Urgent question re: road bikes and flats - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

09-24-2004, 11:52 AM

Hi, my girlfriend has been riding my road bike (Specialized Sequoia)
and recently she has been getting lots of flats on the rear tube. I've
replaced the tubes with new ones (various brands, Bontrager,
Specialized, even Slime) but the tires still go flat at the end of the
day. I consistently fill them with the right amount of air for road
tires. I've also tried different rims/wheelsets but the problem still
occurs. I've also replaced the tires themselves (went through
Hutchinsons, Michelins, Armadillos) to no avail.

She's not heavy at all, ~110 lbs, so I'm not sure if it has anything
to do mechanically with the bike or with the way she rides. She only
rides it on asphalt and hardly ever over debris and I haven't seen any
punctures in the tires themselves. I've noticed that a couple of
times, the puncture is on the tube around the valve but I've run my
finger across the inside of the rims and have noticed no burs or
protruding spokes. The rim tape is still intact.

She has experienced no problems with the front tires however so I'm
puzzled as to what it could be. I'm scratching my head as I watch tube
after tube go in for recycling. Not to mention she getting frustrated
having to watch me replace the tubes at the end of her ride.

Are there any special considerations for a female cyclist on a road
bike that I would need to buy different types of tubes because of
center of gravity, etc... I know I'm reaching a bit there but I'm not
trying to be sexist in any way.

Frustrated (but experienced) tube changer.
-keith

09-24-2004, 12:18 PM

Keith Akula writes:

> Hi, my girlfriend has been riding my road bike (Specialized Sequoia)
> and recently she has been getting lots of flats on the rear tube.
> I've replaced the tubes with new ones (various brands, Bontrager,
> Specialized, even Slime) but the tires still go flat at the end of
> the day. I consistently fill them with the right amount of air for
> road tires. I've also tried different rims/wheelsets but the
> problem still occurs. I've also replaced the tires themselves (went
> through Hutchinsons, Michelins, Armadillos) to no avail.

You didn't say what sort of leaks/holes you found in the inner tube.
I suspect you may even have a thorn or two, still in the tire. This
is a classic type of repeating leak if the thorn is just long enough
to penetrate the tube.

Run your thumb around the inside of the tire to find the culprit.
Don't worry, you won't cut your thumb. In fact, unless you are
careful, you will run right past that little whisker of a thorn.

If this occurred on different wheels, then maybe you need to look how
close to the edge of the road the bicycle is ridden and whether
puncture vine grows on that route.

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09-24-2004, 12:18 PM

Keith Akula writes:

> Hi, my girlfriend has been riding my road bike (Specialized Sequoia)
> and recently she has been getting lots of flats on the rear tube.
> I've replaced the tubes with new ones (various brands, Bontrager,
> Specialized, even Slime) but the tires still go flat at the end of
> the day. I consistently fill them with the right amount of air for
> road tires. I've also tried different rims/wheelsets but the
> problem still occurs. I've also replaced the tires themselves (went
> through Hutchinsons, Michelins, Armadillos) to no avail.

You didn't say what sort of leaks/holes you found in the inner tube.
I suspect you may even have a thorn or two, still in the tire. This
is a classic type of repeating leak if the thorn is just long enough
to penetrate the tube.

Run your thumb around the inside of the tire to find the culprit.
Don't worry, you won't cut your thumb. In fact, unless you are
careful, you will run right past that little whisker of a thorn.

If this occurred on different wheels, then maybe you need to look how
close to the edge of the road the bicycle is ridden and whether
puncture vine grows on that route.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
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09-24-2004, 12:18 PM

Keith Akula writes:

> Hi, my girlfriend has been riding my road bike (Specialized Sequoia)
> and recently she has been getting lots of flats on the rear tube.
> I've replaced the tubes with new ones (various brands, Bontrager,
> Specialized, even Slime) but the tires still go flat at the end of
> the day. I consistently fill them with the right amount of air for
> road tires. I've also tried different rims/wheelsets but the
> problem still occurs. I've also replaced the tires themselves (went
> through Hutchinsons, Michelins, Armadillos) to no avail.

You didn't say what sort of leaks/holes you found in the inner tube.
I suspect you may even have a thorn or two, still in the tire. This
is a classic type of repeating leak if the thorn is just long enough
to penetrate the tube.

Run your thumb around the inside of the tire to find the culprit.
Don't worry, you won't cut your thumb. In fact, unless you are
careful, you will run right past that little whisker of a thorn.

If this occurred on different wheels, then maybe you need to look how
close to the edge of the road the bicycle is ridden and whether
puncture vine grows on that route.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

09-24-2004, 12:18 PM

Keith Akula writes:

> Hi, my girlfriend has been riding my road bike (Specialized Sequoia)
> and recently she has been getting lots of flats on the rear tube.
> I've replaced the tubes with new ones (various brands, Bontrager,
> Specialized, even Slime) but the tires still go flat at the end of
> the day. I consistently fill them with the right amount of air for
> road tires. I've also tried different rims/wheelsets but the
> problem still occurs. I've also replaced the tires themselves (went
> through Hutchinsons, Michelins, Armadillos) to no avail.

You didn't say what sort of leaks/holes you found in the inner tube.
I suspect you may even have a thorn or two, still in the tire. This
is a classic type of repeating leak if the thorn is just long enough
to penetrate the tube.

Run your thumb around the inside of the tire to find the culprit.
Don't worry, you won't cut your thumb. In fact, unless you are
careful, you will run right past that little whisker of a thorn.

If this occurred on different wheels, then maybe you need to look how
close to the edge of the road the bicycle is ridden and whether
puncture vine grows on that route.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
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09-24-2004, 01:15 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

> Keith Akula writes:
>
>
>>Hi, my girlfriend has been riding my road bike (Specialized Sequoia)
>>and recently she has been getting lots of flats on the rear tube.
>>I've replaced the tubes with new ones (various brands, Bontrager,
>>Specialized, even Slime) but the tires still go flat at the end of
>>the day. I consistently fill them with the right amount of air for
>>road tires. I've also tried different rims/wheelsets but the
>>problem still occurs. I've also replaced the tires themselves (went
>>through Hutchinsons, Michelins, Armadillos) to no avail.
>
>
> You didn't say what sort of leaks/holes you found in the inner tube.
> I suspect you may even have a thorn or two, still in the tire. This
> is a classic type of repeating leak if the thorn is just long enough
> to penetrate the tube.
>
> Run your thumb around the inside of the tire to find the culprit.
> Don't worry, you won't cut your thumb. In fact, unless you are
> careful, you will run right past that little whisker of a thorn.
>
> If this occurred on different wheels, then maybe you need to look how
> close to the edge of the road the bicycle is ridden and whether
> puncture vine grows on that route.
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

A ball of cotton run around the inside of the tire will snag on thorn
points that your thumb might not feel.

Also check integrity of rim tape.

--
My bike blog:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

09-24-2004, 01:15 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

> Keith Akula writes:
>
>
>>Hi, my girlfriend has been riding my road bike (Specialized Sequoia)
>>and recently she has been getting lots of flats on the rear tube.
>>I've replaced the tubes with new ones (various brands, Bontrager,
>>Specialized, even Slime) but the tires still go flat at the end of
>>the day. I consistently fill them with the right amount of air for
>>road tires. I've also tried different rims/wheelsets but the
>>problem still occurs. I've also replaced the tires themselves (went
>>through Hutchinsons, Michelins, Armadillos) to no avail.
>
>
> You didn't say what sort of leaks/holes you found in the inner tube.
> I suspect you may even have a thorn or two, still in the tire. This
> is a classic type of repeating leak if the thorn is just long enough
> to penetrate the tube.
>
> Run your thumb around the inside of the tire to find the culprit.
> Don't worry, you won't cut your thumb. In fact, unless you are
> careful, you will run right past that little whisker of a thorn.
>
> If this occurred on different wheels, then maybe you need to look how
> close to the edge of the road the bicycle is ridden and whether
> puncture vine grows on that route.
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

A ball of cotton run around the inside of the tire will snag on thorn
points that your thumb might not feel.

Also check integrity of rim tape.

--
My bike blog:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

09-24-2004, 01:15 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

> Keith Akula writes:
>
>
>>Hi, my girlfriend has been riding my road bike (Specialized Sequoia)
>>and recently she has been getting lots of flats on the rear tube.
>>I've replaced the tubes with new ones (various brands, Bontrager,
>>Specialized, even Slime) but the tires still go flat at the end of
>>the day. I consistently fill them with the right amount of air for
>>road tires. I've also tried different rims/wheelsets but the
>>problem still occurs. I've also replaced the tires themselves (went
>>through Hutchinsons, Michelins, Armadillos) to no avail.
>
>
> You didn't say what sort of leaks/holes you found in the inner tube.
> I suspect you may even have a thorn or two, still in the tire. This
> is a classic type of repeating leak if the thorn is just long enough
> to penetrate the tube.
>
> Run your thumb around the inside of the tire to find the culprit.
> Don't worry, you won't cut your thumb. In fact, unless you are
> careful, you will run right past that little whisker of a thorn.
>
> If this occurred on different wheels, then maybe you need to look how
> close to the edge of the road the bicycle is ridden and whether
> puncture vine grows on that route.
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

A ball of cotton run around the inside of the tire will snag on thorn
points that your thumb might not feel.

Also check integrity of rim tape.

--
My bike blog:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

09-24-2004, 01:15 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:

> Keith Akula writes:
>
>
>>Hi, my girlfriend has been riding my road bike (Specialized Sequoia)
>>and recently she has been getting lots of flats on the rear tube.
>>I've replaced the tubes with new ones (various brands, Bontrager,
>>Specialized, even Slime) but the tires still go flat at the end of
>>the day. I consistently fill them with the right amount of air for
>>road tires. I've also tried different rims/wheelsets but the
>>problem still occurs. I've also replaced the tires themselves (went
>>through Hutchinsons, Michelins, Armadillos) to no avail.
>
>
> You didn't say what sort of leaks/holes you found in the inner tube.
> I suspect you may even have a thorn or two, still in the tire. This
> is a classic type of repeating leak if the thorn is just long enough
> to penetrate the tube.
>
> Run your thumb around the inside of the tire to find the culprit.
> Don't worry, you won't cut your thumb. In fact, unless you are
> careful, you will run right past that little whisker of a thorn.
>
> If this occurred on different wheels, then maybe you need to look how
> close to the edge of the road the bicycle is ridden and whether
> puncture vine grows on that route.
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

A ball of cotton run around the inside of the tire will snag on thorn
points that your thumb might not feel.

Also check integrity of rim tape.

--
My bike blog:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

09-24-2004, 01:40 PM

Also check to make sure you are not tightening the nut on the outside of the
tube stem. You can get rid of it once you inflate teh tube. By leaving it on
may cause a leak at the valve stem and rim.

The suggestion prvious to this is called the blood test. Run your least
favorite fingure inside the tire or along the rim. If you bleed, that is the
culprit.