Persistent Punctures

086Jazzy

Hi guy'sHopefully somebody can help.I'm relatively new to cycling and I'm having bother with persistent punctures in my back wheel. I've changed the tube a number of times myself and i'm getting fed up with it at this stage.After each ride, I leave the bike back in the garage it is invariably flat the next day. On the last occasion i actually brought it to the local bicycle shop who fitted a new tube. He was of the opinion that I was pinching the tubes. However, one cycle (50km) later it's flat again.the bicycle is a trek 1.2 and came with Bontrager wheels, with tape around the wheel (I presume to stop the spokes puncturing the tube from the inside) which is in good condition. The tyre is a Bontrager Select B with approx 800km on it. The tyre itself isn't wearing well but it is by no means worn out and I have checked it inside and out for anything that may be stuck in it.any help would be appreciated.

seamus

What does the puncture look like? Does it always occur in the same place?

Sounds like it might be pinch flats, which occur cos the tyre isn't pumped up high enough. It should be pumped to a minimum 100PSI.

kenmc

is the puncture always at the same place on the tube? inside or outside of the tube?

07Lapierre

Swap the tyres from front to back or vise versa and fit new tubes. Inflate the tyres to the correct pressure. If your still getting punctures in the same wheel, it has to be the wheel rim.

Never use tyre levers when fitting tyres and if you can, don't use levers when removing the tyre either.

vektarman

Check the inside of the tyre again, I had the same persistant puncture problem and I found that the inside of the tyre had become worn (or possibly faulty in the first place) and was causing a puncture where it was rubbing against the tube.

Chips Lovell

What tyre pressure are you running?

manwithaplan

Did you look at the punctured tubes? If not, have a look at this one. Is the puncture a pinch flat (generally two holes - like a snakebite)? Where is it - on the rim-facing side or the tyre-facing one? Before you take the tyre off, mark it at the valve hole. See if there's anything on the tyre roughly where the puncture was. Have a look at the rim tape there also.

The fact that none of these punctures seem to result in an immediate loss of pressure might suggest something very small pushing against the tube.

Of course, the shop may have been right about you pinching the tubes and you have just been unlucky with the last one.

ShayK1

07Lapierre wrote: »

Never use tyre levers when fitting tyres and if you can, don't use levers when removing the tyre either.

So what should you use?

wersal gummage

ShayK1 wrote: »

07Lapierre wrote: »

Never use tyre levers when fitting tyres and if you can, don't use levers when removing the tyre either.

So what should you use?

Just use your hands when fitting a tyre. You'd need levers to get one off though.

OP you might just be extremely unlucky or have rubbish tyres too. I was getting one puncture a week (200kms approx) on a set of kenda tyres, switched to the gatorskins over a year ago and not one since..... jinxed now anyway

07Lapierre

wersal gummage wrote: »

Just use your hands when fitting a tyre. You'd need levers to get one off though.

OP you might just be extremely unlucky or have rubbish tyres too. I was getting one puncture a week (200kms approx) on a set of kenda tyres, switched to the gatorskins over a year ago and not one since..... jinxed now anyway

Most Road bike tyres can be removed without levers. It takes practice and the correct "technique" though.

Jawgap

Check your tyres to see if there is anything embedded in them (stones, bit glass, shards of metal etc) - you might also check to see if the tyre has any significant cuts or lumps missing from it which could leave it weak in a particular spot.

Have you got a track pump? One you have to anchor with your foot and and which has a dial on it showing pressure.

baaaa

The wheel rim is made by getting a long bit of steel and welding the ends to make circle.
Sometimes the weld isn't smoothed down enough and it punctures the tube,repeatedly, in the same place.

Haleakala

@OP - I had Bontrager tyres which came stock with my Spesh - brutal. Punctures every few days. Changed to ContiGP4000s and haven't had a puncture in months.

Bin the Bontragers

086Jazzy

Thanks Guy's for all your responses. It has certainly given me food for thought and I will carry out a few checks this evening on the tyre tube.

Just to answer a few questions, I run a tyre pressure of 100psi in accordance with the specification on the tyre, using a trackpump.

I'll let ye know how i get on. Thank you

pprendeville

try these bad boys.

http://www.actionsports.de/gb/Compon...6c::28826.html

ThisRegard

Haleakala wrote: »

@OP - I had Bontrager tyres which came stock with my Spesh - brutal. Punctures every few days. Changed to ContiGP4000s and haven't had a puncture in months.

Bin the Bontragers

I've had bontragers for a year and a half without a puncture. Keep the bontragers ;-)

07Lapierre

ShayK1 wrote: »

So what should you use?

This guy makes it look easy!