Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Why, Oh Why?

Does it always have to be the REAR tire?

And as far as that goes, why does it ALWAYS seem I flat out at convenient times like near the end of a 90 minute ride just before work?

So far, for my bike, I've put four new tubes on the rear tire. The front is the tube that was on the bike when I bought it (1100 miles ago). Of those four flats, three have occurred in the morning prior to work.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

i'd say it was murphey's law, but i actually think it's pavlov...

you're TRAINING the bike to rear flat right before work...

Anna said...

OMGosh can I relate! I've owned my bike for just over two weeks and I've had two flats -- on the rear tire.

I feel your pain.

Spokane Al said...

This probably has nothing to do with your flat issues, but I wonder if you rotate your tires. The back tire wears faster than the front so I rotate every 500 miles. Its seems to help with tire life if nothing else.

Wrenched Photography said...

The Bike Karma monster found a new soul to devour.

Al's right, rotating does help as the rear wears mucho faster than the front.

TriDaddy said...

I've never had a flat and have told people that enough times that it can't possibly jinx me... until now, I'm certain... but anyway... I always pump my tires up to max psi immediately before EVERY ride, trainer or road. Someone told me that by doing that you can prevent your tube from getting "pinched" by the rim. I didn't quite get what they were talking about, but whatever... it seems to work for me and other people I know who do it.

Cliff said...

IronPol,

Now u are ready for any flats on IN.

I rarely get flats when I ride. So on one of my long ride a few weekends ago, I did a flat rehearse. Stopped my bike a few miles frmo home. Released all the air from my rear tire. Take tube out. Put tube back in. Pump and ride home.

Comm's said...

Thats just sick Cliff.

I have never flatted in my entire life. yeah right.

Bigun said...

it you weren't so freaking HUGE, you wouldn't have these flat issues. My advise: lose weight! That's right, IP, you need to slim down - your rear tire is screaming at you and rebelling with flat after flat. HA!

Taconite Boy said...

I need to mail you a Taconite Boy Alert System. TBAS can be used by any biker who flats and I'll be notified by satellite and immediately be available to change your tire in 12.4 seconds. Actually, 12.3 based on the latest stats by Global Superhero Survey, but who's really counting.

Kewl Nitrox said...

Are you using tubulars or clinchers? Have you been trying out different tyres? Maybe try one of 'em "puncture resistant" types?

Getting the pressure right is also important, so I assume you are pumping up the tyres before every ride? I do the same as Tarheeltri and I have not had much puncture issues on my clinchers.

Lesser is More said...

I think you stole my bad bike karma. I had 3 flats on my rear a couple of weeks ago on three consecutive rides. Just find another person to pass it on to, and you'll be good to go.

TriDaddy said...

I know a few people who are always flatting the same tire... there's got to be a reason why they always flat the same tire. My theory is that when you put a new tube in your tire, you increase the risk of it folding when you inflate it, especially if you inflate it with Co2 which inflates rapidly versus a pump. The more often you practice changing your tire, the more you increase the risk of "self pinching" your tube when you inflate it. Based on the two bikes I have owned, bike shops are pretty good at avoiding folds when putting tires together. I'm confident that I, as well as most people, could change a flat without practice, so there's really no reason to increase your risk of creating that initial fold, and probable pinch flat, especially when you consider the fact that if you flat in a race, you will always footnote that in talking about the race anyway.... "yeah, I had a three hour bike split, but I flatted.... it took me 15 minutes to change the tire..." Theory probably needs a little more investigating but for the time being, there won't be any tire changing practice here... which basically means to look for my upcoming "my first flat" post.

Dances with Corgis said...

The more of these you change NOW the faster you will be if it happens on the race!

Tar heel's theory could have some merit. My theory is to stop being such a fat ass and you won't keep popping the tire ;) heehee

FunFitandHappy said...

I've had SEVERAL flats in recent weeks myself - all in the rear tire - one of which was VERY inconveniently during the Florida 70.3

Jonah Holland said...

How close were those flats together? maybe you have something hidden in your tire (like glass) or maybe your tire has a small hole you didn't see?
Good luck!