Punctures

[Nebulous]

All good things come to an end!

I had a back wheel puncture in January, replaced it with a new tube and patched the old one. I've been carrying the patched one in my jersey pocket when I go out.

Then on Saturday morning- hoping to get a decent distance in I punctured about 8 miles from home. No problem, get out the old patched one and change it at the side of the road. Well the patched one was burst as well. Out with the repair kit and patch the first one. By this time I was absolutely frozen cold and miserable so I just went home.

Sunday morning, out for the bike - the newly patched tube is flat again. I replaced it with a new tube - my last one and off I go. After 25 miles, some 6 miles from home and the front one is flat again. With no more tubes my wife had to rescue me.

So after 3 punctures in two days I went through the tyre and checked for debris - there were several pieces of small stones and glass and I sealed all the holes with superglue. I couldn't see any that were right through though. I also went to Edinburgh Bicycle and bought 4 new tubes and a puncture repair kit. I have a couple of new tyres I intended putting on for the Etape Caledonia - but if I get any more punctures I may just put them on now.

So all-in-all it has been incredibly frustrating. Cycling has been pretty good up until now, I've heard of people having repeat punctures, but kind of assumed it wouldn't happen to me!

James

 

[HLaB]

A couple of things to things to check if you cant find anything wrong with the tyre is your rim tape; p'ture on the innerside of the tube is a sign. Or if you never pumped up the replacement tubes to pressure it may be snake bites (your tube getting squeezed between the rim and the tyre), the give away there is two small holes in your tube.

 

[ramses]

Ah, the phantom puncture!

I had this issue sometime last year on my mountain bike. I got a pucture whilst out in the New Forest, no problem, hopped off the bike used a Topeak no glue required patch, and was very happy to be trying out the new cannister pump, wow! inflated in a nano second. Off on my merry way and all was well.

Then a few days later I had to go between sites at my then place of work, so hopped on the bike and off I went. All was well. Had a meeting, got back out to the bike and yes, you have guessed right, the back tyre was as flat as a pancake. Hmmm odd I thought, best have a look. So I stripped it down and checked the inner tube, and could find nothing. So rather than waste time, out came the spare, and within a few minutes I was good to go.

End of the day, left the office and OMG!! The damed tyre is flat again!, how is this, that was a new tube!! No spares on me, so tried to find the problem, but could find nothing. Tried to pump the tyre back up, and hey presto it held air! Odd. Perhaps a faulty valve. Cycled home, all ok. I deflated the back tyre and checked it all over, checked the rims and rim tape, and could find nothing. Checked the valve, but that was all ok, didn't need tightening. After that day everything was fine.

I threw out the old repair and got another spare.

Left me scratching my head somewhat as I could find no explanation.

If in doubt change the tubes, if the problem persist all you can do is check the wheel and tyre and realistically you should find something! Hope it all gets sorted.

 

[Jmetz]

maybe someone followed you around letting them down for a laugh

 

[Alien8]

So after 3 punctures in two days I went through the tyre and checked for debris - there were several pieces of small stones and glass

It's a good idea to do this after every ride - a couple of minutes checking and picking out any debris is well spent if it saves you getting a flat.

Also, when you mount the tyre align some marking on the side-wall with the valve so that when you get a flat you can approximately workout (from where the hole in the tube is) where the offending object entered the tyre and pick it out if it's still there.

 

[Glover Fan]

Does anybody here suffer from puncture paranoia? As in, I look down at my tyres at least every five minutes to see if I have a puncture. It's a shame, my irrational fear of punctures, even though I can change a tube easily enough really ruins my rides!!!

 

[oldroadman]

Murphy's Law of punctures:
You always puncture when it causes the most aggravation, and punctures ALWAYS come in bunches.

We have all ridden for ages without a flat, then collected several in short order. One thing, if changing a tube the tyre is half off, and it's easy to run a finger (slowly) round the inside to check for penetrations.
Then, back in the stone age, tere were "tyresaver", basically a bit of shaped wire which skimmed the surface of the tyre, attached via the brake bolt. The idea was to whip off flints/glass/detritus within half a revolution - and they worked. The cheap alternative being a bit of cloth handlebar tape set a fraction above the tyre (or on it, soon wears to the right depth) which does the same job. About 80% puncture elimination.
Oh, and pump 'em up well, snakebite disappears.

Gosh, another thought, if on clinchers use latex inner tubes, light and flexible and seem to resist punctures a bit better, nicer ride with decent tyres. Downside is you must check pressure and pump up at least twice a week as they are slightly porous.

There, I think that's it. Philosophy - punctures are part of riding, practice changes and get good at it, then enjoy the punctures!

I'll get me coat...!

 

[ramses]

run a finger (slowly) round the inside to check for penetrations.

So glad we are talking tyres and inner tubes!

Oh, not again, attack of the filthy mind!

 

[jackthelad]

I had a look on you tube regarding punctures,and they all take the tube out of the tyre and look for the repair then run their hand around the inside of the tyre looking for what caused the puncture.What I have learned to do is take the tube out but leave the valve in and line the tube up with the tyre the way it was in the tyre then blow up the tube and you see the puncture and also the exact place in the tyre where the culprit is that caused the puncture.

I dont understand why people on you tube try to show you how to fix a puncture by taking the tube away from the tyre in the first place loosing exactly the place where the object is that caused it in the first place.Maybe I am doing something wrong, and the forum could enlighten me

jackthelad

 

[Nebulous]

Thanks for all your replies folks.

jackthelad - I don't think I could enlighten you - as I was clearly getting it wrong myself. I took tube out and replaced it. I did run finger round inside it but didn't find anything.

Tyre/tube has held pressure for 48 hours now so I hope I have cracked it, but I still haven't ridden it yet!

James

 

[runner]

Does anybody here suffer from puncture paranoia? As in, I look down at my tyres at least every five minutes to see if I have a puncture. It's a shame, my irrational fear of punctures, even though I can change a tube easily enough really ruins my rides!!!

Yes i've got a touch of PP having had 3 punctures in 3 weeks...you constantly stop to check the pressure by simply pressing on the tyre...and then you imagine that the tyre is not quite as hard as when you started...still I'm all set for the next puncture, with one new and three repaired innertubes.....come on glass...bring it on...

 

[Tasker]

I've got an irrational fear of these pesky mishaps you mention.

Don't know what bike you've got - mine's a hybrid sort of thing I brought off the net - albeit with a few improvements. One of the said improvements was to get a pair of Shaube (can't spell) marathon Pluses. After eighteen months never had the mishap you mention yet despite riding on/off all kinds of places.

 

[Glover Fan]

Well what a co-incidence. I got my first puncture today.

It's times like these that you realise what a crap hand pump you may have purchased. Mine could only manage 40psi so I cycled home on my roadbike that is usually pumped up to 110psi against probably the strongest headwind I have ever experience. So my nice pre-audax spin of the legs turned into a gruelling slog home.

 

[sunnyjim]

…back wheel puncture … I punctured …a puncture repair …phantom puncture….puncture paranoia….fear of punctures…Law of punctures….always puncture…. resist punctures… puncture elimination…Philosophy – punctures… regarding punctures…see the puncture…. caused the puncture…fix a puncture… first puncture….

AAAAAaaarrggghhh!! Stopittt stopitt...

 

[chillyuk]

It's a good idea to do this after every ride - a couple of minutes checking and picking out any debris is well spent if it saves you getting a flat.

Also, when you mount the tyre align some marking on the side-wall with the valve so that when you get a flat you can approximately workout (from where the hole in the tube is) where the offending object entered the tyre and pick it out if it's still there.

Never thought of that. Excellent idea as long as you remember what you have aligned with the valve!