Flats Every Day
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Southern NJ
Bikes: Trek 8000
Flats Every Day
I have a Trek 8000 that I ride on average of 100 miles per week. I do some light trail riding, but for the most part I ride on roads. My past 5 rides I've gotten a flat. Sometimes the front, sometimes the rear. The past two flats though have come after the ride, I can inflate the tire, go for a ride and have no issues but then when I go back to the bike in the morning...flat. I don't understand why this is happening, if there was a hole wouldnt it leak more when I was on it than when I'm not?
I'm thinking about getting new tires put on, could anybody recommend a tire that might help with this? I'm tired of taking my tires to the local bike shop for "professional advice" and getting blank stares. Thank you!
I'm thinking about getting new tires put on, could anybody recommend a tire that might help with this? I'm tired of taking my tires to the local bike shop for "professional advice" and getting blank stares. Thank you!
#3
Multi
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, FL
Bikes: '05 Trek Fuel 70, Desmarais Fixed Gear Custom, '05 Felt F55
Are you using the correct size tube? also have you checked the tires for any thing inside them? there could be a nail or something inside them
#4
Who farted?
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '06 K2 Zed 3.0, '09 Novara Buzz V
^ did you sweep out the tire to make sure nothing is rattling around in there, got rim strips? How much do you weigh and how high do you keep your tires pumped?
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Alaska
Bikes: Novara Randonee, Specialized Rockhopper
I've had a similar problem but not on both wheels at the same time. I would recommend referencing you tube, tire and wheel to the stem, find the hole in the tube and see if the hole occurs in the same place every time. If it does there could be a piece of glass, metal or thorn embedded in your tire that only protrudes under pressure. Or, there could be a spoke or foriegn object protruding from your rim. You can also look at the placement of the hole in your tube to see if it suggests pentration from the tire side or rim side. Another problem can come from tight fitting tires or inexpensive tubes that invite punctures from your tire irons. Good luck and when you find the cause let us know.
#6
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Southern NJ
Bikes: Trek 8000
Thanks, though now I have a new question...
So I found the problem. I spoke with another local rider and he was having the same problems. Apparently there's an area in a local trail that has a lot of thorns. I took the tire off the rim and sure enough, thorns...everywhere. I took them out so hopefully that fixes my problem.
So here's my new question:
I'm gonna get new tires...the shop recommended a kevlar tire, or a kevlar strip. I need new tires anyway so I'm thinking of just getting new tires, but is it worth the extra money to be doubly safe and have the kevlar tire WITH the kevlar strip? Also, I've heard about these slime tubes but never believed the hype, should I throw them in as part of the deal also? Ugh...too many options.
So here's my new question:
I'm gonna get new tires...the shop recommended a kevlar tire, or a kevlar strip. I need new tires anyway so I'm thinking of just getting new tires, but is it worth the extra money to be doubly safe and have the kevlar tire WITH the kevlar strip? Also, I've heard about these slime tubes but never believed the hype, should I throw them in as part of the deal also? Ugh...too many options.
#7
I use the slime tubes and havent had a flat since i put them on. I also ride trails that have lots of thorns and the cst tubes that came stock in the bike got flats every time i rode the trails.
#8
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Southern NJ
Bikes: Trek 8000
Just an update, I went to a new bike shop and actually found the right tire for what I do. I got the Specialized Crossroads, amazing so far. Much faster on the roads and still decent on the trails that I ride. No flats so far, keep your fingers crossed for me. I'm actually thinking about buying another set of tires and rims and keeping those to swap when I want to ride serious trails. Thanks to everybody who responded to my initial post.
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Another vote for the slime tubes. They are heavy (for a tube) but they seriously work. I too had problems with thorns. I had always heard of people getting flats from thorns and I never believed it, until it happened to me. The slime tube tubes fixed that




