Flat Tire Mojo
 

I have a friend, who also happens to frequent these forums. He is a skilled rider and mechanic; yet, he has the worst luck with flat tires. He doesn't ride heavy in the saddle, doesn't ride thru crap piled up in the road or ride under-inflated tires; it's just bad mojo. He lives 4 hours from me but travels for work so he keeps a road bike here to ride should he find himself in the area. I went downstairs to the gym/bike room this morning and what do I find? His bike has a flat and hasn't moved in weeks; the mojo is just too strong. Let's play a "tune" of sorrow for our friend and I'll fix it in the morning :D

Who does this bike belong to?

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...623eaa69b2.jpg

How many weeks are we talkin'? Mine lose a lot of pressure too after a month of sitting, like in winter.

That reminds me: I got two flats last month. Still waiting for the third:( I want it out of the way.

It's been here a while, couple of months anyway; front tire is unaffected ;)

I knew it, I knew it, I knew it....
 

My tire mojo has gone interstatal.
Hell, I'm afraid to go look at my Harley now...but I know a guy....

Knew it had to be Robbie.

True story #1 :
Storming of Thunder Ridge, 2015. We meet up before the official start to get ahead of the boohas and hasslebekkers. I’m on the trusty Cannondale ST and Robbies on his fancy schmancy italian steed (that he later sold to Pete in MN, but I digress). We both take off like adrenaline junkies, but at the first rest stop I wait....and wait....and wait....and then continue. At the end of the day, no Robbie to be seen.

Turns out his first flat was about a mile down the road, and his second before Mile #2 . He just turned around and drove home.

True story #2 :
Fausto Coppi Centenario, 2019. One of THE hardest tickets to get in 2019, and deservedly so, as David Beck had put together the ULTIMATE Coppi celebration. But I digress. Halfway through the 100km course, Robbie’s looking for his paramour, and his paramour (who, as an aside, never flats and with whom we had a lovely lunch snack) is looking for Robbie. Why? Yeah. Multiple flats. So many that he went back to the starting area to get MORE TUBES.

That’s our boy.

I thought this sounded familiar. Wonder what’s going on down there?


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b369b0d22.jpeg

at least it's clean

The advice offered was...uh, enormous. Down to 1 tube and 1 CO2, I bid them adieu and slowly, carefully created a tire with air in it. Rode 5 miles back to the start, swapped a tire off of a display bike, and off I went, to find my paramour....who never flats.

Awesome wheels built by speedevil DA7403's, Matrix ISOCII's.

Doc made me learn a new word, "paramour" ;)

an item that I no longer see on many bikes but for me works well
and I wouldn't ride without are tire savers ( or flint catchers in Brit speak)

Everything about this thread is fantastic.

There's a nice young man who builds those here as well!

Maybe time to investigate tubeless?

I wasn't going to say anything.............but, tubeless tires don't stand a chance against my man's mojo. I'll let him tell the story ;)

Hard to mount on brakes with recessed fasteners. thanks for the reminder to mount them on a couple of steeds!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e9e8a89b_c.jpgPA132335, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...be9dc79d_c.jpgPA132337 on FlickrThe mounting loop is hammered until it looks like a washer, then assembled on the brake. Much easier to control rotation when tightening teh nut plus tread engagement lose is minimized.

Back in the day, I had an old Schwinn that had a scraper like that mounted to the downtube. Considering how many miles I rode that thing in Tucson (land of goatheads), it helped quite a bit.

I have had more than my fair share of flats this year; so many, in fact, I wrote this Country Ode to the Flat Tire. WARNING: I swear a couple times in the song; just like when I get a flat. Please let me know if I need to delete the post.

carry a pump and flat kit (remo only) in addition to tubes :)