April 9th rides

[7rider]

grumble, grumble, grumble
Last week, I had 2 aborted commute attempts due to repeating flat tires in the front. Pepper at my LBS found 2 teeny tiny thorns I did not, replaced the rim strip on my wheel, and sent me home with a new CO2 head, 3 cartridges, and 2 new inner tubes. My frame pump was also not working...and he felt it was high time I got with the program and got some CO2 cartridges!
So...This past weekend...I changed out my "winter" tires (700x28's w/ reflective sidewalls) that had been flatting, with my "summer" tires (700x25's no reflective sidewall). New tire. New rim strip. New tube. Figured I was good to go. And I was for nearly 2.5 whole days!
Today, I'm riding home and I'm thinking "Gads...there is something totally wrong with the front end of my bike. It feels like it is completely off." I pull over and ponder. I feel the front tire. SOFT! Not completely flat, but probably at about 40 p.s.i., when it should be 100. Grrrrr....
Call DH. I'm still 2.5 miles from home. "Well, I can come get you, or you could try those new CO2 cartridges," he said. Sun was shining. It was warm. I was near a parking lot that allowed me to get fully off the road and out of harm's way. I'll risk it.
So....take off the tire. Check for slits in the tire. None. Check for prickers or anything on the inside of the tire. None. Check for spurs on the rim. None. Not a single thing that I could find that would cause a slow leak (not a rapid deflating) of the front tire. Pull out the air cartridge. Inhale deeply. Ponder. Put the tire back on. Inflate a bit. Brrrr....those things get COLD. Check the bead. All is good to go. Open up the valve. WHOOOSH! In about 1/3 of a second...the tire is tight as a drum!!! Holey Toledo...That was FAST!!! There's frost on the stem. Frost on the head. Those things are wicked.
Feeling all darned impressed with myself, I ride home.
I come into the neighborhood. "Dang. This bike still feels off balance." Pull into the driveway. DH is waiting for me. "How's the tire?" he asks. I pinch it. SOFT AGAIN!!!!! What the ...????
So DH and I spent the next half hour in the driveway, looking for leaks, cleaning the wheel, and the tire, putting in a new tube. Guess what??? The tire is FLAT AGAIN!!!
We gave up. It's sitting on a flat tire in the garage right now. We're both absolutely puzzled why this is happening.....

[txred9876]

grumble, grumble, grumble
Last week, I had 2 aborted commute attempts due to repeating flat tires in the front. Pepper at my LBS found 2 teeny tiny thorns I did not, replaced the rim strip on my wheel, and sent me home with a new CO2 head, 3 cartridges, and 2 new inner tubes. My frame pump was also not working...and he felt it was high time I got with the program and got some CO2 cartridges!
So...This past weekend...I changed out my "winter" tires (700x28's w/ reflective sidewalls) that had been flatting, with my "summer" tires (700x25's no reflective sidewall). New tire. New rim strip. New tube. Figured I was good to go. And I was for nearly 2.5 whole days!
Today, I'm riding home and I'm thinking "Gads...there is something totally wrong with the front end of my bike. It feels like it is completely off." I pull over and ponder. I feel the front tire. SOFT! Not completely flat, but probably at about 40 p.s.i., when it should be 100. Grrrrr....
Call DH. I'm still 2.5 miles from home. "Well, I can come get you, or you could try those new CO2 cartridges," he said. Sun was shining. It was warm. I was near a parking lot that allowed me to get fully off the road and out of harm's way. I'll risk it.
So....take off the tire. Check for slits in the tire. None. Check for prickers or anything on the inside of the tire. None. Check for spurs on the rim. None. Not a single thing that I could find that would cause a slow leak (not a rapid deflating) of the front tire. Pull out the air cartridge. Inhale deeply. Ponder. Put the tire back on. Inflate a bit. Brrrr....those things get COLD. Check the bead. All is good to go. Open up the valve. WHOOOSH! In about 1/3 of a second...the tire is tight as a drum!!! Holey Toledo...That was FAST!!! There's frost on the stem. Frost on the head. Those things are wicked.
Feeling all darned impressed with myself, I ride home.
I come into the neighborhood. "Dang. This bike still feels off balance." Pull into the driveway. DH is waiting for me. "How's the tire?" he asks. I pinch it. SOFT AGAIN!!!!! What the ...????
So DH and I spent the next half hour in the driveway, looking for leaks, cleaning the wheel, and the tire, putting in a new tube. Guess what??? The tire is FLAT AGAIN!!!
We gave up. It's sitting on a flat tire in the garage right now. We're both absolutely puzzled why this is happening.....

SOrry to hear about your ride from HE**!!!!!

I don't have any advise for you .....
tina

[Triskeliongirl]

Its funny, if it were summer I would have been used to it, but I had on my heavier clothes from the morning ride at 61 (and even felt a little chilled going in with the wind) which made the ride home at 99 incredibly uncomfortable. We need more time to acclimate. Its like it went form winter to summer in a couple of days!

[Brandy]

4,460 ft of climbing in 44.5 miles. I blogged about it (with pics!!!) here. I took my Cervelo R3 on a dirt truck trail in the Santa Ana Mountains...I need a mountain bike!

[Veronica]

Hey nice to see a new entry in your blog!

Veronica

[Crankin]

Trisk, I had many commutes last spring where it was 42 in the AM and 85 on the way home. I started leaving a short sleeved jersey at work and bringing regular socks to exchange for my wool ones. It's crazy to acclimate in weather like that!

[Brandy]

Hey nice to see a new entry in your blog!

Veronica

I'm good for one every few months. Thanks Veronica...I finally had something to write about. Now I need a mountain bike! :P