Are flat tires for good roadbikes common?
06-20-11, 11:49 AM
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Are flat tires for good roadbikes common?
Ive been hearing alot of people say its easy to get a flat tire on a road bike. I have heard of people changing 3 tubes a week due to flats. It sounds to me like if i take my bike out for 30 minutes of riding i will get a flat. is this right?
Last edited by CATS; 06-20-11 at 11:52 AM.
06-20-11, 11:52 AM
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Depends on where you ride, what kind of tires you use, and how good you are at avoiding crap on the road.
For me, riding racing tires around here, I could get 3 flats in a week, (which would be pretty rare) or go 3 months without a flat. There's a fair element of randomness in it.
For me, riding racing tires around here, I could get 3 flats in a week, (which would be pretty rare) or go 3 months without a flat. There's a fair element of randomness in it.
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06-20-11, 11:54 AM
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Unless you ride on terrible roads, flats aren't common. It's also important to wear cycling glasses and learn to watch for debris. It's alos important to replace worn tires before they get too thin.
I ride 5,000 annually get get two or three flats a yaer.
I ride 5,000 annually get get two or three flats a yaer.
06-20-11, 11:54 AM
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It's not that common. I haven't had a flat in over 6,000 miles.
06-20-11, 11:58 AM
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It is not that common. Get riding, you are over analyzing this new found hobby 
06-20-11, 11:59 AM
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Flats and Winds are part of road riding.
Much of it is also Luck.
Much of it is also Luck.
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Fred "The Real Fred"
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06-20-11, 11:59 AM
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06-20-11, 12:01 PM
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It's common, but not that common. What kind of flats are you getting? Do you put enough air in your tires?
06-20-11, 12:01 PM
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I rode a cross country tour in 2009. One rider had 8 flats in one day. Another rider rode 5000 miles with no flats.
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06-20-11, 12:01 PM
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No.
I've gone entire seasons without a flat. On the other hand, I've had three flats already this year.
I've gone entire seasons without a flat. On the other hand, I've had three flats already this year.
06-20-11, 12:03 PM
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Not that common. with about 5000+ miles I've done I've only bar 3-4 flats. avoid pot holes and glass and you should be fine.
try to rotate your tires (front/rear) every 800-1000 miles. this is much more important the heavier you are.
try to rotate your tires (front/rear) every 800-1000 miles. this is much more important the heavier you are.
06-20-11, 12:15 PM
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Haven't had a flat yet this year...of course, now that I've been suckered into reading this thread, I have no doubt I'll be fixing one on this afternoon's ride. Thank's CATS. Next time start a thread about missing corners and running into open sewage ditches. Haven't done that this year either...
06-20-11, 12:19 PM
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Portland Fred
Whether it's common or not depends on all these factors. Due to crap on the road, it is common for me, most recently today. When I ride on clean roads, they're rare.
06-20-11, 12:21 PM
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Why would you want to rotate tires on a road bike? To equalize the wear? This is not a good idea.
06-20-11, 12:23 PM
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Flats:
Rider on The Purple bike had 8 in one day.
https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=...74/YVT2H-9Jgzg
Rider on The Purple bike had 8 in one day.
https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=...74/YVT2H-9Jgzg
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Fred "The Real Fred"
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06-20-11, 12:28 PM
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I very rarely get flats, probably because I watch the road closely and avoid as much road debris and potholes as possible. Worst areas are at intersections where turning cars and cars going straight leave that little triangle area where debris seems to accumulate ... and where bicycles have to ride through to avoid traffic.
06-20-11, 01:02 PM
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The back tire wears faster, and gets squared off; 2 reasons not to move it to the front, where a flat is more of a safety problem, and grip is more of an issue.
You can make a reasonable argument for moving the front tire to the back when the back wears out, and putting a new tire on the front. In taht scenario you squeeze a little more life out of the front tire, and reduce your risk slightly of a front blow out.
Personally, I find it too much bother, and just replace them individually as needed.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
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OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
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You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
06-20-11, 01:12 PM
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Why do you think this is not a good idea? I learned to rotate my tires from....ah, let me think...oh yeah, from everyone I ride with. And, no, I would not jump off the bridge because everyone else was doing it...jumping off a bridge is dumb. Rotating tires is a good idea.
06-20-11, 01:34 PM
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For the reasons above; not a great idea to be moving a worn tire to the front.
Front blow out is a bigger problem than a rear, and a front slide is a bigger problem than a rear.
Front blow out is a bigger problem than a rear, and a front slide is a bigger problem than a rear.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
06-20-11, 01:35 PM
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Yes, in general the better the bike the more flats it will get. Cervelo, Seven, Trek Madone, etc. guarantee you at least one flat a week whereas anything sold at Wallyworld will never go flat and includes runflat tires for those times you're in neighborhoods where flats could kill.
06-20-11, 01:37 PM
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06-20-11, 02:27 PM
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Portland Fred
Rotating a worn rear tire to the front is a bad idea for reasons already stated (which amount to you are going to extra trouble to reduce your safety). If you are hell bent on rotating, rotate the front to the rear when the rear wears out and put a new tire on front.
It's no fun when front tires blow out or lose grip at speed. Doing anything that increases the possibility of this happening is insane. But if you can wipe out in a sewage ditch instead of on hard pavement where you can then be run over by traffic, you'll come out much better.
06-20-11, 02:34 PM
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We have a winner !
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06-20-11, 03:34 PM
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I go a few hundred miles with no flats, and then get 2 on a 30 mile ride.
It's no easier or harder to get them on a road bike than any other bike. When people say they get lots or its easy, its because their t ires are underinflated or they are riding in suspect areas. I've even ridden over areas with glass spread out and not flatted.
It's no easier or harder to get them on a road bike than any other bike. When people say they get lots or its easy, its because their t ires are underinflated or they are riding in suspect areas. I've even ridden over areas with glass spread out and not flatted.
06-20-11, 03:39 PM
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They could also be riding flat-prone tires like Ultremos instead of the BF-approved GP4000S.
