View Poll Results: How many flats in the last 12 months
None
31
33.33%
One
16
17.20%
Two
17
18.28%
Three
6
6.45%
Four
3
3.23%
Five or more
20
21.51%
Voters: 93. You may not vote on this poll
How many flats have you had in the last 12 months
08-13-09, 09:24 AM
#1
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How many flats have you had in the last 12 months
Just wanted to see how big of a problem this really is... Thanks
08-13-09, 09:59 AM
#5
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Ten or twenty, I guess. Could be more. I keep detailed records, which I never look at.
08-13-09, 10:03 AM
#6
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Two both caused by rim tape.. My rims let in water in the rain so even the velox slides around.. I'm going to get those veloplugs dangit!
08-13-09, 10:14 AM
#7
my nose itches
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Two while mountain biking, does that count? None so far on my commute (although now I will have one this afternoon).
08-13-09, 10:44 AM
#9
"D" in Irvine CA
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None on the commute. I'm lucky because all of my commute is 100% paved and 90% of it is on a bike path which is very well maintained in Irvine.
08-13-09, 10:55 AM
#10
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For me, flats come in strange groups. I've gone six months without flatting, but this past six weeks have seen three flats on my road bike, and one flat on my touring bike, which has armored tires. The first road bike flat, however, caused the next two, as there was a tiny surgical slice in the sidewall of the tire, which I failed to notice when I was checking the tire and rim, standard procedure after a flat. When the third flat occurred, I still couldn't find the problem until I pumped the tire up to full pressure, then inspected it closely before putting it back on the bike. It was then that I noticed a little nipple formed where the tube was poking through the sidewall. A new tire fixed that issue.
As for my commuter bike, it came with Michellin puncture resistant tires (got it two months ago). Two weeks ago the rear tire blew. I never did figure out why. Last year I road all year on Specialized Armadillos and NEVER got a flat - I stopped carrying my repair kit! So I had to ride back home on the flat, which destroyed the tire, which is good because then I had to replace it. So I replaced it with an Armadillo. Very expensive tire, but very reliable and rides well too. I highly recommend it.
As for my commuter bike, it came with Michellin puncture resistant tires (got it two months ago). Two weeks ago the rear tire blew. I never did figure out why. Last year I road all year on Specialized Armadillos and NEVER got a flat - I stopped carrying my repair kit! So I had to ride back home on the flat, which destroyed the tire, which is good because then I had to replace it. So I replaced it with an Armadillo. Very expensive tire, but very reliable and rides well too. I highly recommend it.
08-13-09, 10:56 AM
#11
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Bought a Rocky Mountain Sherpa 1700km's ago, and have had five flats in that time (4 months) on the stock Kenda Kwests. A friend gave me some lightly used Marathons yesterday, so I hope those are my last flats for awhile. Out of curiousity, if people could post the distance they've ridden in the last year with the number of flats, I think thats more meaningful than flats/year alone.
08-13-09, 11:41 AM
#14
Senior Member
probably 5 or so. i have cont 4000s 25mm with reflective side walls. it has tons of little nicks and cuts, nothing through the casting yet. i am kind of disapointed in them. but i guess i have rougher roads than i thought. now i want 28mm gator skins or a semi light 28mm reflective sidewall tire thats fairly cheap and light.
08-13-09, 11:47 AM
#15
Even if they're Schwalbe tires? 
Seriously, though, my last 5 sets of tires have been Schwalbes (I put them on all my bikes and buy them 2 at a time). All marathon series (supreme, XR, and winter) except for the folding bike which has big apples. Never flatted on any of them with well over 10k miles combined, and I've ridden over some pretty nasty stuff too in all kinds of weather.
The only flat I got was on a cheapie set of tires that had less than 100 miles on them. It was on a wet road and a piece of glass sliced through it like butter. It wasn't my primary bike, so I didn't use "good" tires.
That taught me. I hate flats, especially those that make me cold, wet, and late for work. I decided I'd never use cheap tires again, even for my rarely used bikes.
Seriously, though, my last 5 sets of tires have been Schwalbes (I put them on all my bikes and buy them 2 at a time). All marathon series (supreme, XR, and winter) except for the folding bike which has big apples. Never flatted on any of them with well over 10k miles combined, and I've ridden over some pretty nasty stuff too in all kinds of weather.
The only flat I got was on a cheapie set of tires that had less than 100 miles on them. It was on a wet road and a piece of glass sliced through it like butter. It wasn't my primary bike, so I didn't use "good" tires.
That taught me. I hate flats, especially those that make me cold, wet, and late for work. I decided I'd never use cheap tires again, even for my rarely used bikes.
08-13-09, 11:50 AM
#16
L T X B O M P F A N S R
08-13-09, 11:55 AM
#17
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One pinch flat from hitting a new (not there the week before) deep sharp edged pothole at night despite pavement illuminated to near daylight levels. I was momentarily distracted during a sprint, watching other riders, not the road.
The only other from a glass shard on tire worn nearly to threads. Tires so worn is asking for a flat. I was back ordered on replacement tires for 4wks.
Gatorskins and riding far from right edge of roadway (right tire track has little to no debris) keep me at 1-2 flats per year. I've never in well over 30k miles had a front flat.
The only other from a glass shard on tire worn nearly to threads. Tires so worn is asking for a flat. I was back ordered on replacement tires for 4wks.
Gatorskins and riding far from right edge of roadway (right tire track has little to no debris) keep me at 1-2 flats per year. I've never in well over 30k miles had a front flat.
08-13-09, 12:06 PM
#19
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I chose one because i've only had one while riding. Although technically i've had 3 flats. The other two were caused by user error (torn valves)
08-13-09, 12:14 PM
#20
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Even if they're Schwalbe tires?
Seriously, though, my last 5 sets of tires have been Schwalbes (I put them on all my bikes and buy them 2 at a time). All marathon series (supreme, XR, and winter) except for the folding bike which has big apples. Never flatted on any of them with well over 10k miles combined, and I've ridden over some pretty nasty stuff too in all kinds of weather.
The only flat I got was on a cheapie set of tires that had less than 100 miles on them. It was on a wet road and a piece of glass sliced through it like butter. It wasn't my primary bike, so I didn't use "good" tires. That taught me. I hate flats, especially those that make me cold, wet, and late for work. I decided I'd never use cheap tires again, even for my rarely used bikes.
Seriously, though, my last 5 sets of tires have been Schwalbes (I put them on all my bikes and buy them 2 at a time). All marathon series (supreme, XR, and winter) except for the folding bike which has big apples. Never flatted on any of them with well over 10k miles combined, and I've ridden over some pretty nasty stuff too in all kinds of weather.
The only flat I got was on a cheapie set of tires that had less than 100 miles on them. It was on a wet road and a piece of glass sliced through it like butter. It wasn't my primary bike, so I didn't use "good" tires.
That taught me. I hate flats, especially those that make me cold, wet, and late for work. I decided I'd never use cheap tires again, even for my rarely used bikes.Thanks for the post..... I think I can go home now, you've done my job for me.
08-13-09, 12:32 PM
#21
Who farted?
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08-13-09, 12:37 PM
#22
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One on a Michelin after 200 miles, one on a Bontrager after 200 miles, none on the Conti 4 seasons in 4000 miles. My commute includes lotsa glass, tough on tires.
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08-13-09, 12:41 PM
#23
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Getting a flat very rarely can also be a problem. What could otherwise be a 3-5min fix on the roadside instead turns into a 15min exercise of frustration due to being so out of practice, finding your vulcanizer dried out, your extra tube crusty from living in a saddle bag exposed to 115F heat near daily, etc.
08-13-09, 12:43 PM
#24
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You're not asking in order to decide whether or not to carry repair items, right? Right?
(trying to see if a bus pass wouldn't be sufficient... )
