Got new Conti Gatorskins 2 weeks ago. I may have put 200 miles on them. Maybe.

I go to get my bike out this morning, which I haven't ridden since Saturday and the back tire (of course) is completely flat. I was initially hoping it was a slow leak at the valve stem because this tube's valve was bent. Figured I'd fill 'er up and monitor for a slow leak. I give the wheel a spin and see a tack sticking right into the side of these new tires!!

I think it was a ~1/2 inch roofing tack (sharp as hell) that went perpendicularly through the tire and tube. The head of the tack left an imprint on the tire surface, so it may have been there a while.

Even though these new tires have a small hole in them I'm going to continue riding them. I don't think any combo of tires or liners would have stopped this tack. A word to the wise for those of you who don't carry any flat repair equipment at all.

G.D. it.

I carry a spare tube and a $1 bill.

Sorry to hear about your flat. I doubt that small a hole will affect the tire integrety.

I had the same thing happen, except mine was cut all the way through the casing to the tube. And I probably only had 100 miles on 'em.

But guess what. I put a small piece of scrap tube rubber inside the tire, over the cut, replaced the tube and haven't had another flat since (in about 1400 miles).

Good luck.

While I was waiting for the Gatorskins to arrive I had my Bontrager tires booted with a $1 bill for a week. No problems. I would have to be really unlucky to hit that spot again, but the way things have been going, I probably will...

+1! on having a dollar bill save the day. My tire is kevlar belted with tire liners AND Slime!
So the tire separated from the bead and BLEW OUT BIGTIME!
I wrapped the $1 billa round the bead and it held all the way back to the car. (8 miles and 1,400 foot descent) Granted I only ran about 35 psi to keep lightning from striking again!

Yikes!!

Glad you're in one peice. Your brakes able to clear that?

That's a sweet photo.

Not much braking surface on the rim, was it a disc brake bike?

Cantis would clear that just fine, too.

My gatorskins got a flat as well today...riding in rainy dark where I couldn't really get out of the way of whatever it was. The worse part was that I left my wrenches at home (old bike needs 9/16 or 5/8 to get the lugs off the wheels...very much a pain in the ass) Had to leave the bike at work and get a ride home...

1400 foot descent on that? my heart is racing just thinking about it. My hats off to you.