Flat Tires - Basic Advice

[surgtech1956]

Flat tire advice, this is a topic I have avoided. I plan on commuting, riding more next year. What do I need as far as a 'flat tire kit', tools - I do have some tire irons that I have never used - don't have a clue either. How many tubes to carry? A tire pump or those cute little CO2 air cartridges? I figure I better be prepared for the inevitable. Thanks

[kelownagirl]

I try to carry two tubes just in case. I have a patch kit as well if I need it and I bought a good pump. And if you haven't already, practice a few times before you go out.

[froglegs]

On my road bike I carry a spare tube, a pump, a patch kit, and tire levers. Some people don't like glueless patches but I have had good luck with them. I've never used C02, but I know some people prefer it, particularly on road bikes because it can be difficult to get high pressure with a small hand pump. I find that I can get at least 60-80psi (depending on how much I feel like pumping) which is enough to get home to my big floor pump.

+1 on practicing at home first.

[maillotpois]

One "tip" - when you're running your fingers inside the tires to check for debris, be sure you run around the tire in both directions. I had a TNT participant who kept getting flats in a tire, and could never firgure it out. When I ran my fingers in both directions, we found part of a rusty stable imbedded in the tire that was not apparant unless you ran your fingers on one specific direction. So he'd just missed the target repeatedly.

[coyote]

When I put my tube back in, I make sure my that the label on the tire is lined up with the valve. This way, when I find out where the thing came thru my tire, I know where to look on the tube and visa versa. I actually had a flat that I could not find the thing that punctured the tube. Once I found the hole in the tube, I was able to go back to the tire and to a really detailed search of that area. I found a very small piece of glass hidden in the tire.

I also put my tube in a bag with a dusting of corn starch. The corn starch acts as lubricant to help prevent pinch flats. Of course if its raining...then all I have is a wet and possibly gooey tube But it does not rain much here.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I also put my tube in a bag with a dusting of corn starch. The corn starch acts as lubricant to help prevent pinch flats. Of course if its raining...then all I have is a wet and possibly gooey tube But it does not rain much here.

Coyote- try talcum powder instead- it does not absorb humidity as readily as corn starch. But you're right- powder helps the tube slip into position without getting "stuck" or bunched inside the tire.