First Blowout

[TrekTheKaty]

Well, after almost 3 years of riding, I had my first blowout. I've been lucky (new hybrid, new skinnier tires on hybrid, new road bike). I was due--DH is on his fourth set (he's a tire expert now, if you need advice). He couldn't believe I went that long. I had just announced that Lightning's 1st birthday was coming up. DH had ordered new tires and tubes for her the day before.

I'd had a crummy hill workout the day before (tired, stressed, dehydrated), so we decided to give it another go. Legs were loose, I got in a few sprints and had just come down a big hill doing 27 mph and was headed into a residential neighborhood when it happened.

Despite hanging around here a lot, you learn a few lessons the hard way . Like the how to tell if a cartridge was spent, if you need threaded or unthreaded CO2 cartridges and that tubes have different length stems. One cartridge was spent (DUH, hole poked in top), second cartridge was threaded (apparently my I need unthreaded) and my spare tube had too short of a stem. Luckily, DH was along--but I can't imagine the frustration that would have ensued if I was on my own.

The morale of the story is: never, ever, ever allow anyone else to pack your saddlebag--even your loving, smart, bike-savvy husband.

Headed to the LBS for a new tube............

[OakLeaf]

Well, after almost 3 years of riding, I had my first blowout. I've been lucky (new hybrid, new skinnier tires on hybrid, new road bike). I was due--DH is on his fourth set (he's a tire expert now, if you need advice). He couldn't believe I went that long.

Glad you're okay.

But I have to say... in a lifetime total of tens of thousands of miles, I've never had a blowout while riding. I blew a few tires as a kid when I would inflate them at the gas station without a gauge, then leave the bike parked in the hot sun - but never while riding. Something's wrong if your boyfriend's having that many blowouts. Thank goodness he hasn't got hurt!

[TrekTheKaty]

He's a big boy (about 210 lbs) who was riding thinner and thinner tires (down to 21's). We were also riding on gravel sometimes--one particular trail was two separate blow outs (Hamburg). He's gone back to 23's-25's with more tread (will only buy Continental or Michelin tubes). And we've given up the Hamburg (they've opened a new trailhead for our favorite route, so we don't need this shortcut anymore).

I'm afraid my flat may have been a pinch-flat. I usually only need to air up my tires every other day. DH aired up my tires yesterday, and after thinking about it, I said "if the back is good, the front is good." Then, this morning I didn't air up my tires I ran over something I didn't see until I went over it--SO probably my fault. Another lesson learned--AIR UP MY TIRES EVERYDAY.

Our floor pump just started acting up--seems to leak air as you pump?! Maybe it wasn't my fault

[OakLeaf]

I'm having trouble picturing how a pinch flat could become a blowout. They almost seem like opposite events.

But anyway... yeah. Bici tires do lose air pretty quickly, usually 20# or so overnight IME.

[TrekTheKaty]

This is so educational. Without this board, I would have bought a new tube and called it a day. OK, Oakleaf. What do you think? It is a double puncture, almost like a snake bite! I ran over something and heard a "pop." After checking my tire, I have 2 small cuts--but they don't seem to correspond to where the tube would have been cut.

DH already put a spare wheel and tire on my bike for tomorrow's ride. How often do you change your tires? Yearly?

[Eden]

That is a pinch flat, in fact they are often called snake bites, because of said resemblance. It was likely caused by having too little pressure in your tire (though a really sharp blow can pinch flat even a tire with good pressure) and unless there is another unrelated problem with the tire you do not need to buy a new one... Small cuts are fine, somewhat larger ones can be repaired with super glue, but if you have a really big cut or a cut in the sidewall, it is likely time to get a new tire. Other reasons to get new tires - excessive wear or flat spots, sun damaged/ cracked rubber, especially in the sidewalls.

[TrekTheKaty]

Thanks guys I sat down and looked at my tire for the first time, very closely. I'll pay more attention

[Mr. Bloom]

It was likely caused by having too little pressure in your tire (though a really sharp blow can pinch flat even a tire with good pressure) and unless there is another unrelated problem with the tire you do not need to buy a new one...

this is why so many of us check pressure before each ride...

I encourage you to review educational courses available through www.bikeleague.org where they give basic instruction on many of these issues in a "hands on/on bike" experience.

Silver will be teaching the Traffic Skills 101 (it's not posted online yet) in Evansville mid-August and I'll be taking the LCI Certification class in Bloomington in late August (which Silver will assist instructing).

In addition, Pscyclepath is often leading classes in Central Arkansas if you can find anything interesting in St. Louis.

How often do you change your tires? Yearly?

I'm a little compulsive since I often ride alone in rural areas in the evening. My most frequent problem is not a tube issue, but a leak at the stem. As a result, I change my innertubes every three months or so; I inflate before EVERY ride. As a result, I've only had two flats on the road in 8,000 miles.

As for tires, you just know by looking at them.

[PscyclePath]

this is why so many of us check pressure before each ride...

In addition, Pscyclepath is often leading classes in Central Arkansas if you can find anything interesting in St. Louis.

Can you say, "ABC Quick-Check?"

... I knew you could!...

I put a pair of Continental GatorSkin slicks on my Cross-Check last night, sparing the cross-country tires for cross-country ridng, and she feels almost like a new bike ;-)

but yeah... check your tires, brakes, ddrivetrain, and quick releases before every ride. I was stretching things, just trying to see how many miles I could get out of a set of tires about three years ago, when I had to do a quick stop to avoid an errant wrong-way rider. Skidded the back tire just enough to peel off the last micromillimeter of rubber, and flatted the tire. Long walk home, since a hole that big was tough to boot ;-)