Quote Originally Posted by tzvia View Post
So frustrated about last Thursday's ride home. The parking lot exit at work is paved right through the middle of an empty weed lot and I exit that way. Well, I picked up a huge thorn from some of the weeds that were cut a few weeks ago and did not notice for a block, and then I sure did. FLAT. Crap.
This morning: Push bike to top of driveway. Get on bike and start down the road. "Hey, there's a lot of tire tread noise from the back wheel today!" Stop. Press back of bike down. "Hmmm, that tire's compressing a whole lot." Uh, oh. Notice and remove thorn from side of tire. Take bike back inside. Plan B - walk.

This afternoon: Remove wheel. Remove inner tube. Check inside of tire for sharp items. Find three more thorns! Check tube for punctures. Find one and patch. Pump. "Hey that's not holding pressure!" Again check tube for punctures. Find another and patch. Assemble bike. Check front wheel. Find yet three more thorn stubs (but no flat tire).

Retrospective: The bike was fine yesterday. I didn't do any offroading. There's no known thorns in my yard. Hmmm. Oh! I rode to the local park. Some group was having a Labor Day picnic. They had a band that had set up on the MUP. To avoid going through the band to get to a drinking fountain, I went across the grass and weeds...