Is my road bike possessed?
Discussion
I cycled into work yesterday - for the second time this year no less - and was feeling like a paragon of health and fitness.
That evening I returned to the lock up to find the rear tyre had gone flat, so I set about changing the inner tube. Fortunately before I went too far I checked my hand pump, which had mysteriously failed since the last time I used it.
After getting a lift home with a colleague I decided to stick a new tube in. Then came the next issue - my other hand pump appeared to have failed too. Undeterred, I dug out an old stirrup pump and got to work. Then ... bang! A good 10 psi below the maximum pressure stated on the tyre the inner tube exploded.
Determined to ride to work in the morning I went back to the previous (unexploded) tube, patched the hole and fitted that. Thirty seconds later my ears were once again ringing with the sound of recently detonated inner tube.
At that point, after two failed pumps, one puncture and two blow outs I decided higher powers were telling me not to ride in the following morning and resolved to have a lie in followed by a nice leisurely drive to work instead.
So is there something that could be causing these tubes to fail? They were only going at about 60 psi and on a hybrid road bike where the tyres are rated to 65 or 70 from memory. I had a quick check for anything stuck in the tyre, but maybe there's a tiny remnant of a thorn or something that doesn't puncture the tube until it reaches a certain pressure? It might just be that inner tubes don't like being stored in a garage at winter temperatures for too long.
That or it's demonic possession...
That evening I returned to the lock up to find the rear tyre had gone flat, so I set about changing the inner tube. Fortunately before I went too far I checked my hand pump, which had mysteriously failed since the last time I used it.
After getting a lift home with a colleague I decided to stick a new tube in. Then came the next issue - my other hand pump appeared to have failed too. Undeterred, I dug out an old stirrup pump and got to work. Then ... bang! A good 10 psi below the maximum pressure stated on the tyre the inner tube exploded.
Determined to ride to work in the morning I went back to the previous (unexploded) tube, patched the hole and fitted that. Thirty seconds later my ears were once again ringing with the sound of recently detonated inner tube.
At that point, after two failed pumps, one puncture and two blow outs I decided higher powers were telling me not to ride in the following morning and resolved to have a lie in followed by a nice leisurely drive to work instead.
So is there something that could be causing these tubes to fail? They were only going at about 60 psi and on a hybrid road bike where the tyres are rated to 65 or 70 from memory. I had a quick check for anything stuck in the tyre, but maybe there's a tiny remnant of a thorn or something that doesn't puncture the tube until it reaches a certain pressure? It might just be that inner tubes don't like being stored in a garage at winter temperatures for too long.
That or it's demonic possession...
I would say a bit of debris is still in the tyre, or there is a sharp bit of rim tape poking out somewhere. I had the issue a couple of times last year, turned out that the plastic rim tape that came with the wheels had a tiny spike on it where the hole for the valve was cut out, every now and again it used to puncture the tube.
I replaced the plastic rim tape with fabric tape and have never had an issue since!
I replaced the plastic rim tape with fabric tape and have never had an issue since!
MadDad said:
I would say a bit of debris is still in the tyre, or there is a sharp bit of rim tape poking out somewhere. I had the issue a couple of times last year, turned out that the plastic rim tape that came with the wheels had a tiny spike on it where the hole for the valve was cut out, every now and again it used to puncture the tube.
I replaced the plastic rim tape with fabric tape and have never had an issue since!
Twaddle. It's as certain a case of demonic possession if ever I've heard done. You need to get a priest over sharpish. Do your handlebars spin round and round?I replaced the plastic rim tape with fabric tape and have never had an issue since!
CaptainSlow said:
MadDad said:
I would say a bit of debris is still in the tyre, or there is a sharp bit of rim tape poking out somewhere. I had the issue a couple of times last year, turned out that the plastic rim tape that came with the wheels had a tiny spike on it where the hole for the valve was cut out, every now and again it used to puncture the tube.
I replaced the plastic rim tape with fabric tape and have never had an issue since!
Twaddle. It's as certain a case of demonic possession if ever I've heard done. You need to get a priest over sharpish. Do your handlebars spin round and round?I replaced the plastic rim tape with fabric tape and have never had an issue since!
Chris71 said:
Then ... bang! A good 10 psi below the maximum pressure stated on the tyre the inner tube exploded.
I'd be willing to bet that the tube was pinched somewhere beneath the tyre causing the pressure to actually be in excess of the maximum pressure somewhere along the tube. Its very easily done, sometimes even after inspection you get a bit of tube trapped under the edge of the tyre.
I tend to check for pinch before inflating and again after partially inflating. I've still managed to blow up some brand new tubes. (my dog hides when I start pumping wheels because the sound of exploding tubes frightens the crap out of him)
CaptainSlow said:
Chris71 said:
CaptainSlow said:
Do your handlebars spin round and round?
Nope, but a strange wheezing sound can be heard whenever I try and ride it up a hill. Spooky.I've found from bitter experience that punctures tend to come along like red buses. You'll also have checked around the tyre for any sharp flint etc a couple of times, and it's escaped your notice - On the next occasion you inspect extra diligently and the sharp item cuts your finger..... blood pouring everywhere AND a punctured tyre BTDT 
CaptainSlow said:
MadDad said:
I would say a bit of debris is still in the tyre, or there is a sharp bit of rim tape poking out somewhere. I had the issue a couple of times last year, turned out that the plastic rim tape that came with the wheels had a tiny spike on it where the hole for the valve was cut out, every now and again it used to puncture the tube.
I replaced the plastic rim tape with fabric tape and have never had an issue since!
Twaddle. It's as certain a case of demonic possession if ever I've heard done. You need to get a priest over sharpish. Do your handlebars spin round and round?I replaced the plastic rim tape with fabric tape and have never had an issue since!
king bd thing" I shouted at it. It got me back by nearly tipping over. Fastpedeller said:
I've found from bitter experience that punctures tend to come along like red buses. You'll also have checked around the tyre for any sharp flint etc a couple of times, and it's escaped your notice - On the next occasion you inspect extra diligently and the sharp item cuts your finger..... blood pouring everywhere AND a punctured tyre BTDT
Had one of those many moons ago, turned out to be a great big thorn exactly the same colour as the inside of the tyre, didnt spot it until it went through my finger...Well, there were no obvious signs of anything embedded in the tyre or the rim and the next inner tube went on fine. However, all is not well. I appear to have driven the malevolent spirits into the chain - or possibly the rear deralieur - which is now skipping whenever I put any load on it. Time for the holy water, I reckon.
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