal position.
Inflated it to 90lbs and test rode it for a mile with no loss in pressure.
Didn't ride it longer than that though for fear it would blow on me.
Checked tire again this morning and still at 90lbs.
Any ideas?
Can anything other than a piece of debris from the road cause an overnight flat?
Makes no sense to me but I am mechanically challenged so figured I would ask here first.
Woke up yesterday morning to ride again and rear tire completely deflated.
After inspecting it I found no visible damage or puncture. The bike was in the same position I left it in so know it didn't fall over. Plus the valve cap was still on(yes, I am one of those people lol)and screw under it was tightened down in normal position.
Inflated it to 90lbs and test rode it for a mile with no loss in pressure.
Didn't ride it longer than that though for fear it would blow on me.
Checked tire again this morning and still at 90lbs.
Any ideas?
Can anything other than a piece of debris from the road cause an overnight flat?
Makes no sense to me but I am mechanically challenged so figured I would ask here first.
#2
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Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Near St. Louis, Missouri
Bikes: Giant Defy Advanced, Breezer Doppler Team, Schwinn Twinn Tandem, Windsor Tourist, 1954 JC Higgens
Pump up the tire to the max allowed and put the wheel partially into something like a pond, creek, or swimming pool. Rotate the wheel in the water slowly to see if any air bubbles come streaming out. There might be some air bubbles on the side of the tire or even coming from the rim. Not talking about those. If air is leaking out, it might be where the leak is especially if it's from a cut or hole in the tire. Or not. But mark the spot anyway.
The next step is to pull out the tube and partially inflate it. When removing the tube, keep track of where it is in relation to the rim and tire. Put the tube in water and see if you can find a leak. If not, wiggle the valve stem some to see if leaks near the rubber. If you do find a leak, mark it. I like using chalk. Then compare the leak to the position on the rim/tire. Find what caused the leak, such as a shard of glass or strand of wire, and remove the problem. Remember it might even be the rim or rim tape that's the issue. Next decide whether to fix the tube or replace it.
One problem with super slow leaks is that they often don't show themselves at the low pressures when just testing the tube alone. That's why I recommend the extra step of testing with the tire fully inflated. If it's a fast leak, just the tube testing alone is enough.
The next step is to pull out the tube and partially inflate it. When removing the tube, keep track of where it is in relation to the rim and tire. Put the tube in water and see if you can find a leak. If not, wiggle the valve stem some to see if leaks near the rubber. If you do find a leak, mark it. I like using chalk. Then compare the leak to the position on the rim/tire. Find what caused the leak, such as a shard of glass or strand of wire, and remove the problem. Remember it might even be the rim or rim tape that's the issue. Next decide whether to fix the tube or replace it.
One problem with super slow leaks is that they often don't show themselves at the low pressures when just testing the tube alone. That's why I recommend the extra step of testing with the tire fully inflated. If it's a fast leak, just the tube testing alone is enough.
#3
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Joined: Sep 2013
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From: SW ONTARIO
Bikes: P1 Domane Di2, SLR Emonda Di2, Trek Farley 9 Fatbike
Bath tub works in event you don't have pool, creek or pond. I've seen someone not tighten the valve closure enough and then screw the cap on too tight which depresses valve and air leaks out? If by any chance you used Co2 to inflate tire it tends to leak out much faster than air.
#4
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Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Monkey Bottom, NC
Bikes: A bunch of old steel bikes + an ICE trike
The few times that this has happened to me, it ended up being a problem around where the valve stem goes into the tube. Apparently the way the valve is rotated on the bike when stored affects whether it leaks or not. If you inflate the tube and wriggle the stem, it should be apparent.
Good luck.
Good luck.
#5
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
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Thorn resistant inner tube are heavier but all that extra Rubber make then hold air for a Long time.
NB higher you inflate your tires the greater the tendency
for the air pressjre to escape to seek equalization with the Ambient Pressure by escaping thru the pores of the inner tube ..
NB higher you inflate your tires the greater the tendency
for the air pressjre to escape to seek equalization with the Ambient Pressure by escaping thru the pores of the inner tube ..
#6
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From: New Rochelle, NY
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
The few times that this has happened to me, it ended up being a problem around where the valve stem goes into the tube. Apparently the way the valve is rotated on the bike when stored affects whether it leaks or not. If you inflate the tube and wriggle the stem, it should be apparent.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#7
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From: North Jersey
Bikes: 1975 Motobecane Le Champion lilac, 2015 Specialized Secteur Elite
Update:
After I posted I didn't do anything to the tire and rode the bike 32 miles with no issues at all today.
Tire is still right around the same pressure as when I first filled it after discovering the flat yesterday.
Isn't that kinda weird?
After I posted I didn't do anything to the tire and rode the bike 32 miles with no issues at all today.
Tire is still right around the same pressure as when I first filled it after discovering the flat yesterday.
Isn't that kinda weird?
#8
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 39,897
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From: New Rochelle, NY
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Shhhh! don't say that anywhere near the bike. Enjoy it while it lasts, but keep the replacement tube handy.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#9
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From: NW Oregon
Bikes: 1982 Trek 930R Custom, '91 Diamondback Ascent w/ XT, XTR updates, Fuji Team Pro CF road flyer, Specialized Sirrus Gravel Convert, '09 Comencal Meta 5.5 XC, '02 Marin MBX500, '84 Gitane Criterium bike
probably a chunk of debris in the valve... just keep an eye on it. if it's a Schrader valve, replace the valve core... if it's presta, keep an eye on it.





