Now, what is said about those that assume?

Hi LC,

First question:
I stretch tubes when taking them out the box so that they'll air
up easier after being folded or stored for gosh knows how long.

Second question:
Plastic rim strip (very thin light blue).

What's best strip to use?
Cloth?

Great advice, but I found the failure already. It was in the valve.
And, the tire (as stated) has several nicks and cuts.
Thanks though...I'll keep all that in mind.

I ride sew-ups (a.k.a. "tubulars"). I've been riding my Ciocc with cheap (but heavy at 295 g for a sew-up) Servizio Corsa sew-ups since last year over typical less-than-ideal rural south Louisiana roads with NO flats.

There is no need to stretch them but if you want to then have at it.

Cloth rim tape is the best and most reliable. Plastic rim strips can give you mystery flats.

Too funny...you were the one who stated, "I didn't waste anytime with that piece of crap tube! I just ripped it out and tossed it" then "I didn't keep them long enough to know if it even was there. It leaked, I chucked it, NEXT" and then "Just smart enough not to waste more than 5 minutes on a $3. tube."

Wow. You actually took the time to go back through the thread to parse what I said?
Only took me 3 seconds to scroll down page 1 to where I said that I examined
the tube BEFORE I posted what you chose to justify your statement.

Here: 1 (800) Get Date
(much more fun)

I see you are making an assumption

2ndGen, we must teach you the art of the multi-quote...

Yes. I realize that. Will address and correct myself next time VG.

that's my tube of choice right now.

edit: or is it the mischelin race lights?

Them Vittoria's are all that I use!

I use Giant thorn resistant tubes. They are thicker than normal tubes. 400miles and no leaks yet.

I cursed myself...5-6 miles of my main commute was recently chip sealed.
I rode home in the rain Thursday and the back tire felt squirrelly, I assumed it was the wet roads. Went out today to get the bike cleaned up and replace the bar tape. Back tire was flat. Pulled the tube and found the hole after a few minutes and some soapy water.
I Found a piece of flat gravel and a small piece of flat copper 1/2-3/4" or so from a deep cut in the tire between the tread and the kevlar belt. The metal had made it all the way to the edge of the kevlar belt and thru the case on the tire and nicked the tube.
2200 miles and one flat on a rear tire, guess I can live with that. Still hurts to pay as much for a bike tire as a car tire.

Same thing happened to me when I used FORTE tubes. Literally on the dot to 80, from 120. I thought it was my basement floor (cold to hot, inconsistent temp, whatever), but whatever the stock tubes are in my CAAD9 that has yet to happen.

Going to roll with Continental Race Lites.
At 70 grams they are'nt not the lightest,
but I've read great things about them and they
should pair up with my Conti GP4KS tires nicely.

Saturday, I take a look at a set of 2011 Mavic Ksyrium Elites
and just might pull the trigger on the whole package in one shot
and drop 2lbs from my 18.63lb CAAD9.

Then, I slap a set of Conti Tubes on the OEM Mavic CXP22 wheelset with a pair of grittier tires
(maybe some CX tires as big as I can fit on them) for beaters.

Continental Grand Prix 4000S Tires Rock!

Wow...this is another of those upgrades from OEM
that simply launch your bike into another stratosphere.
I had to ask if they were 25's when I got back after a quick test spin.
Nope...23's and they were SUPER comfortable and so smooth.

Couldn't find the Conti Race Lite Tubes, so I'm going to have to order them online.
But, saw my Ksyriums today! NICE! 2-4 weeks and they go on the bike.

We still talking tires?..

I've ordered 10 of these a few times. First time they were Bontrager, second time Giant. Never had a problem with either.

I'm with a few others: the one time I had repeated problems with tubes it was due to an almost undetectable piece of debris in the tire that was causing a very small puncture and very slow leak in each tube.

Because I had that issue with my first road bike,
I was careful to look for that with these slow leaks/flats I had recently.
In this instance, I'm going to have to chalk it up to a combination of cheap tires and cheap tubes.

I read a very good review of someone who rode the same
conditions I rode and who went through the same problems.
Once they switched tires (at least), the flats just stopped.
I'm hoping for the same results.

You should also work on technique. How far ahead are you looking?

I don't know.
I never thought about it.
I ride in NYC/Suburbs.
Probably some of the worst roads to ride.
Very similar to the roads described one of the reviews that I read.

If you do group rides, notice that some people seem to never get flats.

You should be looking far ahead enough so you can recognize debris and steer around it. A lot of people only look a few feet ahead so when they see some glass, they're on top of it.