EGreen

Not very involved nor perhaps interesting.

Nonetheless, I replaced the tube, put the tire on the rim and pumped it up to medium pressure (110 psi) As per usual, not before I released the air after the first pump up and evaluated whether or not there was any tube showing to get caught between tire and rim. Once inflated I closed the valve, put the cap on and mounted the tire on the bike.

A minute later the tire was completely flat and before there was any weight on it (even the bike's as it was upside down) Must have caught some tube despite my checking, I supposed. However When I checked the tube there was no discernible leak. So I put it back on, pumped it up and mounted it. It's been holding air ever since.

Much ado about nothing I know, but I am perplexed. Anybody have a reasonable explanation for this?

seamuskeogh

divine intervention. or a mistake in the matrix. I think there might be more creative explinations out there however.

Philatio

+1, and no I don't have anything better.

EGreen

That's been my thinking on it. However I am trying to make rational sense of it. There must be a logical explanation ...?

seamuskeogh

men drive themselves mad attempting to reconstruct reality into a rational framework. consider yourself the beneficiary of cosmic circumstance and move on.

EGreen

Good point, good advice! Although I am somewhat concerned about more mysteries in store for me with that tube. Mainly that it will inexplicably flatten again.

Steev

No proof for this what-so-ever, but probably something sticky with the valve. Re-inflating probably blew it clear.

AndrewP

Air pocket trapped between the tube and tire?

headlessspider

might be the valve.

Stacey

F. M.

lrzipris

If not the valve, but a leak in the tube itself, that hole would be quite evident, since the tube deflated so rapidly. Subject the tube (including the valve) to the water-bath test to see if it is intact or not. If no air bubbles appear, you should be good.

LóFarkas

I know it's boring, but it was probably the valve being stuck in the "open" position when you first inflated the tube. Then, when you inflated it again, it closed as normal. At least that's my best guess.

well biked

A mischievous ghost, perhaps-

bernmart

I agree. I don't get a lot of flats, but 2/3 of the time there's nothing sticking through the tire and the tube itself is fine, but it won't hold air reliably because of the valve. Sometimes it stays pumped up, sometimes not. And they're pretty much unfixable once they go wrong, yes?

So say what the hell and put a new tube in, or waiting for it to go bad will drive you nuts. I know the advantages of presta valves, but they're real pains in the ass.

n4zou

+1 Just a little talcum power from the manufacturing process hung up in the valve.

EGreen

I think the valve glitch (of some sort) is the only rational explanation. Nothing wrong with the rubber - still holding air. I wish it were less boring ... then maybe a devious and petty spirit from the afterlife came and let the air out the second my back was turned...

'suppose not.