Punctures

Schoie81
Schoie81 Posts: 749
edited August 2013 in Workshop
First proper wet ride this morning, and first puncture. Suppose i've done ok with 500miles under my belt before the first one.

Anyway, do people normally find the offending article - or is it normal to find no sign of anything having caused the puncture? I've followed the guides and advice i've been given about lining the tyre label up with the valve, finding the hole in the tube and then checking the corresponding location on the tyre to check for the cause, but there was no sign of anything as far as I could see or feel. Is it unusual for whatever caused the puncture to still be in the tyre?
"I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated"

Comments

  • dnwhite88
    dnwhite88 Posts: 285
    Have a feel and a look around the tyre to see if there is anything stuck as that will puncture any new tube you put in, but sometimes whatever it was that caused the puncture doesn't stay in, has happened to me
    "It never gets easier, you just go faster"
  • Schoie81
    Schoie81 Posts: 749
    Yeah, had a good look and ran my fingers over the tyre, couldn't see or feel a thing so hopefully whatever it was has gone. Two hours since new tube went in and no sign of it going down yet...
    "I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated"
  • drlodge
    drlodge Posts: 4,826
    Schoie81 wrote:
    Yeah, had a good look and ran my fingers over the tyre, couldn't see or feel a thing so hopefully whatever it was has gone. Two hours since new tube went in and no sign of it going down yet...

    If its a small bit of grit or flint, it can be wedged right in the rubber of the tread. You won't feel it, and it won't touch the inner tube until you actually ride it with weight on the tyre...then you'll get another puncture.

    I would take the tyre off, find out where the tyre punctured (small hole) and really have a good look inside the tread for an offending object.
    WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
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  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Puncture process:

    Tyre is set up with the logo lined up with the valve hole - although this doesn't matter too much.
    Get one side of the tyre off and extract the inner tube - be sure to make a note of which way round it went.
    Pump up the inner tube to discover where the leak is occurring. If it's going out faster than you can pump in then chances are it's a pinch flat - but best to be sure.
    Once you've discovered the leak, work out the appropriate place on the tyre and run your (bare) fingers around inside the tyre. Then carefully check the outer casing for any nicks that could be harbouring the offending article. You can squeeze the tyre to expose the nick and a finger nail will often get the item out.
    Once done, run your fingers around the inside of the whole tyre - just to be sure.
    Fit the new tube, a couple of pumps to give it some air then refit the tyre.
    Pump up to pressure.
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    Slowbike wrote:
    Puncture process:

    Tyre is set up with the logo lined up with the valve hole - although this doesn't matter too much.
    Get one side of the tyre off and extract the inner tube - be sure to make a note of which way round it went.
    Pump up the inner tube to discover where the leak is occurring. If it's going out faster than you can pump in then chances are it's a pinch flat - but best to be sure.
    Once you've discovered the leak, work out the appropriate place on the tyre and run your (bare) fingers around inside the tyre. Then carefully check the outer casing for any nicks that could be harbouring the offending article. You can squeeze the tyre to expose the nick and a finger nail will often get the item out.
    Once done, run your fingers around the inside of the whole tyre - just to be sure.
    Fit the new tube, a couple of pumps to give it some air then refit the tyre.
    Pump up to pressure.

    +1 to this

    except i usually have a step before all of these and it periodically loops throughout the whole process:
    swear like a sailor!

    also you'll find you have less issues if you write it as p***ture!
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Chris Bass wrote:
    also you'll find you have less issues if you write it as p***ture!
    Hmm ... could be something in this ... having posted on here how good my tyres were only to have 2 sidewall splits at the weekend ... !! :o
  • Schoie81
    Schoie81 Posts: 749
    Thanks guys - the method described is what I did (including your additional step Chris!) and I couldn't find anything so fingers crossed its gone. My worry was that it had maybe come out inside the tyre and as I was turning the tyre around checking for it, it could be just rolling around the inside of the tyre, but I stood the tyre up and checked at the bottom and couldn't find or feel anything.

    Got an 18mile ride home, so I'll probably have my answer by 6pm!! At least the rain has stopped so it'll be a sunny roadside repair if necessary....
    "I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated"
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    Slowbike wrote:
    Puncture process:

    Tyre is set up with the logo lined up with the valve hole - although this doesn't matter too much.
    Get one side of the tyre off and extract the inner tube - be sure to make a note of which way round it went.
    Pump up the inner tube to discover where the leak is occurring. If it's going out faster than you can pump in then chances are it's a pinch flat - but best to be sure.
    Once you've discovered the leak, work out the appropriate place on the tyre and run your (bare) fingers around inside the tyre. Then carefully check the outer casing for any nicks that could be harbouring the offending article. You can squeeze the tyre to expose the nick and a finger nail will often get the item out.
    Once done, run your fingers around the inside of the whole tyre - just to be sure.
    Fit the new tube, a couple of pumps to give it some air then refit the tyre.
    Pump up to pressure.

    Best way IMO. One thing to add. If you think there is a chance of debris still being imbedded in the tyre and cannot find anything. I, as part of my repair kit, bring a cut up toothpaste tube which I can place inside the tyre where I think any debris may still be lurking. If you are sat on the side of the road, all you want to do is get going again. You can sort out tyre properly once you get home and inspect the carcass properly. This is also a good fix if you end up with a gash in the tyre. Will get you home anyway,
  • Schoie81
    Schoie81 Posts: 749
    SmoggySteve - well I'm nearly at the bottom of a toothpaste tube so I might just do that - cheers. it's not like it'll take up any room in my saddle bag so...

    Tyre still at correct operating pressure after 18 mile ride home so looks like whatever it was didn't stay in the tyre. :)
    "I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated"
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Yer. But my wife got a pinch flat on our ride today :(.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Slowbike wrote:
    Chris Bass wrote:
    also you'll find you have less issues if you write it as p***ture!
    Hmm ... could be something in this ... having posted on here how good my tyres were only to have 2 sidewall splits at the weekend ... !! :o

    And don't come on here saying you've been riding clipless for years and never fallen off.... :oops:
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    keef66 wrote:
    Slowbike wrote:
    Chris Bass wrote:
    also you'll find you have less issues if you write it as p***ture!
    Hmm ... could be something in this ... having posted on here how good my tyres were only to have 2 sidewall splits at the weekend ... !! :o

    And don't come on here saying you've been riding clipless for years and never fallen off.... :oops:

    I won't ... but only because I don't want to fall off on the way home... :P

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