I just passed the 1000 mile mark on the bike I bought in August. (Sound of me patting myself on the back.) The remarkable thing is that I haven't had a flat on the bike yet. I carry a spare tube and a patch kit, but I've never had to use either of them.

Being a firm beleiver in Murphy's law and all it's corollaries (sp?), I know it's just a matter of time. My question is how long will it take before I get a flat? My gut tells me that it will happen at night on a poorly lit section of the road when my headlight batteries are almost done (same with my cell phone) during a sudden and unforseen rainstorm.

i would carry 2 tubes, screw the patch kit, too much wasted time.

dj is right, patch kits are a pain. Take 2 tubes if you are worried about it. I usually take one but I had to walk home once because of it. Had 2 flats in one ride.

And always run your finger through the inside of the tire to find if the punctire culprit is still lodged in there.

Funny enough, whenever I get a flat it is dark and I am on the wrong side of town! Yeah, leave the patch kit at home and carry a spare tube & pump.

i just started carrying a park tire patch also.

Keep the patch kit and carry and extra tube if it makes you feel more comfortable. You never know when you might have to loan out a spare tube (or offer to patch their tube) to a fellow rider in need.

I haven't had a flat in going on 15 years now, mostly thanks to nylon tire liners and/or kevlar belted tires.

I say get your flat out of the way now so you can relax and forget it. I went 10,000km without a flat earlier this year. I then went on to get seven in the next month.

I've got about 2800 miles on my front tire with no punctures, but 5 punctures on the rear.

You will get a flat exactly 542 miles from now! (or 56 days, whichever comes first). Be careful.

I carry one spare tube and a patch kit, that way I can just use the tube if needed, but if I have two flats I can patch a tube if needed.

I carry two tubes, CO2 inflator and a pump. Only had to use the two tubes once.
I'd agree with your statement though....when you started this thread you screwed yourself.

You sound ok to me.
I got a flat, walked home with the bike about a mile a few days ago, then I tried to change the tire and blew it up(selfsealing tire).

Jacob

Ive had 5 flats in the past 2 weeks, after months/years of flat-free riding.
Maybe its because Im riding lots of bike paths, covered in leaves. On the road, at least you can see where you are going.
Id agree that flats lurk, waiting to strike, on dark rainy nights.

jeah, you'll puncture real soon. Flats occur mostly on rear tires because you have a better chance to ride around something, thereby avoiding the object with your
front tire. Also, because pf Murphy's Law, the (small but extra) hassle of the cassette & chain come into play with the rear tire. When your tires begin to really show
some wear, the puncture probabliity rises. The rubber is simply thinner & more susceptible to puncture. Around here the usual culprit is the fine sherd of a brown beer bottle.

I had my first flat at about 3500 miles. The wearing out of the tire really didn't have anything to do with it. A sharp very pointy stone went through the center of a thick knob on my tire.
I patched the tube and tire and pumped up the tire in about 45 minutes.
Having repaired car tires for a living a few years back, I learned it's necessary to put a patch on the inside of the tire too, to keep contaminants from getting into the tire and causing other punctures.
After reading this thread, I think I'm going to start carrying a tube with me too.

How much does tire pressure have to do with getting flats? As I have heard a lot of talk about the weakness of Conti. sidewalls. Do these people keep a lower pressure or just go around a lot more corners than I do. BTW I haven't had a flat on a ride in 4 years, then again I only ride about 3000m a year.

Psssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.....

That's amazing! I haven't had a flat yet either, but could hardly expect to go that long without one. You lead a charmed life, friend (or at least your tires do).

Also, because pf Murphy's Law, the (small but extra) hassle of the cassette & chain come into play with the rear tire.


I beg to differ. The bike manufacturers know how to design a bike; therefore, this "hassle" has not anything to do with Murphy's Law.


Jacob
Murphy's Law

Something told me I should not have posted this. Well, three things actually. All of them flats -- yesterday.