My tube asploded!

Finfan · #1 04-29-2009, 02:08 PM

Oh joy! On my way to work this morning my rear tire blew out. It didn't just go flat, I mean it popped and jolted me hard enough that I thought I hit something even though there was nothing there. Best part is that it was a slime tube. Since I wanted to get to work I called my wife and she brought my truck over to rescue me, but I can only imagine the mess I'll encounter when I take that tire off.

Retmachinist · #2 04-29-2009, 02:24 PM

Let us know if you can figure out what caused it to blow out? I am starting to get freaked about the blowouts people are having. I always build my bikes with new "Slime" tubes and new tires, but it sounds like it doesn't always matter.
My son lives in Fountain Hills, and he said you get alot of flats in Az. Is it the cactus needles?

John

freewheeling frank · #3 04-29-2009, 04:13 PM

specialised makes a super heavy duty tube they call a thorn tube or something it is the heaviest tube ive ever seen, really thick. i dont know the cost as i got mine at a yard sell with a box of bike parts. frank

Finfan · #4 04-29-2009, 08:43 PM

Well, I got it apart and things were totally underwhelming! The way the tire blew I half expected to find that I had picked up a razor blade but there was nothing! There is about a 1/4" (7mm) slit in the tube that runs front to back, but no apparent cause. I checked the tire closely inside and out. There is no damage and no foreign objects. The slit in the tube looks a little ragged also like it was torn instead of cut. My best guess is that the tube just gave out. Go figure. I got a Bell Flatblocker Max this time. Let's see how this one works out. BTW There really wasn't that much green gunk inside the tire either.

Easy Rider · #5 04-29-2009, 09:08 PM

Glad to hear you didn't get injured Finfan. I truly believe that gleen slick along with the heat of the tire spinning faster than a regular bicycle softens the rubber and causes them to blow or slit the inner tube that's why I refuse to use them again (especially when it caused me to walk around with a cane for a week). I'm with Frank when it comes to thorn proof inner tubes. Specialized thorn proof inner tubes are thick thru out the whole tube and that's all I use. I think they're around $16 ea.

Here's a picture of my first and last green slime incident

NEAT TIMES · #6 04-29-2009, 09:18 PM

Finfan, Glad Your Ok. And Thanks For The Input Easy. More To Learn Everyday!! Has Anybody Used The Thin Tire Liners? I Looked At Them At Sports Academy, About $6. Like Some Tuff Plastic. That green slime plugged my bicycle tire pump, works good! ha ha . Ron

**Dave31** · #7 04-29-2009, 09:33 PM

I ran over glass one time finfan that made a ragged cut on my tube, I wonder if that is a possibility that happened to you.

I use old tubes for liners and so far no thorn has made it through.

Finfan · #8 04-29-2009, 11:55 PM

FR: As far as I can tell there are no cuts or holes in the tire. I'm guessing that perhaps I hit a small rock that had just the right angle to put some extreme impact on a very small point. Thus the jolt I felt when the tube popped.

Neat: I tried the slime tire liner once. Somehow I managed to get a twist in the liner when I installed it. Eventually it cut through the tube at that point. My fault but it kind of put me off on tire liners.

Easy: I rarely go over 18mph on my bike. The laws here in Arizona are pretty draconian if they catch you going over 19 mph. A rear tire flat is a nuisance at that speed but not dangerous. Besides I like to just kick back, enjoy the cruise, and wave at the pedestrians as I go by. Much more relaxing than driving!

deacon · #9 05-01-2009, 05:25 AM

Easy: I rarely go over 18mph on my bike. The laws here in Arizona are pretty draconian if they catch you going over 19 mph. A rear tire flat is a nuisance at that speed but not dangerous. Besides I like to just kick back, enjoy the cruise, and wave at the pedestrians as I go by. Much more relaxing than driving!

I live in NC not many police here give a hoot about bikes. But I ride an Ebike these days and it is not capable of doing more than 15 or so. It is also dead quiet, so i get to interact with the people along the way. It is great fun. It is also a much different reaction than with i rode the China kit bike, or the WeadWhacker ones.

rslavicek · #10 05-01-2009, 08:12 AM

I've ridden thousands of miles on bikes (mostly pedaling) and the most common way to get a flat is to pinch the tube between the rim and the tire (snake bite). After installing a new tire or fixing a flat I will inflate the tire until the beads lock and then let the air out again and check to make sure that the tube is not caught on the rim. I always carry a spare tube and a pump also because even if you take care mounting your tires you can still get a flat.