Flats

nitroscope8 · #1 06-18-2008, 12:26 PM

I used to brag to myself that I never got a flat tire on a bike ride...only close to home where tools are available. So today I decide to go on a 15 mile trek since I have off. I get to my destination and check out the local bike shop. I figured I would get some extra tubes and a portable tire pump. They were expensive there so I decided to buy online. On my way home BAM, back tire blows. Not just the tube, but tire and tube. Great....so off I go walking home through all the hills. Walked about 7 miles.

Not much of a story, but i'm sweating my nads off right now lol. I really need run flats.

**Ilikeabikea** · #2 06-18-2008, 12:52 PM

Thats why I always carry my favorite tool with me when I ride my motorized bicycle. A cell phone.................................

nitroscope8 · #3 06-18-2008, 02:06 PM

Didn't work till I was a mile from my house. No service by the water

Any good online stores you recommend for bikes? I picked up three tubes today and two of them are being used in TWO flats. So I have an extra. Now...where online is a good seller where I can get tubes and a portable bike pump/co2 pump?

**Ilikeabikea** · #4 06-18-2008, 02:15 PM

We are out in the flat open country here. Cellphones work nearly everywhere.

I use to have a little hand pump that clipped under the bar on a regular bicycle. It would fit on my cruiser but not my mountain bike. I have seen those little cans of fixaflat for motorcycles at Wally World. I bet one of them would inflate a tire pretty quickly. I think if I was doing lots of traveling on my motorized bicycle I'd carry a couple of tubes and a couple of those small cans of fixaflat..................................

**Dave31** · #5 06-18-2008, 02:21 PM

I alway's ride with a spare tube tools to change tire and a small pump that clip's to the frame.... I also use old inner tube's as liner's. I have not had a flat in four years but I know the first ride without that stuff I will have one.

nitroscope8 · #6 06-18-2008, 04:50 PM

Well, got it all fixed up today and bought an extra tube. Now I think i'm gonna order one of those c02 thingys to inflate the tire.

cityevader · #7 06-18-2008, 11:14 PM

I've been stranded multiple times due to pinch flats, since my wide rims and tires on my mountain bike caused drive chain rub, so I went from 2.1" tires to 1.5" to clear the chain, but that dropped the sidewall height due to the wide rims, so a decent bump and the tire would squeeze against the rim causing a "snakebite" with two holes where the folded over tire with tube inside would be pinched between the rim and the ground.

I tried to get flat free solid tires from airfreetires.com, but they took my money and never shipped my tires after nearly three weeks, so I added Slime sealant to a new tire/tube, and haven't pinch flatted yet. I was skeptical at first, but it actually worked! 4oz in each tire..voila!

cityevader · #8 06-18-2008, 11:19 PM

Oh yeah, I use the CO2 things when mtn biking due to time...pumping takes time. But CO2 cartridges are heavy when you have enough to be actually prepared. A single flat will use about 3 cartrides. Half to fill/find leak. Fill/recheck leak. Two to inflate to good pressure. Get another flat (I've had four in one ride before) and the weight of CO2 escalates. Personally, I'd prefer to have 2 CO2 cartrides and a regular mini pump in my bag. And Slime will apparently thwart pinch flats and thorns, but definitely not broken beer bottles.

nitroscope8 · #9 06-19-2008, 06:18 AM

Thanks for the tips. Guess ill have to start being more prepared.

I found the puncture. someone tossed a needle out the window and it ended up in my tire. Gross...

deacon · #10 06-20-2008, 11:31 AM

Now before you yell at me I know this is the wrong things to use, but I wanted to try it and for me it works really well.

I bought a big can of fix o flat at the auto parts store. Wallywart has it to. So I just deflated one of the tires put in a little of the gunk. then rode it around the block and pumped it to the correct pressure with my little compressor. then I did the other one the same way. I was a little low on air the other day in the front tire. I put in a little of the fix o flat ran it up and down the drive to spread it out then pumped it to pressure. So far it is holding.

Since the most I am ever from home is about five miles, I figure I can live with it if the tire explodes.