View Poll Results: How often do you get flats?
all too often



7
11.29%
somewhere in the middle



11
17.74%
once in a blue moon



44
70.97%
Voters: 62. You may not vote on this poll
are you prone to getting flats?
#1
i swear every bike i own i got at least two flats on and soon after getting them. usually on the back tire. after two flats i usually switch to the specialized armadillo tire and that usually keeps those flats away. although i somehow, amazing as it sounds, did once get a flat on an armadillo. my bf rides prob 3 times more than me and like never gets flats. i am drawn to them somehow
Last edited by lisasimpson; 05-24-05 at 12:04 AM.
#3
DEADBEEF

Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,234
Likes: 10
From: Catching his breath alongside a road near Seattle, WA USA
Bikes: 1999 K2 OzM, 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
This is The Ring of BikeForums threads. Anyone who replies to this thread and claims they don't often get flats will get one in seven days. BTW, I answered, "once in a blue moon" so I'm starting my countdown now.
__________________
1999 K2 OzM
2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM
2001 Aegis Aro Svelte"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
#4
Banned
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 10,082
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by khuon
This is The Ring of BikeForums threads. Anyone who replies to this thread and claims they don't often get flats will get one in seven days. BTW, I answered, "once in a blue moon" so I'm starting my countdown now. 

#7
Just Ride
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne - Australia
Bikes: 2005 Giant Yukon with the works.
Originally Posted by khuon
This is The Ring of BikeForums threads. Anyone who replies to this thread and claims they don't often get flats will get one in seven days. BTW, I answered, "once in a blue moon" so I'm starting my countdown now. 

#9
Originally Posted by Applehead57
I built new MA3's and switched to Conti Gator-Skins.
I'm thru with flats.
Ok, I've only got about 200 miles on them so far...but no flats!
I'm thru with flats.
Ok, I've only got about 200 miles on them so far...but no flats!
__________________
question everything.
question everything.
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,421
Likes: 0
From: Out there, on my bike
I'm sure I've already jinxed myself because I have written in another post that I have not had a flat in the 3 years I've been commuting. What the heck, it's bound to happen now!
I did manage to break the valve stem about a month ago. The tire held air fine, but I couldn't top it off like I am wont to do. So I changed the tube, but I pinched the new tube on the rim and it popped when I was pumping it up. I guess that counts as a flat, but it was in my dining room and not out somewhere on some lonely road.
But I'm way past due for a real flat, so bring it on! I'm ready!
I did manage to break the valve stem about a month ago. The tire held air fine, but I couldn't top it off like I am wont to do. So I changed the tube, but I pinched the new tube on the rim and it popped when I was pumping it up. I guess that counts as a flat, but it was in my dining room and not out somewhere on some lonely road.
But I'm way past due for a real flat, so bring it on! I'm ready!
#11
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138
Likes: 324
Bikes: 2 many
You need to constantly be scanning the surface of the ground in front of you and the road ahead back and forth all the time. Scan ahead for a certain distance then look at the vehicles for that much time. Don't look down, you sort of need to do both at the same time. If you concentrate as hard as you can it's much easier. Then it eventually becomes sort of a habit you can't stop. You need to study what things look like at a distance too. Anticipate further down the road for what's coming. If you see something that will give you a flat don't look right at it as you go by. You tend to go where your eyes look. Once you know where the object is look beside it as you go by. Look where you want to go.
7,500 plus miles a year 1 to 0 flats per year. And 1000 plus off road. No flats in about 4 years off road.
Everything is relative to what you are used to. Ride a motorcycle off road for 30 years and go 40 to 50 down foot paths in the woods. You become velocitized and then the slower speeds of a bicycle are easy. It's like driving in the car at high speed on back roads for a long time and then going on the highway for a while. By comparison it seems easier. I know this might not help but it's the only way I can explain how it feels when It happened to me.
I know, I know, now I'm doomed....
7,500 plus miles a year 1 to 0 flats per year. And 1000 plus off road. No flats in about 4 years off road.
Everything is relative to what you are used to. Ride a motorcycle off road for 30 years and go 40 to 50 down foot paths in the woods. You become velocitized and then the slower speeds of a bicycle are easy. It's like driving in the car at high speed on back roads for a long time and then going on the highway for a while. By comparison it seems easier. I know this might not help but it's the only way I can explain how it feels when It happened to me.
I know, I know, now I'm doomed....
#12
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,762
Likes: 5
From: NYC
Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp
Stop riding so far over to the sides of the road where all the junk lands.
If you have a friend click on this thread and cast their poll, then you won't get a flat, but you must do so within 7 days...
If you have a friend click on this thread and cast their poll, then you won't get a flat, but you must do so within 7 days...
#13
My phone just rang... there was some dude with a creepy voice on the other end telling me I was going to have a simultaneous double blowout on my next ride.
And all my CO2 cartridges will be dead.
And my hand pump with be broken.
And my spare tube will have a leak.
I hung up when he started saying something about my cell phone battery being dead as well.
WHY DID I READ THIS THREAD?!?!?!?!?!?
And all my CO2 cartridges will be dead.
And my hand pump with be broken.
And my spare tube will have a leak.
I hung up when he started saying something about my cell phone battery being dead as well.
WHY DID I READ THIS THREAD?!?!?!?!?!?
#14
Huachuca Rider

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,275
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Bikes: Fuji CCR1, Specialized Roubaix
I can think of one ride in the past 3 years where I forgot to take my cell phone. Result: 3 flats in 17 miles.
All other flats over the 3 years (maybe 2 of 'em) have been the variety where you discover them before the next ride.
Conclusion: Cell phone prevents flats.
(I still carry extra tube and a patch kit though.)
All other flats over the 3 years (maybe 2 of 'em) have been the variety where you discover them before the next ride.
Conclusion: Cell phone prevents flats.
(I still carry extra tube and a patch kit though.)
__________________
Just Peddlin' Around
Just Peddlin' Around
#15
[QUOTE=slvoid]Stop riding so far over to the sides of the road where all the junk lands.
QUOTE]
easy for u to say you draft cars at 35 mph lol. if i move over any more i will be in traffic and i cant keep up the speed. granted at night when the roads are bare i can, which i did last night. but during the day i cant really do that.
QUOTE]
easy for u to say you draft cars at 35 mph lol. if i move over any more i will be in traffic and i cant keep up the speed. granted at night when the roads are bare i can, which i did last night. but during the day i cant really do that.
#16
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM

Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,762
Likes: 5
From: NYC
Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp
Originally Posted by lisasimpson
easy for u to say you draft cars at 35 mph lol. if i move over any more i will be in traffic and i cant keep up the speed. granted at night when the roads are bare i can, which i did last night. but during the day i cant really do that.
#17
Kelly Drive Amateur
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
From: South Philly
Bikes: '86 Super Sport with mods
Originally Posted by Applehead57
....switched to Conti Gator-Skins.
I'm thru with flats....
I'm thru with flats....
#18
Geosynchronous Falconeer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,311
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
Bikes: 2006 Raleigh Rush Hour, Campy Habanero Team Ti, Soma Double Cross
Originally Posted by slvoid
Stop riding so far over to the sides of the road where all the junk lands.
If you have a friend click on this thread and cast their poll, then you won't get a flat, but you must do so within 7 days...
If you have a friend click on this thread and cast their poll, then you won't get a flat, but you must do so within 7 days...
__________________
Bring the pain.
Bring the pain.
#19
Geosynchronous Falconeer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,311
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA
Bikes: 2006 Raleigh Rush Hour, Campy Habanero Team Ti, Soma Double Cross
Originally Posted by slvoid
Just take the lane, they can a) wait behind you patiently, b) wait behind you impatiently, c) swerve around you, d) run you over. I can't see any of this being that much of a problem.
__________________
Bring the pain.
Bring the pain.
#20
Elite Rep
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne - Australia
Originally Posted by khuon
This is The Ring of BikeForums threads. Anyone who replies to this thread and claims they don't often get flats will get one in seven days. BTW, I answered, "once in a blue moon" so I'm starting my countdown now. 

#21
Kelly Drive Amateur
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
From: South Philly
Bikes: '86 Super Sport with mods
Originally Posted by khuon
This is The Ring of BikeForums threads. Anyone who replies to this thread and claims they don't often get flats will get one in seven days. BTW, I answered, "once in a blue moon" so I'm starting my countdown now. 

At least no demonic little girls with Cousin It hairdos attacked me.
#22
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138
Likes: 324
Bikes: 2 many
Originally Posted by slvoid
Just take the lane, they can a) wait behind you patiently, b) wait behind you impatiently, c) swerve around you, d) run you over. I can't see any of this being that much of a problem.




