2013 Black Cats Award

[Walst]

I'm pretty sure I pinched the tube this morning. Never done that before so I'm not entirely sure. Story goes I replaced my front tube this morning after snapping the valve in the pump (another first). So I got about 5-10 minutes into my ride and sssffffffffffffffffffff - brand new tube just goes completely flat. It was a nice flat bit of path with no offending objects such as glass/nails in sight. So I can only imagine this is a pinched tube yeah?

Total for the year: 2

Where was the hole?

Near the valve, quite a big tear.

Also, I've been struggling to put my new tube in for some reason. It's weird, I've put a couple of tubes in myself recently without any dramas. Now I'm finding it hard to tuck the bead into the rim...feels like I've lost my tube changing mojo. When I do get it in and inflate the tire there is this soft bulge on the other side of the valve that won't go away no matter how much I pump it up.

[twizzle]

Near the valve, quite a big tear.

Also, I've been struggling to put my new tube in for some reason. It's weird, I've put a couple of tubes in myself recently without any dramas. Now I'm finding it hard to tuck the bead into the rim...feels like I've lost my tube changing mojo. When I do get it in and inflate the tire there is this soft bulge on the other side of the valve that won't go away no matter how much I pump it up.

When you are fitting the tyre, push the valve up inside the tyre to get it away from the bead when mounting the tyre, pull it back down before you inflate.

[Walst]

Near the valve, quite a big tear.

Also, I've been struggling to put my new tube in for some reason. It's weird, I've put a couple of tubes in myself recently without any dramas. Now I'm finding it hard to tuck the bead into the rim...feels like I've lost my tube changing mojo. When I do get it in and inflate the tire there is this soft bulge on the other side of the valve that won't go away no matter how much I pump it up.

When you are fitting the tyre, push the valve up inside the tyre to get it away from the bead when mounting the tyre, pull it back down before you inflate.

Cheers, I definitely keep that in mind.

Just another question (and anyone can chip in here). I put these tubes below in for a 700 x 28 c tyre (Continental GP 4 Season).



Would it be ok to go a size down with the tubes for that specific tyre or is that a big no no? Would it be easier to avoid pinching with smaller tubes? I've read that the Continental GP 4 Seasons are closer to 26 c than the advertised 28 c.

[jcjordan]

Well this morning sucked. Got to the first hill repeat and down goes the rear.
Then just as I was rolling in to see the guys at the coffee shop I nearly loose it with the rear going down again.

Total 10

[twizzle]

Would it be ok to go a size down with the tubes for that specific tyre or is that a big no no? Would it be easier to avoid pinching with smaller tubes? I've read that the Continental GP 4 Seasons are closer to 26 c than the advertised 28 c.

IMO... Don't use oversized. Don't use undersized. Just use a matching size.

[Lukeyboy]

Lost another 2 today. The first one I cut the front when I ran off the path at speed (debris on turn in/apex) and a rock sliced the sidewall. Patched the tire and did another 80km on it. Second puncture was pumping up after replacing the tyre when the top of the stem got caught and ripped the small bit of metal off the top. Only had to wheel my chair over a couple metres to get a new tube out of the spares box haha.

[twizzle]

Lost another 2 today. The first one I cut the front when I ran off the path at speed (debris on turn in/apex) and a rock sliced the sidewall. Patched the tire and did another 80km on it. Second puncture was pumping up after replacing the tyre when the top of the stem got caught and ripped the small bit of metal off the top. Only had to wheel my chair over a couple metres to get a new tube out of the spares box haha.

Second one don't count as you didn't ride on it.


Sent from my iThingy...

[Lukeyboy]

What a waste of a tube then

[twizzle]

Doing a head check when merging back into the traffic lane from a bus lane, so I didn't spot the bit of metal - the tyre completely deflated in about five revolutions. I started fixing the tyre arse-to-traffic before deciding to salvage some dignity. Good timing anyway - chunks of rubber coming off the carcass, so a new tyre was fitted this evening.

+1, 12.


Sent from my iThingy...

[Sparx]

+1 =>2 Total

Came down this morning to find a flat. Dug out a tiny but very sharp bit of wire. I have an IGH with a belt drive and I really struggle to get everything back together after taking the wheel off. So after ages of mucking around I couldn't get the gear indexing right. AAARGGH had to take a bus.

[Saturnstarzz]

+1 = 3 total , pinch flat on the rear after flying over a level crossing (running late to work). Hope's thats last flat I get on my gators.

[Saturnstarzz]

+1 = 3 total , pinch flat on the rear after flying over a level crossing (running late to work). Hope's thats last flat I get on my gators.

+1 = 4 total same level crossing different wheelset with different tyres. grrrrrr not happy.

[jcjordan]

And for number 11:-(

Rolled over a tack this morning

[Panz05]

Got my first flat on Sunday morning riding on a main road when i heard that familiar sound. What ever I ran over put a 5mm slit in my brand new tyre. I called the mrs and she brought out my spare wheels. (She is a good egg) I asked her to follow me like the support cars do, but she refused. I guess she was not happy being woken up at 7:30am.

New Tube $7.00
New Tyres: $80.00

Does it count if you get a flat when picking up your wheels from the LBS after being serviced? Went in to the back of the car ok, came out of the car flat.

[Sparx]

+1 - 3 Total

Mtb pinch flat after hitting a square edged rock. Changed tube - was pumping up - valve end snapped off then blew out totally. Great. Finished my ride with no spare tube always a bit stressful.

Have ordered a couple of self-healing tubes for both road and MTB.

[mikesbytes]

+1 = 8

Went to ride the bike into town to do a spin class and the rear was flat. I was hard pressed for time so I simply changed it without too much inspection, so I don't know the root cause. I buried myself to get in on time. Later in the day I changed the tyre too, I have a large stash of Pro3race tyres I got really cheap.

[Lukeyboy]

Almost!!!


30km on this and it didn't let go.

[Ozkaban]

Running total as I see it...

11 twizzle, jcjordan
8 Ozkaban, mikesbytes
7 Warnesy
6 g-boaf, Lukeyboy
5 wombatK
4 __PG__, Saturnstarzz
3 Big_Red, jasonc, Sparx
2 birdbrain, Shred931, JohnJoyner, dungee, strawburger, Walst
1 breezer1, clydesmcdale, familyguy, gururug, Timeonabike, Dan, Jimbobtwoshoes, Summernight, ray, Panz05
0 Cruiserman, lump_a_charcoal, Mulger Bill, pacra, rangersac, Mustang, martinjs, cerb, vander, RonK

Please don't get any punctures tonight. It'll mess up my month end total and upset me all next month

Now I don't want to invoke the wrath of the puncture fairy, but after a solid start to the year I've petered away to not having a flat in the last 2 months... I think it's due to buying a pack of 5 tubes, a 48 pack of puncture patches/glue and a box of 30 CO2 cylinders when they were on sale! I think if there's something that makes the fairy happier than seeing a lycra clad butt changing a tyre on the roadside in the rain then it must be someone wasting money on supplies that aren't needed. Then again, maybe she's just playing with me. $10 says I get a flat this afternoon for talking about it!!!

[jasonc]

$10 says I get a flat this afternoon for talking about it!!!

well at least you'll be able to do a quick edit of the post

[Strawburger]

+2

First one warming up for the State Hillclimbing championships - thorn through the tyres (only one puncture though), and another one riding to work - pinch flat


start total = 2 +2
4870 kms (1250 kms since last flat)

1x hybrid (1/0 unbranded)
0x racer (0/1 conti gp4000s)
0x commuter (0/2 conti gp4000s)
0x fixie (0/0 conti gp4000s)

New total = 4 (AT) 1218kms per flat

[Mugglechops]

I should join again for this year.

I got 1 flat in January when I put a hole in the sidewall of my tubeless MTB tyre.

On Friday the tube I put in got a flat. So that's 2 for this year.

Not many kms due to an elbow op followed by a shoulder op but back riding again now.

[Ozkaban]

$10 says I get a flat this afternoon for talking about it!!!

well at least you'll be able to do a quick edit of the post

Thankfully not needed, though I did sweat a bit on the way home

[Mylotian]

So far this year 5 flats averaged 1 a month but now running on Gatorskins for the last month and touch wood nothing so far

[Strawburger]

+2

Having a bad couple of weeks! Monday morning jump on the bike, got 2kms then had the rear wobbles. Repaired and got another 3 until another wobble! Got the repair kit out and the glue evaporated cracked the dirts so rode on the rim for 4kms out of the saddle with the weight at the front until the top of lilyfield rd where on my arrival the lilyfield bike garage opened


start total = 4 +2
4875 kms (5 kms since last flat)

1x hybrid (1/0 unbranded)
0x racer (0/1 conti gp4000s)
0x commuter (0/4 conti gp4000s)
0x fixie (0/0 conti gp4000s)

New total = 6 (AT) 813kms per flat

[Ozkaban]

+1=9

Bunch ride this morning. Coming up to St Ives showground on Mona Vale Rd and my front tyre hit something that shattered. A rider behind and off to one side of me got hit on the hip with a bit and another bit made it through my rear tyre.