can anyone recommend a solution to frequent bicycle punctures?

Question

i have an old steel-frame raleigh europa racing bike that i use to get around town and am finding that i frequently get punctures, roughly once every two weeks. i bought schwalbe puncture resistant slick tyres about a month ago but i'm replacing inner tubes at rate which makes me think that buying them in bulk would be helpful. i hit potholes every now and then and usually like to cycle pretty fast. could these be causes? if so, do i just need to cycle more cautiously?

Answer 1

A frequent puncture repair kit.

Answer 2

I would presume that since it is an old bike, you are still running on the old steel rims, unless these have been replaced by alloy wheels at some point. If not, consider replacing.

Lets go back to the basics here...if you have got just an hour of free time, try the following...

*Remove BOTH wheels (best to do both at once)
*Remove tyres, tubes and rim tapes.
*Now. With the wheel standing upright, press down upon the top of the rim. Is there any give or flexing of the wheel?
Maybe the spokes need a little tightening
*Holding the wheel by the the spindle ends, rotate the wheel slowly and check to see if any of the spoke ends are sitting proud of the nipples.
If so, file these down so that they are flush with the nipple head.
*If the rim tapes are old, replace them.
*Fit tyres with a radial tread pattern. Put one side of the tyre on the rim first, partly inflate the tube (just enough to make it round), put the valve in the stem hole and fit the rest of the tube into the tyre.
*Press the tyre onto the rim, if you can do this without levers, that is preferrable.Rotating the wheel slowly, check to see that the tyre bead line sits evenly all around the rim.
* Re-fit and inflate tyres to the maximum permitted pressure. Contrary to what Winginit says, too little pressure can cause pinch punctures. Always better to run maxed-up if you are on the road.

One trick I used to use years ago was to cut up an old tyre (cut off the beads up to just below the tread) and insert this inside the new tyre before fitting a new tube.

My present bike (a 12 year old Ridge Back 506NX) runs on 700x32c tyres and I have only ever had one puncture! With no trickery. Solution: Radial tyres. Maximum pressure.

Hope this answers your question. Any other probs feel free to look me up.

Happy cycling ;- )

Answer 3

Your tires might be under-inflated. If the hole in the tube looks like a snake bite, that is a pinch flat caused by under-inflated tires. This sounds to me the most likely cause since you say you hit a lot of potholes. Inflate your tires to the recommended pressure embossed on the sidewall. If the hole in the tube is a single hole, that is a puncture caused by a sharp object. When you change or patch the tube, feel the inside of the tire and make sure any sharp objects are removed before the tube goes back in. If the tread on your tire has worn thin, this could cause puncture flats and the tire should be replaced as well.

If the wheels are old, there might be some rusty spokes poking through the inside causing punctures. If this is the case, new rim tape might help, but replacing the wheels would be best.

The tube doesn't need to be replaced every time. They can be patched many times before you have to replace them. Just pick up a patch kit at your local bike shop.

Answer 4

You could use Stan's tubeless system and never have to change a flat again in your life.

First you need to apply rim tape to your wheel, if your wheels do not already have them ($4 nylon spoke tape) Then you will need to purchase two standard rim valves ($8 each). Put in 2 cups of Tire Sealant (16oz $12), and inflate your tires. I would recommend a air compressor if you have access. You should also purchase the , 2oz Tire Sealant Injector ($5.95) to make it easier to add more sealant later. Total price = $37.95

Go to www.notubes.com for more information.

The advantages to Stan's is that you loose the weight of the tube. Stans prevents flats because it is a latex based sealant. It's almost like riding with fix a flat in your bike.

Mountain bikers swear by this product, and a lot of the roadies I have recently spoken to, are just starting to use this product.

Last but not least, in the rare instance something happened and you lost air, well you just take the tire off and pop a tube back in, inflate and you are good to go.

Answer 5

Those Schwalbe slick tires run at very high psi. That means pumping your tubes to the point where just a little poke will pop them. I think the problem is not with thorns and glass shard on the road, but the spokes inside the rim where the tube goes that pops the tube. You need to get some good rim tape and and tape around the inside of the wheel then put on the tube. The rim tape covers the 30 something tiny little things that you see inside the rim.

This rim tape is good because it doesn't leave behind sticky residue when you rip it off.
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/RI707Y00-Velox+Rim+Tape.aspx
choose the width that corresponds to the width of the inside of your rim.

Answer 6

Have you looked to see where the holes in the tubes are?

Are you hitting thornes or are they pinch flats - snake bites, Or are they caused by not having a rim strip.

pinch flats/snake bites - your too heavy or your slaming the bike pretty good. Check the tire pressure and/or dont thrash as hard.

Punctures at the bottom - spoke side of the tube - do you have a rim strip? That will cause flats all the time if your missing it.

Thorns - well heck, try riding in the center of the street or wait till the thorn season is over on your fav trail.

good luck

Answer 7

a lot relies upon at this variety of using which you do. I do extremely some XC, meaning thorns and jagged rocks. I in basic terms have been given a sparkling motorbike, yeah. initially i had to bypass with the universal tubes. although, this quickly became impractical as i became getting by way of a sparkling tube a week. I had before used slime and so decrease back to this interior the quick term. Slime is okay, yet as Mr Goodyear states, it unbalances you a sprint. yet that's no longer substantial (i do no longer fee Goodyear cycle tyres by utilising the way). the main important project approximately slime is the load. It provides extremely some rotational weight, which ends the dealing with. It additionally tremendously deadens the trip. although, they nevertheless do their activity, that is why I used them. observe: you may not use present presta tubes by way of fact the valves do no longer supply sufficient room to place the slime in. you're able to purchase slime tubes, quite than in basic terms the answer (in case you utilize Schreada and eliminate the valve to insert the answer you have a project with the talc interior the tube messing with the slime). The inserts are fantastic for highway machines or easy song paintings. although, I somewhat have seen them used and that they do be afflicted by a weak point. they do no longer take care of you sidewalls. So in case you desire to try this, get tyres with thick tyre partitions. the suited equipment although is tubeless. regrettably, that's costly. The Stans equipment is the suited, however the conversion kit fees approximately £eighty after which you will could use specific tyres. in case you bypass onto Youtube you will detect a greater low priced decision, mentioned as Ghetto Tubeless, which makes use of previous inner tubes to do the activity. Tubeless has some reward. standard the equipment is lighter than classic tubes, it does not deaden the trip and is the main useful puncture resistant equipment. you additionally can run decrease pressures, by way of fact you haven't any longer have been given the situation of pinch apartments. that could be a sensible project to evaluate while you're watching taking your motorbike to a path centre or rocky area. you desire Stans no apartments for this. success

Answer 8

The best thing to do is not to overinflate your tires and avoid gravel and glass. If riding in an urban area its best to not use a thin slick road tire but a slightly more thicker and rugged tire. Anything with a thicker tread should prevent the countless punctures.

Answer 9

make sure that when you change a tube that you run your finger along the inside of the tire to make sure if there is anything foreign in there that caused the puncture in the first place you remove it. further, yes, you just have to be cautious over what kind of terraine you ride and if you go thru any glass, swipe the tire as you are riding with your finger to loosen any caught debris that may be stuck in the wheel.

Answer 10

Slime tubes or Tyre liners might help. Failing that, there are now good tubles self cealing kits out there.

Luck