Repeated flats before turning a pedal

[whead33]

I have a spare rear wheel for one of my bikes, which I use exclusively on the turbo trainer, with a tyre for the job.

After a few thousand miles I wore a hole in my turbo tyre, and punctured. Fine, no problem, new tyre, new tube. But no. I've had repeated flats ever since, usually without even getting as far as putting the wheel on the bike, and I'm at the end of my tether.

I thought I had a dodgy batch of Continental tubes, as I had a couple of cores come out whilst taking a pump off, but no. Today I tried putting in a Michelin tube with no removable core but that also went flat straight away. I have tried the following combinations:
- Mavic Askium wheel that's never been on the road, only on the turbo
- New turbo tyre, 700x23c (felt all the way around inside, can't find anything sharp)
- 4 continental tubes
- 1 michelin tube (size on the box is fine, but the tube looks too long when inflated)
- three different pumps, including a presta/shraeder adaptor
- two types of tyre levers

Whatever combo I try it goes flat pretty much instantly and seems to come from the valve.

What the #### am I doing wrong? I've been riding 30 years and never had any issues changing a tube before this.

Thanks

 

[Lonestar]

Oh yes I had the same problem....Apart from shredding the turbo trainer tyre....I've still got shredded bits of tyre on the turbo trainer...Flats were a regular and a pain...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bicycle-...-Tire-UK-Seller/201939671419?var=501947100775

I have the black tyre plus some spares.I also have spare turbo trainer tyres which I am not likely to use now.

Then I tried one of these and I haven't looked back...I have a cheap £80 roller though and it works fine on that and doesn't shred and doesn't puncture.
I reckon I have done 4000 miles on one tyre and I kid you not...

The tyre warms up...I did two 40 min sessions yesterday but thats fine...Although on the next session when the tyre is cold there is a little bump where the tyre meets the roller but that soon goes when the tyre warms up again...

Apart from that it's been perfect...

My worst worry now is the bottom bracket is going to go...Plus yesterday my performance was rubbish...I just seem to have no energy.

 

[Sharky]

You say "Whatever combo I try it goes flat pretty much instantly and seems to come from the valve."

Have you proven that it is the valve area where the air is escaping from? Have all the other tubes gone in the same place? Is it in the rubber or the valve?

Might be a process of elimination until you can find the cause.
Good luck

 

[Lonestar]

Ah...didn't read the post properly...Looks like the OP doesn't have the same problem I had.

 

[Nigelnightmare]

Try NOT using tyre levers to put the tyre on.
When you removed the punctured tube's, What sort of puncture did they have? I.E. snake bite, single hole or split.
Where?
Were they all the same?

Possible causes...
Pinching tube with tyre levers (when fitting)
Tube caught under tyre bead
Spoke end/damaged rim tape
Tyre bead damaged (wire poking tube)
Pump damaging Valve
Faulty tube(s)
Something embedded in tyre that only just penetrates when flat but more so when pumped up (very difficult to find).
Rim damage cracked/split swarffrom using metal levers etc.

Sort of in order of probability high to low.
HTH
Try a different tyre, if that stays up then you have found the culprit.
Check the rim tape as the wheel on a trainer gets quite HOT.

 

[berty bassett]

find the puncture on the tube , note distance from valve then check wheel at same distance
but i should think its the tyre - take off and turn inside out , bend it the wrong way and run thumb in it - but you may jab your thumb
good luck

 

[Gary E]

Try the same combination but use a different tyre (not to actually ride on the trainer, just to aid fault finding).

If you don't get a puncture it was the turbo tyre all along.

If you do then the only common factor in all your experiments is the wheel. As Nigelnightmare said above, look for damage to the rim, missing/dislodged rim tape and exposed spoke ends.

Good luck

 

[Racing roadkill]

Check the rim tape is absolutely smooth and that it hasn’t sunk into any of the spoke access holes. Pay particular attention to the hole where the valve sits.