First Flat!

[mfgrep]

2,480 miles on my Vado SL and today I had my first flat. We had a storm last night...I left the house and all looked fine. I crossed the street to find a LOT of storm debris in the streets.
I didn't think too much about it....then caught a flat some miles from my house. It was not a good morning.

I hear of so many getting frequent flats. This is the first flat that I have had in over 12 months and the first flat ever on this bike.

 

[rob feature]

Go tubeless so you never have to make this post again

 

[Nvreloader]

You don't have Flat Out in your tires?
Try it, you might like it.
Works very well on punctures, like Goat Heads, nails etc.

 

[mfgrep]

Go tubeless so you never have to make this post again

I've considered it. The salt isn't worth the rub for me. 1 flat in 2500 miles I say!!!....no messes...no rituals. I'd say that I was doing just fine without a tubeless setup.

 

[mfgrep]

You don't have Flat Out in your tires?
Try it, you might like it.
Works very well on punctures, like Goat Heads, nails etc.

Flat out inside the tubes?

 

[rob feature]

Flat out inside the tubes?

Sealant works best without a tube, but in a tube, can maybe get you home. It's best when you seal the rim with tape, then just install a tire & sealant.

I don't know any cyclists outside this ebike forum that use flatout. Usually it's Stan's or Orange seal. I've used both with great results. Seems like flatout is tough to work with using traditional bike methods - as in thick. And probably better suited to motorcycles, ATVs, and maybe huge, floaty tire bicycles

 

[rob feature]

I've considered it. The salt isn't worth the rub for me. 1 flat in 2500 miles I say!!!....no messes...no rituals. I'd say that I was doing just fine without a tubeless setup.

To each his own. If tubeless is messy, you're doing it wrong . I'll never go back to tubes unless it's in a low mile bike that stays on pavement.

 

[mfgrep]

To each his own. If tubeless is messy, you're doing it wrong . I'll never go back to tubes unless it's in a low mile bike that stays on pavement.

Here is the real question.

When I got these Panaracer Gravel King Slicks about 2,000 miles ago....I could NOT get them on the rim and had to take it to my LBS for assist.
After the time/miles will those same tires be easier to remove/install?....or should I just drop off the bike?

 

[rob feature]

Here is the real question.

When I got these Panaracer Gravel King Slicks about 2,000 miles ago....I could NOT get them on the rim and had to take it to my LBS for assist.
After the time/miles will those same tires be easier to remove/install?....or should I just drop off the bike?

IME they don't get any easier. Some tires are just a PITA. One trick that folks don't always know to try is pushing the non-working side fully into the rim channel - this gives you a little more to work with.

I personally wouldn't be comfortable riding a bike long distances where I know I couldn't fix a tire issue. With Uber, Lyft, AAA, cel phones, etc, might not be a huge issue in a populated area, but worth a mention.

 

[CanNik]

Go tubeless so you never have to make this post again

Not all true

How to Fix a Flat Tire | Tubeless | Liv Cycling

with JESSICA BROUSSEAU, Pro Mechanic for Liv Racing It’s pretty rare to get a flat tire when you have a tubeless setup. The sealant inside your tires...

www.liv-cycling.com

 

[rob feature]

Not all true

How to Fix a Flat Tire | Tubeless | Liv Cycling

with JESSICA BROUSSEAU, Pro Mechanic for Liv Racing It’s pretty rare to get a flat tire when you have a tubeless setup. The sealant inside your tires...

www.liv-cycling.com

Of course you can still get a flat silly. It's just a lot less likely with tubeless - as your link implies

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Here is the real question.

When I got these Panaracer Gravel King Slicks about 2,000 miles ago....I could NOT get them on the rim and had to take it to my LBS for assist.
After the time/miles will those same tires be easier to remove/install?....or should I just drop off the bike?

Another pro tip: if you are trying to get a tire back onto a rim if it is a tight fit make sure to push the bead of the tire to the center of the rim on the opposite side from where you are trying to work the rest of the tire onto the rim. Usually if you do that you can work the tire back onto the rim without any tools, even with the very tightest tire and rim combinations.

 

[mfgrep]

Another pro tip: if you are trying to get a tire back onto a rim if it is a tight fit make sure to push the bead of the tire to the center of the rim on the opposite side from where you are trying to work the rest of the tire onto the rim. Usually if you do that you can work the tire back onto the rim without any tools, even with the very tightest tire and rim combinations.

Thank you. I guess I have weak hands. I had to go to the LBS again

 

[rob feature]

Don't feel too bad. I've had a wire bead tire that I had to use steel motorcycle levers on before. Broke one of my Park plastic levers on it

 

[indianajo]

Flat out slime etc plugs up the valve stem in a year or two where you can no longer add air. Been there, done that. Had to cut the stem of the tube to get it out.
Tubeless means you cannot change the tire on the road, you need a shop. My hands are not nearly as strong as they were when I was only age 55. I'm 74.
I run knobbies with tubes. Giant or Kenda. As long as I keep knobs taller than 3/32", I don't get flats. I get more knives through the tire from wannabe thieves upset the bike is locked up. About 1 road trash flat every 3 years or 6000 miles. Last time it happened, was in a pouring rain. Screw through the sidewall, if I were younger I would have seen & missed it. I changed tube & tire in 30 minutes. If I had not trapped the brake cable under the axle washer, it would have been 22 minutes.
I've never owned a plastic tire lever. Look like **** to me. I use two flat blade screwdrivers. 5/16" or 3/8" blade.

 

[rob feature]

Flat out slime etc plugs up the valve stem in a year or two where you can no longer add air. Been there, done that. Had to cut the stem of the tube to get it out.
Tubeless means you cannot change the tire on the road, you need a shop.
I run knobbies with tubes. Giant or Kenda. As long as I keep knobs taller than 3/32", I don't get flats. I get more knives through the tire from wannabe thieves upset the bike is locked up. About 1 road trash flat every 3 years or 6000 miles. Last time it happened, was in a pouring rain. I changed tube & tire in 30 minutes. If I had not trapped the brake cable under the axle washer, it would have been 22 minutes.
I've never owned a plastic tire lever. Look like **** to me. I use two flat blade screwdrivers.

You can totally change a tire with a tubeless in the field. You probably just won't have an extra tire on you . You also might need CO2 cartridges to seat the bead. Most carry a tube in the case that the tire takes a nasty hit.

 

[indianajo]

You won't have an extra a tire with you . You also might need CO2 cartridges to seat the bead.

Since i ripped a sidewall and pushed 40 lb of groceries 7 miles at 94 F, I carry a spare tire. I already had 2 tubes, sometimes the first one blows up. Panaracer firexcpro comes folded flat. https://www.modernbike.com/panaracer-fire-xc-pro-tubeless-compatible-26-x-2.1-black Not an ideal tire, bead doesn't sit right and runs out of round. But will get me home without a tow truck. No cellphone service some places I go.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

A tire boot, crazy glue, and a sewing awl and strong thread (like kite string) will let you fix most any ripped tire. Unless the rip is really spectacular.

By "fix" I mean get you off the roadside and back home or to a store where you can buy a new tire.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Flat out slime etc plugs up the valve stem in a year or two where you can no longer add air.

Usually any tire sealant will dry out in six months anyway and needs to be replaced. For that matter, after two years you really ought to replace your inner tubes as the rubber eventually oxidizes and breaks down.

You can also use a valve core tool and pull the valve core and clean it out when it clogs.

 

[Nvreloader]

Flat out inside the tubes?

Yep,
That were they recommend it, I run FO in both my cross county
bike, The wart hog has over 2200 miles and no problems so far.

It's the best thing, I have found so far, and I have tried all the tricks, except tubeless. ymmv

SINGLE MULTI-PURPOSE FORMULA

NEW LOOK, SAME GREAT TIRE SEALANT! DON’T GIVE FLAT TIRES A SPORTING CHANCE: Save money, save time, and stay safe while avoiding costly tire repairs with FlatOut, the revolutionary tire sealant that stops the leak before it happens CONTAINS SUPER-STRONG KEVLAR: Containing super-strong Kevlar...

shop.flatouttire.com

The last time I bought some FO came with the tire core removal tool.