It's flat time of year again.

Spring is almost here and the streets are litterd with debris and pot holes. I have patched a tube 3x in the last 2 weeks. How is everyone else holding up?

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Permalink Reply by Joe TV on March 9, 2011 at 8:51am
I haven't flatted in the two years I've been riding Gatorskins. Even when under inflated I have not had problems. *knocking on wood*

Gatorskins were out of stock last time so for three months now I've been on Conti SuperSports and so far so good.
Permalink Reply by Tiberculosis on March 9, 2011 at 9:48am

No flats here in over a year either. Specialized Armadillo's. Switched to Fyxation 23's last fall (they were the cheapest) and no problem there either. I think the valves fail more often than i get flats. Sorry bout the bad flat luck, I hate changing flats.

Permalink Reply by Davo on March 9, 2011 at 10:24am
its not that bad. I seem to get hit with them during early spring and fall for some reason
Permalink Reply by Joe Willis on March 9, 2011 at 10:38am
I get 2 or 3 s year with my gators. Air pressure is key.
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on March 9, 2011 at 2:02pm

That many flats in that little time means you have a larger problem.

 

Are you getting pinch flats or punctures?

 

Do you line your valve stem and tire labels up?

 

If it is a puncture have you found and removed the debris that caused it?

Permalink Reply by Davo on March 9, 2011 at 5:13pm

2 of them were pinch type flats from hitting potholes that I didnt see untill too late. The larger problem is that sometimes I'm a little tipsey when I'm riding home so its a little harder to avoid these potholes. 

Permalink Reply by Eduardo on March 9, 2011 at 5:39pm

What everybody's opinion on tubeless tires? They say they are the future of road cycling. It's not in my budget right now but they do seem tempting. With a tubeless tire you have a smoother ride from the absence of friction between the tire and the tube. Lack of tube eliminates puncture risks.

 

In case of a flat, some wheels allow a 2 way fit - tubeless and clincher. Remove the closure valve and use a traditional inner tube to ride home.

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on March 10, 2011 at 1:45am

Keep a close eye on your tire pressure, low pressure is the number one cause of pinch flats.

If pressure is not the issue and this is a chronic problem try switching to a larger tire; as a 'average sized man' I have had issues with pinch flats and now tend to set my bikes up with what many consider over sized tires to prevent pinch flats.  They also provide a much nicer ride.


Davo said:

2 of them were pinch type flats from hitting potholes that I didnt see untill too late. The larger problem is that sometimes I'm a little tipsey when I'm riding home so its a little harder to avoid these potholes. 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 10, 2011 at 2:36am

I don't see how so many folks ride around on the tires some people seem to be getting away with on these nasty Chicago streets.  

 

You guys are good.  

 

So many potholes and unavoidable ridges from construction are out there everywhere.  I like the security of a meaty fat tire and not having to worry about pinch flats.  My old MTB isn't the fastest thing in the world but it is solid and strong.  I'll carry around the extra 15lb weight penalty knowing I'm riding a bike that was made for riding down rocky mountain trails.  I run fat slicks in the summer and they don't feel like they have much  more rolling resistance than super-skinny track tires.  They are also a heck of a lot easier to work on if they do get a flat -no levers needed.

Permalink Reply by Joel on March 10, 2011 at 3:42am

I have a pair of Vittoria Randonneur Pros on one bike and have never had a flat in the 1,500 miles I've owned it. I just put a set of  Vittoria Randonneur Hypers on my commuter, and so far I really like them.  A little lighter, faster, and slicker than the Pros, but they are also supposed to be very puncture resistant. 

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 10, 2011 at 4:04am

Honestly I've never gotten a flat from a pothole.

Unless I go riding through alleys or through an area with lots of abandoned, industrial debris on the road I don't get metal in  my tires either and if it does happen the offending item usually stays in the tire.

 

My bigger problem of late seems to be the sidewall puncture from some type of villian 

I kept getting pinch flats or "snake bites" as one guy called them but I also had high pressure tires with low pressure tubes and once we corrected that no problems last year or this...so far.

 

Remember use your powers for GOOD not evil.

 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 10, 2011 at 4:33am
I don't see how people avoid riding in alleys and the beat-up residential backstreets.   I do a lot of that in my own commuting and errand-running.  Perhaps I just don't like playing in traffic as much as other riders.  I prefer to stay off the major streets and take back ways as much as possible.  Not only do I feel safer but my routes are faster/shorter when cutting through these alleyways and back streets.

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