plagued with flats!

[OakLeaf]

You can wipe your rear tire without getting off. It's not a beginner skill, but it's not hard. You can either reach back carefully with one hand behind the seat tube, or use the top of one shoe on the top of the tire, depending on your bike's geometry and your flexibility.

[2PharmDs]

I guess I should've clarified my mileage; 150/week is only for about 4 months of the year as I live where we have a serious winter! But still, that works out to around 2400 miles. I do check my tire pressure before every ride and I don't think my Gatorskin has a wear bar. I haven't been that great about checking my tires after every ride but will start now, that's for sure. I did wipe my front tire this morning after riding over some gritty stuff and didn't crash so thanks for that tip! Wiping the rear will take a little more practice, though. Thanks for the help, everyone!

[makbike]

By chance are they treating your snow covered roads with cinders? If so, closely inspect your tires for cinders - they can and will do a real number on tires & tubes.

[nscrbug]

I'll chime in about tire liners...I use them, and love them! I use the "Stop Flats 2" brand. I also ride a Cannondale Synapse (just got it actually!). The Stop Flats 2 liners I use are the orange ones, which are for 700x23 road tires. They go in between your tube and the rim, and so far they have worked flawlessly for me.

As for tires, I swear by Vittoria Rubino Pro's...they came stock on my previous bike and I rode those (with the liners in) for about 5,200 flat-free miles. I would not hesitate to get them again.

On my Cannondale, the stock tires are Schwalbe Ultremo DD's...which seem fine, but it's way too soon to tell.

[marni]

I know I can wipe the rear without getting off, but I haven't mastered the skill. Nor do I seem to have the flexiblilty or bike construction to use my shoe. It's something I'm working on but in the meantime, 'd rather stop and wipe than flat.

marni

[Chicken Little]

I feel your pain. I put a fully inflated bike on the car bike rack, and when I got home, it was flat. I get a flat every 28 days whether I ride it or not. It's more regular than my period.

[2PharmDs]

Good one, Chicken Little! Made me laugh!

So, if tire liners go between the tube and rim, they don't help much for a sharp object penetrating through the tire and into the tube, correct?

I don't think our hwy dept uses cinders on the road, just a lot of salt.

I am looking into Continental Gatorskin hardshell and Verdestein Fortezza tires if anyone has an opinion. I will look into the Vittoria Rubino Pros, as well.

Thanks again!

[RolliePollie]

I'll chime in about tire liners...I use them, and love them! I use the "Stop Flats 2" brand. I also ride a Cannondale Synapse (just got it actually!). The Stop Flats 2 liners I use are the orange ones, which are for 700x23 road tires. They go in between your tube and the rim, and so far they have worked flawlessly for me.

I use a Mr. Tuffy tire liner in my rear tire, but it goes between the tire and the tube. I don't exactly know what my rationale is in only using one on the rear, except that I hate changing rear flats even more than I hate changing front flats.

Love Conti Gatorskins and Conti GP4000's...I would highly recommend either one.

[nscrbug]

I use a Mr. Tuffy tire liner in my rear tire, but it goes between the tire and the tube. I don't exactly know what my rationale is in only using one on the rear, except that I hate changing rear flats even more than I hate changing front flats.

Love Conti Gatorskins and Conti GP4000's...I would highly recommend either one.

Ack...my mistake!!! It does goes between the tube and tire...silly me.

[aicabsolut]

Velox rim tape is great. I don't use tire liners. I will make a boot if I have a cut or puncture in the tire and don't think it needs total replacement.

Having a problem with double flats suggests to me that you're either running over a lot of stuff you shouldn't be running over (glass, etc.) or you aren't inflating your tires to the correct pressure. Hit one good hole with too low pressure and you're asking for a double pinch flat.

I use "race" tires all year and generally don't have problems. When dealing with road salt, gravel, etc. I will more frequently inspect for cuts and debris stuck in the tire.

Another common cause for chronic flats is having a valve stem hole that is sharp. This would tend to promote ripping at the valve stem attachment to the tube. It's not easily fixed with rim tape like sharp spoke holes, for obvious reasons.