What a Bad Start To The Day

Soni

Went out on my training ride this morning at 05:30, have to be back by 06:45 for my Mrs going to work, as have to look after our children before they go to before school club.

Half way through ride get puncture, the first i've had in my Bontrager Hard Case been using them since January pretty much every day and no problems.

Pump the tyre up, it stays up for about 10 minutes then goes flat again, i'm half hour away from home, pump it up again, this time only lasts 2 minutes then flat....

So, i'm allready late back home and i now realise the Mrs is going to be late for work, and she is also probably going to be worried that i've been knocked off and i've got no mobile phone on me.....

I pull over, take the wheel and tyre off, check the tyre, can't find anything obvious, but did notice a slice all the way through the tyre and also a tiny little shard of flint, thought this was it, took it out, put new tube in, tyre on, wheel on, on bike just pulling away from hedgerow when my Mrs comes flying up the lane with out children in the back....

My wife told me to put the bike in the back and i said it won't fit (she had our children in the back) so i told her i would be back home pretty much the same time as she is (its lanes and can't drive that fast) about a mile through the lanes, she overtakes me, then pow and a loud sound of air, she is only a little way in front of me and i'm waving my hands around in the air trying to get her attention and shouting at the top of my voice, she didn't see me, wasn't checking her mirrors, and dissapeared into the sunset....

I haven't got any phone on me, no replacement tube, as just used it! I have to walk about 6 miles home in road shoes, i haven't spoken to her yet since this morning as she dropped the children off at before school club herself (as i had allready made her late) and by the time i got home she had allready left thinking i'm fine and safe but in reality i was waddling through the lanes like a lost duck with a punctured bike in poxy cleated roadshoes!

I got to work smack on the button, i thought i was going to be really late this morning but luckily i wasn't....

Hopefully i don't have anymore mornings like this morning.....

prawny

You are a dead man :shock:

Anonymous

She's gonna kill you. :?

drewfromrisca

Flowers at the ready :twisted:

redddraggon

Always carry (at least) two spare tubes + something to boot the tyre if something like that happens.

Carrying a mobile is good too

Soni

Well, i walked in very quietly and slowly tonight

She was late for work this morning and her manager was in before her, her manager is also female and doesn't take prisoners, her manager is not a woman to be messed with, so i 'unintentionally' put her in a very difficult position this morning......

She was obviously annoyed about being late for work, but was also concerned worrying that something might have happened, as all we have heard about over the last few months is cyclists being killed on our roads, she said i should allways carry my mobile, but as much as it hurts me to admit - she is allways right - she is a woman!

Took the tube out tonight (the one i had replaced this morning which also went flat) and couldn't find anything in the tyre, i'm wondering whether it was a pinch flat where i only had 90psi in the tyre....it was right opposite the valve on the other side of the tube...

I've repaired about 3 tubes tonight that i've had hanging around the garage, and will take reddraggons advise and carry at least two spare tubes in future!

I'm a little worried about tommorrow morning, worried that there is an underlying problem that i haven't managed to identify and might get yet another blinking puncture! :twisted:

alfablue

it was right opposite the valve on the other side of the tube...

Are you saying on the inside of the tube, nearest the rim? If so, then a pinch flat or the rim tape is letting you down.

Soni

alfablue wrote:

it was right opposite the valve on the other side of the tube...

Are you saying on the inside of the tube, nearest the rim? If so, then a pinch flat or the rim tape is letting you down.

Hi Alfablue, no its say for example the valve is at 6oclock, the flat is at 12oclock, its the side facing the tyre, but there is no hole or anything that has penetrated the tyre....

alfablue

Well, not rim tape then. Pinch flats are often with two cuts either side of the tube, though sometimes only one side. Usually a small slit, whereas penetrating items usually make a single round hole. It can be really hard to find the culprit if it is a penetrating item, I would turn the tyre inside out and inspect it thoroughly visually and with my fingers.

Soni

alfablue wrote:

Well, not rim tape then. Pinch flats are often with two cuts either side of the tube, though sometimes only one side. Usually a small slit, whereas penetrating items usually make a single round hole. It can be really hard to find the culprit if it is a penetrating item, I would turn the tyre inside out and inspect it thoroughly visually and with my fingers.

It is a small slit, not a hole like i've experienced in the past, i turned the tyre inside out and visually looked for any small hole or spec of dust i could find, and even ran my fingers around the tyre, looking from inside, and from outside, couldn't find anything...

I'm hoping both punctures weren't related, hopefully the first one was just the shard of flint that caused it, and hopefully the second one was a pinch flat where i didn't have enough pressure in it, tommorrow morning will tell, will be going out slightly earlier in the morning, will leave at 05:00 instead of 05:30, so it will give me time to change tubes if need be, will have 3 with me in the morning just in case!

alfablue

Slit sounds like pinch flat.

Good luck Soni

Remember, tube, phone . . .

hopper1

No nooky last night, then...

I carry two tubes and a repair kit!... How anal is that!
Unlucky, mate, that's all there is to it, probably never happen again...

Soni

alfablue wrote:

Slit sounds like pinch flat.

Good luck Soni

Remember, tube, phone . . .

Got back this morning without any flats! Just as well because i forgot my phone again!

Hopefully the flats were just a one off, had a lovely ride this morning, the bike was running nicely, quietly, and smoothly.....

I think the phone thing stems from the beginning of the year when i went out in the rain with my phone in my back pocket of my jacket and it rained so much that the phone got soaked and was knackered afterwards, and i just don't think of taking it anymore.

ride_whenever

buy a really cheap PAYG mobile for riding with, aquapack make waterproof phone cases that are submersion proof, i put my smartphone in it and it's been fine redardless of the weather.

fluff.

Did the same thing of forgetting phone, having 1 spare tube and 2 punctures myself a few weeks ago. At least I was wearing MTB shoes for my 8 mile walk, still don't think I'll be taking 2 tubes, but will at least take some sticky patches and the blinking phone in future.

Soni

ride_whenever wrote:

buy a really cheap PAYG mobile for riding with, aquapack make waterproof phone cases that are submersion proof, i put my smartphone in it and it's been fine redardless of the weather.

My Mrs suggested a locktite sandwich bag!

Soni

fluff. wrote:

Did the same thing of forgetting phone, having 1 spare tube and 2 punctures myself a few weeks ago. At least I was wearing MTB shoes for my 8 mile walk, still don't think I'll be taking 2 tubes, but will at least take some sticky patches and the blinking phone in future.

Yeah i was only considering changing to MTB shoes a few months ago as couldn't get used to them, but i feel a lot better in them now, all that time i'm on the bike that is......

Crapaud

Soni wrote:

ride_whenever wrote:

buy a really cheap PAYG mobile for riding with, aquapack make waterproof phone cases that are submersion proof, i put my smartphone in it and it's been fine redardless of the weather.

My Mrs suggested a locktite sandwich bag!

Nowt wrong with that. I use any small poly bag I can get my hands on: sandwich bags, freezer bags, zip lock bags etc. Anything'll do as long as it keeps the wet out.

Also, 1 spare tube, patches, a boot and a pump for me. I also carry a spare gear and brake cable and have some spare spokes taped to the rack leg. I've not been stranded yet.

Soni

Crapaud wrote:

Soni wrote:

ride_whenever wrote:

buy a really cheap PAYG mobile for riding with, aquapack make waterproof phone cases that are submersion proof, i put my smartphone in it and it's been fine redardless of the weather.

My Mrs suggested a locktite sandwich bag!

Nowt wrong with that. I use any small poly bag I can get my hands on: sandwich bags, freezer bags, zip lock bags etc. Anything'll do as long as it keeps the wet out.

Also, 1 spare tube, patches, a boot and a pump for me. I also carry a spare gear and brake cable and have some spare spokes taped to the rack leg. I've not been stranded yet.

Now that is preperation!

What is the boot for? What is a boot? Not a thing that goes on your foot right? :?

Crapaud

Soni wrote:

... What is the boot for? What is a boot? Not a thing that goes on your foot right? :?

A boot's just something that goes beteew the tyre and the inner tube it the tyre gets slashed. It stops the inner tube from ballooning out through the gap and stops dirt and grit from getting in.Some people make them bt cutting up and old tyre, but I've made mine from old polythene bottles. I cut them into ovals and smooth the edges with sandpaper / wet'n'dry. I once ran a tyre for three weeks with one in and it was still going strong.

John_E

Eddie Izzard suggests wrapping phone in clingfilm

bompington

John_E wrote:

Eddie Izzard suggests wrapping phone in clingfilm

+1
I have a handlebar mount for my nokia so I've got the GPS on & the touch screen even works fine through the clingfilm; screen not very visible in bright light though.
If I'm pocketing the phone, I just put it in a carrier bag & wrap the bag round several times - after previous incidents I've found this also protects phone & kidneys from knocks.
Never had a drop of water get through with either clingfilm or carrier bag, and I can assure you both have been thoroughly tested!

Soni

Crapaud wrote:

Soni wrote:

... What is the boot for? What is a boot? Not a thing that goes on your foot right? :?

A boot's just something that goes beteew the tyre and the inner tube it the tyre gets slashed. It stops the inner tube from ballooning out through the gap and stops dirt and grit from getting in.Some people make them bt cutting up and old tyre, but I've made mine from old polythene bottles. I cut them into ovals and smooth the edges with sandpaper / wet'n'dry. I once ran a tyre for three weeks with one in and it was still going strong.

Now that is something i had never heard of, they say you learn something new every day!

Soni

Had another puncture today whilst out, replaced the tube, pumped it up, just about to ride off and boom......all the air came out, tried to pump it up again and it wouldn't pump up.......this time though i had the mobile phone on me so called the Mrs and she came out to get me again :oops:

Don't know whats causing these punctures, i found another shard of flint in the tyre which had gone all the way through, however i found the hole in the tube and it looked like a pinch flat, it was another long straight line with another line opposite it, the lines were sort of dotted if that makes sense.

I'm thinking of changing the tyres, as they are Bontrager Hard Case Tripple Protection, never had any problems or punctures since January and now i've had 4 in a week.....

The tyres have a few long strips/holes in them, i'm wondering if things are getting through them....

What tyres would you guys recommend for puncture protection?

Crapaud

Soni wrote:

... I'm thinking of changing the tyres, as they are Bontrager Hard Case Tripple Protection, never had any problems or punctures since January and now i've had 4 in a week.....

It could be an indication that your tyres are worn out and need replacing anyway. Do you check your tyres regularly for anything embedded in them? Flints, glass, bits of wire can get stuck in the tyre and, over time, work their way through even the best puncture resistant tyres. I've got a small penknife (that I forgot to mention I carry) which I use to pick out shards of glass. I check them, at a minimum, once a week.

desweller

Conti GP 4000S for me. Puncture free since June - a personal record, I think!

Tyres get more puncture prone as they near the end of their life. Some people superglue the cuts in their tyres, but I have never tried it.

Do you put your tyres on in the same place when you refit them? It might be something embedded in the rubber that only pokes through when the tube is pumped up. I had a piece of dark glass once that was shrouded by rubber when the tyre was off the bike, but would compromise the tube when it was inflated. Took me ages to find it, but had a week or so of similar experiences to yours in the meantime.

Soni

Crapaud wrote:

Soni wrote:

... I'm thinking of changing the tyres, as they are Bontrager Hard Case Tripple Protection, never had any problems or punctures since January and now i've had 4 in a week.....

It could be an indication that your tyres are worn out and need replacing anyway. Do you check your tyres regularly for anything embedded in them? Flints, glass, bits of wire can get stuck in the tyre and, over time, work their way through even the best puncture resistant tyres. I've got a small penknife (that I forgot to mention I carry) which I use to pick out shards of glass. I check them, at a minimum, once a week.

I used to check my old tyres but my new ones aren't the type that can get anything caught between the tread....

Its just strange how i never had a puncture since January (when i first got them) and now i'm getting punctures every time i go out!

Soni

DesWeller wrote:

Conti GP 4000S for me. Puncture free since June - a personal record, I think!

Tyres get more puncture prone as they near the end of their life. Some people superglue the cuts in their tyres, but I have never tried it.

Do you put your tyres on in the same place when you refit them? It might be something embedded in the rubber that only pokes through when the tube is pumped up. I had a piece of dark glass once that was shrouded by rubber when the tyre was off the bike, but would compromise the tube when it was inflated. Took me ages to find it, but had a week or so of similar experiences to yours in the meantime.

No i don't put the tyre on in the same place each time.....

desweller

Soni wrote:

DesWeller wrote:

Conti GP 4000S for me. Puncture free since June - a personal record, I think!

Tyres get more puncture prone as they near the end of their life. Some people superglue the cuts in their tyres, but I have never tried it.

Do you put your tyres on in the same place when you refit them? It might be something embedded in the rubber that only pokes through when the tube is pumped up. I had a piece of dark glass once that was shrouded by rubber when the tyre was off the bike, but would compromise the tube when it was inflated. Took me ages to find it, but had a week or so of similar experiences to yours in the meantime.

No i don't put the tyre on in the same place each time.....

A lot of people (anally retentive people, like me) line the manufacturer logo up with the valve. So if there is something persistent in the tyre causing punctures, they will tend to occur in the same area.

Soni

DesWeller wrote:

Soni wrote:

DesWeller wrote:

Conti GP 4000S for me. Puncture free since June - a personal record, I think!

Tyres get more puncture prone as they near the end of their life. Some people superglue the cuts in their tyres, but I have never tried it.

Do you put your tyres on in the same place when you refit them? It might be something embedded in the rubber that only pokes through when the tube is pumped up. I had a piece of dark glass once that was shrouded by rubber when the tyre was off the bike, but would compromise the tube when it was inflated. Took me ages to find it, but had a week or so of similar experiences to yours in the meantime.

No i don't put the tyre on in the same place each time.....

A lot of people (anally retentive people, like me) line the manufacturer logo up with the valve. So if there is something persistent in the tyre causing punctures, they will tend to occur in the same area.

I knew there was some trick of the trade like this, this is how you accurately identify the location of the puncture in the tyre as well isn't it? You find the hole in the tube and then put it next to the tyre with the valve near the logo? I heard something like this months ago during a club ride and was trying to remember what it was

Soni

Just been out and checked the tyres and tubes.

The first one this morning that punctured was due to a pinch flat, don't know how, as had 120psi in the tye......two small dotted vertical lines adjacent to each other.....i've just patched them so hoping they will be ok once the glue has dried.

However, the replacement tube i put in this morning that failed as i was pumping up, was due to a small hole appering around the valve base, don't quite know what caused it to go holely....