a flat in the woods

leo · Oct 14, 2015

don't you just love it, you get up stupid early to go bow hunting. get 2-3 miles from the truck, just "deep enough" into the woods. then BAM!! flat tire...
now you're walking back... lol

oh well, it's still better than a work day.

YesImLDS · Oct 14, 2015

Better than a flat with your face flat to the ground from it!

2door · Oct 14, 2015

Man, I consider myself blessed.
I've yet to have a flat on one of my bikes but was with a buddy, who I built a bike for, and he had one about two miles from the house. As luck would have it he ran over a 1/16" cotter pin that went through the rear tire sidewall. Weird, but it let the air out and he had to walk the bike back to my house. I walked my bike with him. No fun.

I don't even carry a patch kit or spare tube when I ride. Maybe I should reconsider.

Tom

bluegoatwoods · Oct 14, 2015

It's a coin toss, really. Some folks do seem to have more flats than others.

For myself, flats are pretty rare. Though they do seem to come in pairs. And sometimes even threes.

I used to make sure I always had a pump and a patch kit with me. Then I'd go two years or so without a flat. Finally I'd need to repair a tire. My patch kit would be filthy and the pump wouldn't work.

So now I don't bother. When I do have a flat I lock my bike to a tree and walk home. Then I bring the car back, pick up the bike and drive it home.

I just don't know whether to recommend a patch kit and pump or not.

YesImLDS · Oct 14, 2015

Of the 3 flats I have had 2 were self inflicted. One I couldn't find what popped it and it was a rock in the tire that I just put back on. The second I pinched the tube inbetween the tire and rim. A lot of it is just doing what ya need to do properly!

leo · Oct 15, 2015

oh well, i'm going to look at it as an "opportunity" to get rid of that cheap walmart tire.
i didn't like it anyway.

Slogger · Oct 15, 2015

I had three all in a row, bing bing bing..
The first one was a long walk, the second one was because the first one wasn't fixed right, the third was from a crappy road full of metal trash I won't ride down anymore..

It all stopped when I put toughy liners in the tires and new rim liners on the rims.
I hate flats, and walking more than a couple hundred yards is really painful on my bad leg.
Spend the $20, it's a good place to put it.

xseler · Oct 15, 2015

2door said:
Man, I consider myself blessed.
I've yet to have a flat on one of my bikes but was with a buddy, who I built a bike for, and he had one about two miles from the house. As luck would have it he ran over a 1/16" cotter pin that went through the rear tire sidewall. Weird, but it let the air out and he had to walk the bike back to my house. I walked my bike with him. No fun.

I don't even carry a patch kit or spare tube when I ride. Maybe I should reconsider.

Tom

I've also never experienced a flat on this bike (but have on a motorcycle at speed). I'm now running tires with a kevlar liner and thornproof tubes --- hopefully my luck will continue.

dance1

xseler · Oct 15, 2015

leo said:
oh well, i'm going to look at it as an "opportunity" to get rid of that cheap walmart tire.
i didn't like it anyway.

Niagara Cycle is a great place to get tires --- they have almost any type/brand/price point that you can imagine. Best of luck with the 'upgrade'.....

bluegoatwoods · Oct 15, 2015

Niagara cycle really is a good place for tires and other bike parts as well.

By the way, I do have some advice for installing new tires. Spray the inside of the tire with Armor-All. Spray the tube as well. Smear it all over so that both surfaces are entirely wet. Or very nearly so.

Then pump it up to about 15 psi. Bounce the tire on the ground, rotating it as you go. Sort of like dribbling a basketball. Let some of the air out and then fill it up all the way.

This will eliminate almost all chance of tube pinching and stuff like that.

Some people use talcum powder, Shower to Shower, stuff like that instead of Armor-All.

I've done it, too. Both work fine.

allen standley · Oct 16, 2015

3 FLATS this year alone-- every one a Deck screw in the rear tire all at a different locations along my points of travel. I swear these things seek me out this year.

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a flat in the woods

leo

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YesImLDS

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2door

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bluegoatwoods

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YesImLDS

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leo

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Slogger

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xseler

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xseler

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bluegoatwoods

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allen standley

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