Flippin' puncture

[Geoff Crowther]

Help please folks.
Had a puncture today on my road bike; Schwalbe Ultremo.
Found a bit of glass in the tyre, which I removed. Put spare in but it wouldn't pump up.
Got home and checked the tube and found another puncture.
Fixed that and checked the tyre very carefully, inside and out but couldn't find anything. Also checked the wheel rim.
Tested the tube in water before refitting. All ok and pumped up to about 100psi.
That was about 2 hours ago. Just checked now and it's going soft again.
I'm a reborn cyclist with about 18 months under my belt, but no expert.
What do you more experienced folk suggest I do next, other than fix the puncture ... again.

 

[Cuchilo]

New tube and bin that one .

 

[bpsmith]

Thoroughly check the inside and outside of the tyre for anything that could be sharp. Also check inside the wheel rim. Check the wheel tape too, as could be a sharp element of the wheel causing it possibly.

It helps if you line up the decals on the tyre with the valve. You can then ascertain where the puncture is occurring based on the position in the tube.

 

[gavintc]

I think there is still a bit of glass in the tyre. As you inflate, the glass is coming out its little home to do its work.

 

[The_Cycling_Scientist]

Another thing to check is the valve, maybe the core has come loose?

 

[400bhp]

Check the rim tape too - if it's ripped around/above a spoke that will cause punctures.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Thanks folks. I thought I'd checked all those but I'll do it again. Friends for dinner shortly and I'm cooking but I'll get to it tomorrow and let you know how it goes.
Haven't actually checked the valve core though.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Right, quick update. Went to check valve core and, as I undid dust cap air began to escape as the core unscrewed with the cap. I've tightened it with long nose pliers. Is there a proper way to do this?
BTW this happened last time tried to pump the tyre up and I think I just retightened it by hand.
I've pumped it up again and will monitor.
Thanks Cycling Scientist. I hope that's worked.
Also, the needle is slightly bent. Should I replace the core?

 

[raleighnut]

The removable core schraeder valves are a pain in the bum, they're made so that you can get 'slime' (or similar gunk) into the tube. I can't stand em

 

[moo]

Right, quick update. Went to check valve core and, as I undid dust cap air began to escape as the core unscrewed with the cap. I've tightened it with long nose pliers. Is there a proper way to do this?
BTW this happened last time tried to pump the tyre up and I think I just retightened it by hand.
I've pumped it up again and will monitor.
Thanks Cycling Scientist. I hope that's worked.
Also, the needle is slightly bent. Should I replace the core?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tufo-valve-key/

 

[Geoff Crowther]

The removable core schraeder valves are a pain in the bum, they're made so that you can get 'slime' (or similar gunk) into the tube. I can't stand em

You got me thinking there raleighnut, but they're Prestas, not Schraeder valves. Schraeder's are like the car & my motorbike aren't they? They have recessed cores whereas the Prestas are "sticky out" ones. Tell me if I've got this wrong.

 

[ColinJ]

You got me thinking there raleighnut, but they're Prestas, not Schraeder valves. Schraeder's are like the car & my motorbike aren't they? They have recessed cores whereas the Prestas are "sticky out" ones. Tell me if I've got this wrong.

That is correct.

I had a valve core blow out just after I checked to see if my rear tyre was going soft. It would have been a bit scary for it to have happened a few minutes earlier on a high speed descent ...

 

[Geoff Crowther]

It's an hour an' a quarter since I tightened the core an' pumped it up again and it still feels rock hard.
Thank you all for the really useful comments. Don't know where I'd be without CC!
But today's prize goes to the Cyclng Scientist. Have a virtual pint my friend .
And again, cheers to you all. It's good to learn new (to me) stuff.
Happy cycling.
Now, back to my Spanish Chicken bake ...

 

[The_Cycling_Scientist]

No worries. I know I've been there with a duff valve before on a brand new tube and gone and bought a 2nd one to find the first was actually fine.. on the plus side now I've repaired what the 2nd replaced I now have two spares in my kit bag!

 

[raleighnut]

You got me thinking there raleighnut, but they're Prestas, not Schraeder valves. Schraeder's are like the car & my motorbike aren't they? They have recessed cores whereas the Prestas are "sticky out" ones. Tell me if I've got this wrong.

Yeah, you're right I did mean presta, teach me to come posting after an afternoon 'relaxing' with a 'few' beers.