tracerit

I think it was because I rode over some rail road tracks last night and hit the protruded part of the cement. I felt the shock and thought maybe somethign would be wrong, well I just got home from work and was going for a ride and noticed my front tire is flat. I eyeballed the tire and there doesn't seem to be any punctures, so I'm guessing the tube inside blew out?


I'm going to go out and buy a pump but most likely will need a spare tube. Are there any extra durable tubes that I can get?



The tire size is 700x23C, wire bead, 60TPI with .9mm Presta tube.

derath

Dunno about tubes, but you can get flat protection inserts, or kevlar tires (I went with the latter).

Oh and I got a flat about .5 miles out of my first ride with my new bike.

-D

Psimet2001 

When you replace the tube check it for holes. Odds are you will find what looks like a "snake bite" along the tube. This is where the rim pinched the tube between the object and the rim. This can happen at any pressure, but happens more frequently if the tire is under-inflated. Based on the fact that you said you need to buy a pump I wouldn't be going out on a limb by guessing that yours is a pinch flat caused by underinflation.

Replace the tube, check you tire pressure before every ride, or every other ride if you ride daily. It is the simplest way to help prevent flats.

bmclaughlin807

Sounds like a pinch flat... You'll know when you look at the tube, it'll have two identical (or nearly so) holes opposite each other... kind of like a snake bite.

I got one the other day when I hit a 1/2" concrete edge WAY too fast.

*** Ha... someone beat me to it... that's what happens when I'm talkin' on IRC and not paying attention!

Granny

Flats are no big deal - they are part of riding. You should be comfortable repairing a flat during a ride.

JBar

Pinch flat. Keep your tires aired fully and learn how to fix a flat. It's part of the ride. No big deal.

tracerit

It's night time now and I don't have much space in the garage so I'm going to hold off checking to see what type of flat I have until tomorrow afternoon.

I've only ridden 50miles since I got the bike, how often should I inflate the tireS? Well now, I know ot check every time I go for a ride (usually 25miles over the weekend, and 5 miles each night during the weekdays).

Is the pinch flat a result of underinflated tires? or hitting a bump too hard? or a combination of both?

BlessedHellride

Start getting those miles up! 5 miles a night isn't even a warm up.

Congrats on the bike!

badkarma

It's probably a pinch flat. But I'm curious, for additional flat protection, if your rims don't have rim tape, I would suggest getting some (Velox).

Psimet2001 

I'll re-quote what I wrote earlier...

55/Rad

Pinch flats usually go pretty fast - they aren't slow leakers by nature - so it's possible based on the description in your opening post that's it's not a pinch flat. Make sure to check the inside of the tire for any sharp debris still stuck in the tire.

Buying a pump is a good idea along with extra tubes, patches, tire levers and a bag to put it all in. Equally important is checking the pressure in your tires before every ride. And being able to change a flat on the side of the road is a handy skill to have if you are going to continue to ride.

55/Rad

NRRider

I got a flat my first ride out with my new bike (first road bike) last December. Was pretty pissed, but since then have learned that stuff like that just happens. Also got a pinch flat about 6 weeks ago when my tires were fully inflated. I've averaged a flat or so a month, riding about 300 miles a month. Like everyone says, get all the repair stuff and spare tubes (sometimes the flat can't be repaired) and fill the tires every 2-3 days.

WD_40

I can beat that! I flatted my first road bike before I even owned it. I took it on a test ride around the block and came back with a flat tire. Those Bontrager Selects were the first thing I replaced on that bike.

Raleighroader

No question that you need to inflate 23c tires about every other day.

I used to get flats about once every few hundred miles. I may be in a lucky streak right now, but I have had only one flat in the last 4,000 miles, and that was a pinch flat caused by being forced up over a regular curb at 15 mph. No tire could take that.

I am doing some things differently, which I think is a part of my no-flat streak. I went to 25c tires, and I am replacing the rear tire before it shows as much wear. I used to let it develop a flat tread spot, with some little cuts, before replacing it, but I also got a lot of flats in the last few hundred miles of my use of that tire. I also reduced my inflation from 120 psi to 105, which has made the tires more resilient when going over sharp objects.

Tommyp

60 tpi???
Get some nice durable tires...all too often companies toss cheap tires on bikes for price-point.

Keep your tubes well inflated (most tires want 110-120 psi). You should get a floor pump and before you ride check/inflate your tires as they slowly leak air. Also get a frame pump (or CO2 cartridge thingy), some spare tubes, tire levers and a patch kit. Keep them in a saddle saddle bag in case you need them while out on the road.

tracerit

What does 60TPI mean?

After figuring out how to use the Presta valve, I pumped the tire full of air but it would go semi flat after a minute. I submerged the entire tube in water and couldn't find any bubbles. At this point, i'm just going to get a replacement tube from Performance and was looking at this one:

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=5411

Is this a reliable tube?

FunkyTang

60 threads per inch, just like that stat sheets have.

dekalbSTEEL

well, Performance says it is.....

Forte Road Tube - PV 700 x 19-26

Regular Price: $4.99
Sale Price: $2.47 (That's 50% Off!)
Item #44-6005U
» In Stock
The old reliable.

tracerit

I went ahead and bought the tube, works fine, putting the tire back onto the rim was tough but hopefully I won't have to replace the tube in the near future.

I pumped the tube with an old bike pump from the early 90s but it didn't work so well so I went to Target and got a Schwinn pump with a PSI meter. The crappy thing coudln't hold onto the presta valve to gauge the PSI, guess i'm heading back to Performance for a better pump.

Yeah, i knew someone was going to mention "The old reliable." but you should know that a store will put anything down to sell the item. Ford advertised their new Fusion sedan with the tagline "create energy" but it's just another gas vehicle.

jjmolyet

Inflate before EVERY ride!

kyselad

A decent pump shouldn't have this problem. Are you sure you're locking the pump head down onto the valve? You'll typically need to lift a lever once the pump is seated. If it's still not working properly, I would return the pump, since it obviously wouldn't be od much use.

cooker

The presta valve goes a long way into the pump head...make sure you have full insertion.

Mothra

Target had a pump with presta pump-head? A lot of pumps come with dual-ends that work with both shraeder and presta. Make sure you've got the presta valve stuck up the presta side of the pump-head, and flip the lock to the correct side.

lurker

Had lots of problems with flats on my Allez after I first got it. Replaced the tires and my problems went away.

recursive

Road tires need to be inflated a couple of times a week, at least. Changing a flat shouldn't be a big deal. I have several spare tubes on hand, and I've had at least a dozen flats in the last year. Make sure you are inflating your tires enough too. I don't want to start a holy war, but I inflate mine to about 115psi. Unless you are heavy, at least 90 is probably passable though, as long as you make sure to reinflate before every ride.