DnvrFox

This thread is designed to allow someone to express "flat rage" without being carted off to the local hoosegow.

Post your flat experiences here

OK - 2 flats today on what ended up as a 12 mile ride. Fortunately I carry two tubes.
Others?

Retro Grouch 

I had 2 flats on a ride once last year. The second was actually my own fault because it was caused by a tiny sharp rock that I didn't find after the first flat. I only had 1 inner tube but I did have a patch kit with me so I patched both inner tubes. It doesn't take much longer than just patching 1 and it replenished my inventory for the trip back home.

DnvrFox

I carry a patch kit - but correct patching is NOT one of my skills - they always leak. I do have a few self-sealing (or whatever they are called) patches to make it home if I run out of tubes.

B. Carfree

Tires have gotten so good over the years that I hardly ever get flats anymore. I still carry two tubes and a patch kit, and I know how to use it, but it's just wasted weight. So, I'm complaining about the fact that I have nothing to complain about, at least with respect to flat tires.

billydonn

Goat head season in the Rockies?

DnvrFox

Yes - 2 in a row. One on a new section of trail, one where some construction had dumped some leaves (and, obviously goatheads) on the trail. But, goathead season isn't supposed to be here until near fall.

Mort Canard

I have been visited by the flat fairy twice so far this year. Both times I was on the local MUP and there was debris on the paths from where the grounds crew had been mowing and hadn't cleaned up their clippings. It's been a while since I've had a flat on any of my favorite rural roads.

con

My flat came at a pretty good time, found my rear tire flat on my every day road bike when I pulled the bike off the rack in the garage to begin my ride today........So, I took my carbon beast. Wish it was always that easy.

BTW, I did not patch the rear tube so I could ride the bike because I found the rear tire had a ripped side wall. I'm not sure a boot will hold it and I did not have a good enough spare tire to put on. I see a visit to my LBS this weekend.

Popeyecahn

No flats in two years! I haven't ridden more than 50 miles in that time mind you...


During my first month of serious cycling 5 years ago, I had more flats than I could handle (high rim wall wheels gave me fits). I learned to change my tires, patch them and then bought Gatorskins. Then I bought a bike with reasonable rims that I could get a tire on to and I was home free!

FenderTL5

I started commuting every day May 21st 2012, almost a year ago.
I had repeated blowout flats on my rear tire. If I ran at max pressure, the tire blew out that day. I backed off and was getting a couple/three weeks before the next flat. At last count it was 11, with only one being a puncture from a shard of glass. all of the others were blowouts. I took the rim/tire to a LBS 3 times, having the rim tape replaced and inspected, to no avail until the last time (in April). The mechanic found a tire defect, a short section of the wire bead was missing.

I replaced the tires with a set of Michelin City Tires on April 13th, so far so good. A better ride and no flats in the last month.

Flat Rage is exactly what I was experiencing, it has been my biggest challenge in year one of being a bicycle commuter.

Dan Burkhart 

Every time I say this, I duck and cover my head, but I can't remember my last flat. It's been several years.

TromboneAl

My record is five flats in one ride with my wife. Actually more, because I think we had a garage flat or two.

It was the first time I rode in Colorado (near Fruita), and it was my introduction to goathead thorns.

rck

Flatted 2 different occasions last week both occuring in the rear wheel of my trail bike. Couldn't find a reason the first time, however, Skipper with whom I was riding the second time, found a tiny thorn the on the most recent.

Dudelsack

No flats with the Schwalbe Marathon Pluses, ever.

They were so boring I replaced them with some flimsy Michelins. We'll see how they do.

Retro Grouch 

Uh - sometimes boring is good.

NOS88

My lawn mower had a flat today. So, I had to go for a ride instead mowing the lawn.

10 Wheels

Five times, had 3 flats on a ride.

Carry 5 tubes and a spare tire.

Couple a weeks ago met Charley who was on his 2nd flat and No CO2 left.

We both check his tire for wires or glass. found nothing.

Gave him a tube and followed him home.
Five miles into the ride home , he had his third flat same tire.

Gave him the spare tire and another tube.

Made it to his home 6 more miles.






The next day I came across Mark who had a flat same spot as Charley.
His CO2 failed. Loaned him a pump and followed him home.

goldfinch

Hey 10 Wheels, weren't you the one who sat on fire ants when changing a flat on the side of the road?

My worst was in Texas when I was going to go for a short ride. I brought nothing with me as I could call my spouse to pick me up if anything happened. A couple of miles out I got a flat. Called spouse. No answer. Started walking. I repeatedly called. He never answered. His phone was muted. I walked awkwardly the two miles to the rv in cleats as many trucks from the rv park went zipping by. I was repeatedly bit by mosquitoes. After that, I always carried my gear. And, if I see a cyclist on the side of the road I roll down my window and ask if all is well.

DX-MAN

Flatted for the first time in over a year the other day coming home from work; it was the motivation I needed to get off my lazy ace and buy a new mini-pump -- had to push the bike the last half-mile home (SO glad I didn't flat halfway through the LONG loop I sometimes take!). Not a huge deal, but an irritation -- damned drunks and their bottle-breaking on the way home from the bar....

DnvrFox

With my two flats a couple of days ago, at least 10 bicyclists went by - none asking if they can help. I ALWAYS ask. Oh well.

NOS88

I'd encourage you to keep putting good karma out there, Denver. We need all we can get.

10 Wheels

Yep, Fire Ants love me.

Here is the photo if you want to see a tall fat old guy.
https://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...roppedFlat.jpg

I alway stop and wait untill the rider gets back on the road.

Retro Grouch 

Now THAT would warrant a rant.

I don't want to hear any more whining about fixing flat tires in the rain.

10 Wheels

Why::: Their CO2 or pump may not work.

KenshiBiker

Had a blowout in the front tire a couple of weeks ago. I had just crested a small rise in the road and was picking up speed. I still don't know what I hit (even after I went back to look for it). I just know my pressure went from 120 psi to 0 in an instant. No problem, just slow to a stop. Kind of busy on that side of the road, and not much shoulder. There was a nice grassy area on the other side of the street, so I popped the cleatsavers on, and wheeled the bike across. Fortunately I carry 2 tubes and a patch kit plus a micro pump and CO2 inflator, so it was not big deal to put in a new tube, make sure it was seated with the micro pump then finish it up with the CO2 (first time I ever used CO2 - worked like a charm). Interestingly, a bunce of people passed me by, and a number of them asked if I needed help, or had everything I needed, etc. Since I use 650C wheels on my bike, I was happy I didn't need to rely on the kindness of a stranger for a new tube.

On this morning's ride, I got another flat - rear tire this time. Not sure what caused it, I couldn't find anything on the inside of the tire and I looked really hard and ran my fingers all over the inside, especially where the hole in the tube was. Anyway, popped a new tube in; seated it with the micro pump, then used the CO2 inflator. All of a sudden, Bang! I blew out the tube (also blew the tire off the rim, which was useful since there was no way I was gonna be able to reuse that tube). I assume I must have had the tube pinched (???). Anyway, I pulled the shredded tube out, put another new tube in, reinflated it (this time with no issues), and finished my ride without incident. I am now though, a little gun shy about the CO2. I hope my problem was user error. If not, would a standard (16 gram unthreaded) CO2 cylinder be able to over-inflate a road tire (650Cx23)? I always assumed it wouldn't, but hey, what do I know? By the way, this time, no one (and there must have been at least a dozen cyclists) asked if I needed help. Maybe because this time, I was in the shade on the grassy area of a strip mall, and not quite so close to the street (maybe 20 feet or so - still close enough to be easily seen).

Thanks,

KB