Blowouts after a long ride
12-18-05, 01:40 PM
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Blowouts after a long ride
I consider myself extremely lucky since I have not had a flat on a ride in over 3000 miles, but I have had 2 blowouts after I had completed a long ride. One was after a century, as I was drving home with my bike in the back of the car, and the front tire just blew out for no reason.
Then yesterday, it wasn't supposed to rain, and I did a group ride of about 70 miles. When we got to our furthest point out we got caught in a nasty downpour and a headwind. We were all soaked to the bone, and by the end of the ride we all had hands so numb we could hardly shift or brake. The 2 miseable choices on the ride back were to do all the work in the front, or draft behind with a constant spray in the face. I knew that if anyone got a flat no one would want to stop, and most of us would be useless with such numb hands. About an hour after I got home, my bike just leaning against the wall in the hallway drying off, my rear tire blows.
Any idea why this happens?
I know that the warmer inside temperatures could increase the tire pressure a bit, but think that it would still be far less than the pressure on the tires when riding.
Then yesterday, it wasn't supposed to rain, and I did a group ride of about 70 miles. When we got to our furthest point out we got caught in a nasty downpour and a headwind. We were all soaked to the bone, and by the end of the ride we all had hands so numb we could hardly shift or brake. The 2 miseable choices on the ride back were to do all the work in the front, or draft behind with a constant spray in the face. I knew that if anyone got a flat no one would want to stop, and most of us would be useless with such numb hands. About an hour after I got home, my bike just leaning against the wall in the hallway drying off, my rear tire blows.
Any idea why this happens?
I know that the warmer inside temperatures could increase the tire pressure a bit, but think that it would still be far less than the pressure on the tires when riding.
12-18-05, 02:05 PM
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Pull out the tube and look for the hole. From the size, shape, and position of the hole, you can usually tell the reason for the flat pretty easily.
12-18-05, 02:13 PM
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I've never heard of temperature affecting a tube this way.
From your description, I would be removing the tape from the rim and checking out the rim. Are the spokes sticking through? Any abrasions (burrs)? Clean up the rim and put on some new rim tape when you are sure its not the culprit.
Are you using the same size tube as you did before you had this problem?
Inspect inside the tire to make sure nothing is pinching or stabbing the tube. You might have picked something up in your tire...and it wouldn't take much. If you still have problems, I might be tempted on getting a different tire and trying it out.
I hope you find it....how frustrating.
Oh! I read your post wrong. It was the front tire and then the back tire. Strange! Are you filling your tubes to the recommended PSI? Make sure they are always at the recommended psi (not too high or especially too low). How old are the tires? They might need to be replaced.
From your description, I would be removing the tape from the rim and checking out the rim. Are the spokes sticking through? Any abrasions (burrs)? Clean up the rim and put on some new rim tape when you are sure its not the culprit.
Are you using the same size tube as you did before you had this problem?
Inspect inside the tire to make sure nothing is pinching or stabbing the tube. You might have picked something up in your tire...and it wouldn't take much. If you still have problems, I might be tempted on getting a different tire and trying it out.
I hope you find it....how frustrating.
Oh! I read your post wrong. It was the front tire and then the back tire. Strange! Are you filling your tubes to the recommended PSI? Make sure they are always at the recommended psi (not too high or especially too low). How old are the tires? They might need to be replaced.
