I seem to have terrible luck with bikes. Every one I’ve bought seems to have one consistent, yet unexplainable problem like a chain that pops off or something. I say new-ish commuter because I have only commuted a handful of times over about ten years because I keep running into an issue with flats on my current one. While I’m not super consistent with commuting to work, if nothing else I’m determined to resolve this issue.
Realistically, I get a flat probably 1 in every 3 or 4 rides. I’ve taken it to several shops. I bought Gator Skins a few years ago and put them on myself, but honestly have only ridden on them mayyybe 10 times. They got a couple flats in those 10 rides too. Nevertheless, my complaints fall on deaf ears. They tell me something probably poked it and flew out, maybe it was a bristle from the street sweep, or something to that effect.
The frustrating thing is I just got the flat fixed last month, the guy said nothing was wrong with the wheels and the tires are still pretty new. With that and a tune up it was pushing $150 with tax and all that. After literally only riding to work three times, it goes flat the fourth time on my way 30 min ride to an appointment. I found a shop on the way and that was like $30 bucks.
I keep paying for tubes or someone to fix my flats, but this can’t possibly be every one else’s experience. I just don’t want to be anxious every time I get on my bike that it might be the time I’m late, walking my bike to work.
Ultimately I’m curious, how often are you guys getting flats? Do you have any advice? Anyone else have this issue and have some unexpected solution? Are some bikes just cursed and should I get a more reliable one?
Bike: GT Corsa Two
Work commute = 59 min, 10 miles one-way, almost entirely bike paths
by squawk_box_
13 Comments
Schwalbe Marathons with thornproof tubes.
Get some quality tires. Your choice.
Add some CNC or Mr. Tuffy tube liners.
Add a good quality tube sealant.
Run near the maximum pressure on your tires.
Those should take care of 99% of most common flats.
Bike paths could also legitimately called debris paths. Glass shards and thorny things… And also car doors swinging open.
Learn how to patch and replace your tires and tubes. It’s not difficult, but it certainly is annoying. You need to do it yourself! Watch videos!
I think if you’re getting flats with gatorskins that often you might not be running them at the right pressure. I have them on one bike and pump my tyres every few days. And my last one was down to the layers underneath before I replaced it and it still didn’t flat, it was over 7 years I used it without a puncture. And I was not kind to those tyres either.
Other than that, check there’s no loose or broken spokes. And check there’s nothing sharp on the inside of the tyre or rim.
And do you get flats at the same location all the time? Some people are just shitstains and will throw tacks or something on the path.
Or, and I don’t want to sound like a dick, but what’s your riding technique when it comes to curbs and bumps and stuff like that? If you’re just lifting the front wheel and bashing the back wheel into a gutter or curb cut something then you could just be getting pinch flats that way too. The gators are narrow too some wider tyres might help
But seconding the Marathon Plus tyres. They’re heavy but so far for me they’ve been super tough. Around 1500km no problems.
I’ve only ridden 1100 km so far and haven’t got a flat yet. Hope that continues. I ride over glass and rocks and kerbs. I keep my pressure above 4 bars. The tire is Continental double fighter.
I’ve been biking in a city with crap roads for 10+ years and had maybe two flats.
What air pressure are you riding on? What condition is the bike path? Gravel, paved, etc.?
maybe try Tannus tires and see how it feels?
You need to find the leek in these tubes when you remove them. You need to figure out where these leeks are on the tubes. If it is debris the road then you should the nearly all of the leaks are in the top of the tube, the outside. If you are getting this many flats I find in unlikely that it is road debris and it hasn’t been obvious already. Usually you will see whatever punctured the tire still stuck in the tire for a least one or two of these flats.
If leeks are more in the side of the tubes or even the bottom/inside of the tube this is a wheel or tire pressure issue. If you are a bigger person you may need to move up to a thicker gage spoke to reduce wheel deflection while riding. I hade this issue on my cargo bike because of the loads I was carrying. I was getting flats at least once a week. I upgraded to a thicker spoke and haven’t had a flat in over a year. The trend now by manufacturers is to keep moving to the thinest gage possible on wheels to get them liter, but some times making one step up is a really helpful trade off.
But to track down this issue you have to inspect the leeking tubes and figure out where you are getting the leeks in the tubes.
I run teravelle cannonball durable tires. Been great to me for flat prevention. 9 miles each way , gravel , road and paved path in Denver with glass / homeless bull shit in the roads.
If you are near goathead territory, go tubeless. Or at the very least Stan’s in your tubes.
First, buy a good quality floor pump. I recommend Park Tool.
Second, inflate tires to the correct pressure. This will dramatically reduce all flats and will eliminate pinch fats all together.
Third, learn to fix and *diagnose* the cause of your flats. Never pay someone to do this.
If you live in the desert, go tubless.
In addition to all of the great suggestions here so far, I’ll add that you should learn to fix a flat. It is not difficult and will save you a ton of money.
1. Tire pressure – could be too low
2. Replace the rim strip / tape – I had persistent flats with Marithon plus… should not happen… it was the rim strip! Gator skins are super durable as well I think it’s unlikely you’re picking up a new debris puncture every 3rd or 4th ride. Possible but I’d
bet there’s something else there..
3. Carefully check the inside walls of the tire all the way around for debris or anything remotely abrasive.
4. Identify the location and type of puncture (snake bites, pin hole, multiple pinholes, etc). Find the spot and mark it on the wheel / take a picture pointing to the area. Are they consistently in the same spot on the wheel, or tire? Could be a spoke poking, thorn stuck through the tire, old rim strip scraping the tube, or a poky something in the tire.
Good luck dude and keep at it. It’s infuriating though. I’ve been through it… If you have good quality tires, you’ll eventually get it figured out and be riding smooth for a long time between flats.