First flat tyre

[sleaver]

Was out riding yesterday and as far as I knew, everything was fine. Woke up this morning and my rear tyre was flat

I've taken the inner tube out and tried to find a puncture by filling the sink with water but the only place I can find air escaping is from a square hole on the actual valve. I then noticed that the part with the hole was lose and when I tightened it up, the air bubbles stopped. If I loosened it, then air came out rather quickly.

Could the problem be that lose screw/nut/fitting (what ever it's called) or would it be worth putting a new tube on? It's a Presta valve by the way.

Hopefully it is just the lose valve bit but if it is, I've probably just asked a stupid question

 

[ianrauk]

Yes it's a removable core of the valve. Just tighten up as much as you can and it will be fine.

 

[sleaver]

Thanks @ianrauk

Knowing my luck, when I put the tube back in, I'll pinch it when putting the tyre back on and end up with another flat

 

[fossyant]

Talc on the tube before you put it back in. Stops it catching and sticking

 

[HLaB]

Thanks @ianrauk

Knowing my luck, when I put the tube back in, I'll pinch it when putting the tyre back on and end up with another flat

Remember to only use tire levers to remove the tire and, however tempted don't use them to refit the tire.

 

[MossCommuter]

I always use levers to refit a tyre.

 

[the_mikey]

I only ever use levers to get a tyre off the rim. Hands are enough to get it back on again.

 

[HLaB]

I always use levers to refit a tyre.

How often do you pinch a tube, hopefully not often but it increases the likelihood.

 

[sleaver]

Everything if fixed now. I could get the tyre back on without tyre levers.

I tightened the valve locking nut up and then went to pump the tyre up. Pressure gauge said 100 but the tyre was still as flat as a pancake. Yep, that's right, I've only just found out you have to loosen that nut to pump the tyre up. No wonder my tyres have still felt soft after pumping them up

 

[MossCommuter]

I am careful to avoid pinches and like @Mort I cannot put M+ on without levers.

Fortunately, being M+ they don't need to come off very often.

 

[Biker Joe]

Everything if fixed now. I could get the tyre back on without tyre levers.

I tightened the valve locking nut up and then went to pump the tyre up. Pressure gauge said 100 but the tyre was still as flat as a pancake. Yep, that's right, I've only just found out you have to loosen that nut to pump the tyre up. No wonder my tyres have still felt soft after pumping them up

Live and learn.

 

[Cupra]

Everything if fixed now. I could get the tyre back on without tyre levers.

I tightened the valve locking nut up and then went to pump the tyre up. Pressure gauge said 100 but the tyre was still as flat as a pancake. Yep, that's right, I've only just found out you have to loosen that nut to pump the tyre up. No wonder my tyres have still felt soft after pumping them up

My friend spent ages pumping his tyres up before our 50 mile ride because of the same problem.

 

[Boon 51]

Its all a big learning curve innit..

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Oh the memories ! ...don't worry all will become clear in time...and there is no such thing as a silly question on here....erm unless it involvesthe word helmet lol!

 

[sleaver]

The only downside of working out how to pump tyres up is that I've lost any artificial suspension I had