Flat tyre

[w00hoo_kent]

I know the answer is 'just change the tube' and we'll order some in tonight when I'm back where the CRC vouchers are, but thoughts on this one as it's a little odd.

We went to cycle last weekend and the back tyre on the Croix was flat. Not pudgy, totally devoid of air. Argh thought I, must be a puncture, so rather than pump it up I took the wheel off, took the tube out and had a search around. Fine. Pumped it up and put it in water. Still fine. So, somewhat bemused, I replace it inflated it and we did a 20 mile ride no problems. Still solid when we got home.

Fast forward to this morning, about to put the bike in the car for cycle to work, flat as a flat thing again. No time to faff about, so checked the tyre for objects (none) pumped it up to 80 psi again, checked the front, 5 psi down so took it up to 80 as well. 30 minute drive so said 'see what it's like when you park up and decide then'. Tyre was solid and she's ridden in on it. I'm waiting to hear if there is an issue before she goes to ride home, she has a spare tube, tools and CO2 but will probably be using a winning smile to get the tube changed as she's not really practiced at it.

What's likely to be happening here? The front is fine, the rear goes completely flat. Nothing appears to leak and the valves are presta's with locking thingy locked and a cap screwed on. The bike is kept indoors.

I'm going to get a pair of new tubes and replace both for peace of mind, I guess I'll throw the old rear away as untrustworthy, but it bugs me not knowing why I can't trust it...

 

[ianrauk]

or faulty valve

 

[w00hoo_kent]

[QUOTE 3261701, member: 259"]It's just a slow puncture. Or there could be a valve problem. It happens sometimes. It might just be better to chuck it.[/QUOTE]
It's odd that a slow puncture is able to make it less useful than a fast one, at least I can find a fast one and patch it. I guess mentally I have 'slow puncture' as being something that goes flat in an hour or so tops and this one seems to take days.

 

[raleighnut]

Its always a right faff to find those tiny ones, bin it (well I would but normally after about an hour of trying to find that one bubble every 30 seconds )

 

[w00hoo_kent]

It solved itself last night, I phoned her when I got to my destination to find it had given up during the day so collected her and deposited her at the car with the bike. I'll stick a new tube in it and see if the extra stress has made the hole obvious in the old one :-) . Nice to have some sort of spare while I wait for the replacements to arrive.