Recurring flats

[ShawnoftheDread]

Riding home today I got my third flat on my front tire since Saturday. All three were in different spots, on two separate tubes, though all three were on the rim side. Tube is new, rim tape is new and in place, and the tire is new — I just replaced the original 700 x 40 tires with Forte Gotham K 700 x 35. Max tire pressure is 90 psi, and I keep them at 80.

I checked the rim carefully. Found nothing sharp, no loose spokes or spokes poking into the rim tape. I didn’t hit anything unusual — big pot holes, small animals, etc. Any thoughts on what the issue could be?

[Dirt]

Any burrs in the rim that might rub things the wrong way? Try a round of electrical tape on top of the rim tape.

[jopamora]

New breed of bike air sucking mosquito? Sorry, not being helpful other than thinking outside the box.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Dirt 24943 wrote:

Any burrs in the rim that might rub things the wrong way? Try a round of electrical tape on top of the rim tape.

I don’t think so, but that sounds worth a try. Thanks!

[off2ride]

If you get another flat, before you remove the tube, mark the tube in relation to the wheel and tire. Tank it if you have to to verify if it’s a slow leak then go from there. A magnifying glass might help.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@off2ride 24954 wrote:

If you get another flat, before you remove the tube, mark the tube in relation to the wheel and tire. Tank it if you have to to verify if it’s a slow leak then go from there. A magnifying glass might help.

Thanks. I always mount the valve stem in the center of the tire logo so I know where to check the closest for sharps.

With all three flats I found the puncture pretty easily-they weren’t slow.

[off2ride]

Awesome. Most bike stores mount the tire logo above the valve for cosmetic purposes and for locating punctures.

@ShawnoftheDread 24960 wrote:

Thanks. I always mount the valve stem in the center of the tire logo so I know where to check the closest for sharps.

With all three flats I found the puncture pretty easily-they weren’t slow.

[Tim Kelley]

I’ve had two different friends have similar issues as you in the past week or so. The first one ended up having a sharp spot on the rim around the hole for the valve stem. He was able to file it down and that solved the problem.

The second friend was riding the W&OD, got two flats on the same tire, but made it to the Trails End bike shop in Purceville. They took a look at it, but couldn’t find anything and sent him on his way. He flatted again twice before he got to Leesburg and had to get a ride into the Tri shop there. He got a new tire, and rim strip and it seemed to clear things up.

[creadinger]

@Tim Kelley 24974 wrote:

The second friend was riding the W&OD, got two flats on the same tire, but made it to the Trails End bike shop in Purceville…..He flatted again twice before he got to Leesburg and had to get a ride into the Tri shop there…

Sheesh, this person has patience. If that had been me, you would have found my bike tossed into the woods and I would have taken up jogging.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@creadinger 25022 wrote:

Sheesh, this person has patience. If that had been me, you would have found my bike tossed into the woods and I would have taken up jogging.

Fixing flats is still better than running.

[Tim Kelley]

@creadinger 25022 wrote:

Sheesh, this person has patience. If that had been me, you would have found my bike tossed into the woods and I would have taken up jogging.

He desperately needs the miles for Ironman training.

[mstone]

@ShawnoftheDread 25025 wrote:

Fixing flats is still better than running.

RIDING ON flats is still better than running.

[DSalovesh]

Kidding I’m sure, but I’ve done it when I have no other alternative:

Fresh out of college with most of an arts degree (i.e., beyond broke) I got a flat and had no money for a tube, so I kept riding it for a couple of weeks. Then I got another flat and still had no money for two tubes. I think I kept that up for almost two months until I got laid off (after letting OSHA know we were working with asbestos and had been given no instruction or safety equipment) and it started getting snowy.

Come spring I had a far better “day job” so I bought a couple of tubes to get back on the road and see if I needed new tires or wheels – but I didn’t. Everything was fine and the wheels didn’t even need truing! The tires were well worn from the previous couple of years of riding but they weren’t quite used up or damaged. Replaced them a couple of paychecks later, but the wheels themselves (Mavic MA-40s on Campy Triomphe hubs) kept rolling for many thousands of miles and at least 10 years.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Another flat coming home today! Blurg.

[jordash]

Are you new to installing tubes? Perhaps you’re pinching the tube when you’re installing it. At this point, perhaps you should buy another tire and try it out. If you stop getting flats, there’s definitely something sharp in that tire. If you keep getting them you’ve ruled out one source (and still have a replacement tire), which makes the rim the likely culprit.

[Author]

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