Teach me about flat tires
 

So I was riding today on my newly adjusted bike (shifts like a dream again-- Thanks everybody!) and I was about 50 yards from my front door when I get a flat rear tire.

• So what do I need to order (just tire, or tube also?) and what size? And from where (assume no local bike shops)?
• Also what tools would I need to change the tire (I'm assuming parktool.com has a how-to, but if not please point me in the right direction)?
• The last thing I want to have to worry about on a long ride is catching a flat in the middle of it (and I don't like carrying extra stuff with me if I don't have to), so what would you folks suggest for the most DURABLE road tire? I'm on pavement 100% of the time, with the occasional rough spot or random rocks. Also I'm in this for exercise, not speed so if it's not the fastest tire in the world I won't be upset.
• Let's say this happens again-- What should I carry with me on a ride to change it on the side of the road? (remember, I'm a minimalist as far as equipment)

Thanks a lot everyone, I'm looking forward to learning yet another invaluable skill related to cycling! :thumb:

First, I think you should go to Sheldon Brown to see what his site has on basics for a flat. But, I'll try to give you some pointers.
1. You need to change the tube for sure. The tube goes flat not the tire.
2. To change the tube you need tire levers that lift the tire over the rim, one side at a time. I'd buy three levers.
3. You need to inspect the tire and the tube to find out if they caused the flat because if they did, you're going to get another flat quickly.
4. It helps if you know where the flat/leak in the tube occurred so that you can trace it to that part of the tire and rim.
5. Inspect the rim, assure that there are no burrs on the alloy, assure that the rim tape is covering all the spoke holes.
6. Inspect the tire, look for something sharp protruding into the tire. Look for small holes that can pinch a tire.
You might want to take it to an LBS and ask to watch them check the tire and rim before they install the new tube, that way you can learn from them.
7. Carry a cell phone, you never know when you need a ride.
I'm sure others will add to this list.

Carry a couple of tire levers, a tube and a source of inflation (co2 or pump) to fix it on the road in a hurry.
Then when you get home patch the flat one and keep it as the spare.
I get so many flats that I don't throw a tube out until it has some patches on it.

Patches are fairly minimalist. You could get by with a small patch kit and not a spare tube, unless your valve fails.
You can also patch a tube without fully removing it from the tire, so you may not need tire levers. It takes 5 minutes.

Plus... 1 tube = 1 repair, but 1 patch kit = many repairs.

:facepalm:

My wife just blew her tire and needed a p/u. It was a Spec Armadillo. It was a great tire. I noticed and told her a few weeks ago we'd have to change it soon (really worn). So she rode it until the casing blew out, centerline. New tire goes on tomorrow AM.

Generally, if the tire is still good, and you have good inflation pressure, most flats will be punctures. Feel around the inner casing by running fingers around it, feeling for a sharpie, and remove it (or if not possible on the road, use a fingernail to flatten it down, or put some duct tape or a rubber patch over it).

Look then feel, so you don't hurt yourself.
Fancy tip on tires and valve stems, line up your tires label with your valve stem so you can trace where on your tire the problem is based on the tube. This usually gets me down to 2 spots as I am usually unhappy change tubes and yank it out twisting it so I don't remember which way it was on the wheel.

I just had my first flat. When I pulled out the tube, I couldn't find anything that might have caused it. I just put in the new tube. Is this a problem?

Tubes can go spontaneously.

Usually if you slowly turn the tire, you can find a puncturing object. That's the first thing to do. But ultimately, if there is a puncturing offender that you can't see from the outside, feeling the inside of the tire casing will reveal it. You can also remove your tube, reinflate it to reveal the hole position, and see where the hole corresponds to the casing. If you try to reinflate your tube and it just won't reinflate, because it has a big jagged hole, it's the tube. Put a new one on, or patch it with a good patch.

i'm not that enamored of thin-film no-glue patches. I like thick rubber glued-on patches, insofar as getting long-ridable repairs. Thin films will get you home though, 99.9% of the time. Mostly I carry two tubes. After a recent side-wall failure, too big for a boot, I'm thinkin of carrying a foldable tire, but haven't done this yet.

remember, all flats are not object punctures. you can get snakebite punctures from under inflation, you can tear the valve stem, ....

Consider yourself lucky you flatted so close to home. That will probably be the last time that happens!! Next time you'll be miles from anywhere. :D

You may like being a minimalist, but it's a good idea to bring enough stuff to get you out of trouble ... and that may vary depending on where you ride. At a minimum I would suggest a tube, tire levers, and pump.

You can be a minimalist and still have a small saddle bag with the essentials to change a tube. Bring 2 tubes, not just 1.

I was flatting almost exactly 6 km into just about every ride for a while, and we tracked it down to a rim tape issue.

c'mon who really carries a spare tire?? maybe some material to boot a tire, but not a whole tire unless you are doing some serious long distance touring...

i completely agree that you should be proficient at and carry the stuff required to change out or patch a tube. its really simple and i would consider it a "must have" skill for any cyclist.

this thread is ridikolus

As it happens, I do carry a spare tire when I do my really long rides, especially if I'm going to be in the middle of nowhere, but I didn't suggest carrying a spare tire in my post. I'm not sure what you're reading.

I suggested carrying a minimum of a tube, tire levers, and pump ... and whatever else you might need to get out of trouble. It could be a matter of carrying a boot, and/or some spare change for the phone booth or a cell phone, and/or a small multi-tool, and/or whatever, depending on the situation.

apologies, i misread your post, i took your quote of "tire levers" as "tire, levers".

Need. more. coffee.

I carry 2 tire levers, (metal ones), one tube with a 68 mm stem so it will fit most rims, one glueless patch kit (park tools), small multitool, one shimano chain link pin, and one shifter cable long enough to reach the rear derailer. All this fits in a small seat bag. I also carry a frame pump. Nothing worse then being 60 miles from home and having a broken shifter cable, chain, etc.
For tires I like Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase. They are heavy as sin ~ 340 grams per tire, but I usually ride 5000 miles on a set and never flat.
Cheers
Eric

I'm trying to remember when I last felt this kind of enviable enthusiasm for this sport, but it's not happening. Try to hang onto it kid. It never lasts.

:D

Coffee?? It's 11:30 pm ... time to sleep!!

As a minimum you should always carry a patch kit and a mini pump. Tire levers are only necessary if you can't pry the tire off by hand. This is something you should ascertain beforehand.

I recommend carrying a spare tube as well, because if your tube fails anywhere near the valve stem, then your patch kit won't help you. However, this type of failure rarely occurs, so it's not necessarily a must-have item.

If you want real peace of mind, then invest in some Mr. Tuffie tire liners for about $18 a pair. They fit between the tire and tube and provide an excellent layer of protection against punctures. The downside is that you lose some of the suppleness of the tire, and after a year or so, the ends of the tire liners eventually slice the tube wide open.

I'll just add that I find patch kits useless on the road. Most of the expert articles I've read say the cure time on those patches is 24hrs, and that's been my experience. A patched tire will get me about a mile or two further down the road, and I'll have a flat again. So, I say carry a replacement tube, and save the patching for when you get back to the ranch, and let it set-up overnight.

The park tool glueless patch kit will go on in about 10 seconds and will hold long enough to get you home. I don't get flats often enough to bother riding tubes with patches, unless it is to get me home.

Sorry for not knowing, guys. :rolleyes:


Everyone else, thanks for the input! Immediately after it happened I found a very small cut and a pin-hole in the tire, which must have gotten to the tube.


Where can I buy some tubes, tire levers and a mini-pump?

Also, can someone point me in the direction of a how-to? I'm sure it's not very hard but I really don't want to screw up my pretty blue bicycle. :D



There are no local bike shops.. :(