Puncture Problem....

Mrs. D'arcy

Hi,

Had an issue with the back wheel of my bike, wobbling really badly. Brought it to a repair shop who told me I needed a new wheel. Got the new wheel and cycled home that evening, bike felt like new. The next day cycling to work I got a puncture, seemed like a bit of a coincidence as I haven't had one previously...thought it might be related to the new wheel but don't know enough about it to know for sure. Went back to the shop, they said it was nothing to do with the new wheel and gave me a new tube. Cycled home again fine and this morning coming into work....another puncture!Is there anything that could be causing this?I'm going to have to go to the shop again today at lunch time so want to be armed with all the info!

Thanks.

seamus

Could be a number of things wrong. If the tyre is inflated incorrectly (i.e. too soft) and you're bouncing up and down kerbs or hitting large bumps in the road, then you're going to puncture on a regular basis.

If you are riding over glass on a regular basis, again, you'll puncture often.

The shop may also have not checked your tyre properly and you got the second puncture from the same object which caused the first puncture. That you managed to cycle home without incident suggests that this is not the case.

It is possible to get two punctures in as many days. It's called "bad luck" and it's happened to us all.

Ask the shop what caused the puncture. They should be able to tell you. If they can't, find a better shop.

stopped_clock

Are you getting the shop to fix the punctures for you?

Mrs. D'arcy

Yeah, they sold me a new tube yesterday. It just seems suspect that I was travelling the same route for the last 6 months with no trouble and then I get two in a row....I can't afford to keep getting punctures fixed plus its very annoying having to push my bike half the way to work!

alfalad

Mrs. D'arcy wrote: »

Yeah, they sold me a new tube yesterday. It just seems suspect that I was travelling the same route for the last 6 months with no trouble and then I get two in a row....I can't afford to keep getting punctures fixed plus its very annoying having to push my bike half the way to work!

Rim tape might not be aligned properly.

petethedrummer

Mrs. D'arcy wrote: »

I can't afford to keep getting punctures fixed

you'll have to learn how to do it yourself, the only difficult bit is getting the tyre on and off the wheel. But its usually not that difficult. I have 4 patches in one of my tubes at the moment. so that has saved me the price of getting a new tube each time.

Also, if you're not confident in the sevice from your bike shop, take your business elsewhere.

sibyrne

You could be just really unlucky...It happens:(

Sounds like rim tape though.

stopped_clock

petethedrummer wrote: »

you'll have to learn how to do it yourself, the only difficult bit is getting the tyre on and off the wheel. But its usually not that difficult. I have 4 patches in one of my tubes at the moment. so that has saved me the price of getting a new tube each time.

Also, if you're not confident in the sevice from your bike shop, take your business elsewhere.

I used to get my punctures fixed until I got more into cycling. When I realised I could be off on a spin miles from home, I realised I'd better learn. It's surprisingly easy, even for a back wheel. As pete says, the hardest bit is getting the tyre back on.

You'll need to carry tyre levers, a spare tube, a pump and maybe a small spanner with you. You could carry a pair of rubber gloves to keep your hands clean. The whole kit should cost about €25. You don't need to patch at the side of the road if you carry a spare tube. It should take 10 mins to fix a puncture and you'll get faster as you practice.

Mrs. D'arcy

Thanks a millions for all the replies. I know I should learn how ot fix a puncture but I think if I'm getting one every morning, even this isn't really the answer. Hopefully they'll be able to sort out whatever the issue is in the shop at lunchtime...although I'm not sure I'll have much joy because I was told when leaving that I'd probably be back soon because punctures happen in 3's!Over the last few days I've paid more than the bike cost me originally getting stuff fixed on it...thats what I get for buying a cheap bike I suppose.

sibyrne

Mrs. D'arcy wrote: »

Thanks a millions for all the replies. I know I should learn how ot fix a puncture but I think if I'm getting one every morning, even this isn't really the answer. Hopefully they'll be able to sort out whatever the issue is in the shop at lunchtime...although I'm not sure I'll have much joy because I was told when leaving that I'd probably be back soon because punctures happen in 3's!Over the last few days I've paid more than the bike cost me originally getting stuff fixed on it...thats what I get for buying a cheap bike I suppose.

If it is your third puncture the shop should offer to do it for free.

blorg

seamus wrote: »

Ask the shop what caused the puncture. They should be able to tell you. If they can't, find a better shop.

In fairness it is not ALWAYS possible to figure this out, I have had punctures myself where I have searched for 10 minutes for the cause without success. The object can just fall out.

To the OP, yes, you really should figure out how to do this yourself. You can have bad luck. Recently touring in Sicily I had four punctures in 24 hours.

- Front wheel, pinch flat after I hit a lump in the road at speed
- Rear wheel, nick in the tube at the valve probably caused by the rim tape/valve hole interface
- Rear wheel, tiny thorn probably from a cactus
- Rear wheel, probably a faulty/perished tube

I also had two in a row, different bikes, on subsequent commutes into work last week. One was a small bit of glass, the other I honestly couldn't find it, could see a mark in the tyre though so it probably fell out.

Get used to it, it is part of the joy of cycling. There are puncture fixing competitions organised every second Thursday of the month, I am getting so good at this point I think I could challenge even Pete for the next title.

stopped_clock

Mrs. D'arcy wrote: »

I know I should learn how ot fix a puncture but I think if I'm getting one every morning, even this isn't really the answer.

True, but once you're up to speed, when a future puncture's fixed you'll KNOW it's been done properly (if you want something done right, do it yourself!). The bike shop might not want to spend the 10 minutes that (eg) Blorg spent looking for the cause of his puncture.

blorg wrote: »

There are puncture fixing competitions organised every second Thursday of the month...

Really? Is this a boards thing? When and where?

petethedrummer

blorg wrote: »

There are puncture fixing competitions organised every second Thursday of the month, I am getting so good at this point I think I could challenge even Pete for the next title.

I'm the world's slowest puncture repairer.

blorg

stopped_clock wrote: »

Really? Is this a boards thing? When and where?

Yes, it is on an organised spin, you never know when it is going to happen but someone goes ahead and scatters thumbtacks over the route, first to the finish line including fixing any punctures is the winner. CO2 is recommended although sealants are banned. It includes a wet and slippery descent to even things out a bit with those choosing to use Armadillos.

My point on the bike shops is that you can just be unlucky with punctures and I don't _necessarily_ think that because you get another one it is because the shop fixed it wrong- although I am sure there are shops that will make a balls of it.

Repeat punctures are often an indication that it is time to change your tyres, and cheap crap tyres will be more succeptiple to punctures in any case.

I agree that learning to do it yourself you will at least know what you did, whether you found the cause, etc. Even if replacing the entire tube I always pump the punctured tube back up a bit still in place in the tyre, locate the hole and then look around that area in the tyre for the offending object.

seamus

blorg wrote: »

In fairness it is not ALWAYS possible to figure this out, I have had punctures myself where I have searched for 10 minutes for the cause without success. The object can just fall out.

No, of course. But at the very least they should be able to make an educated guess at it, based on the type & location of the hole(s).
But if a shop is fixing a puncture, they should at least try to figure it out to ensure that it won't happen again. If they just replace or fix the tube and don't bother to figure out the cause, it's likely to happen again.

blorg

seamus wrote: »

If they just replace or fix the tube and don't bother to figure out the cause, it's likely to happen again.

This is entirely true and I am sure some shops are guilty of it.

victorcarrera

It looks like you need some help with basic maintenance, if not to just save money but maintain your peace of mind and work punctuality. Most of the basic tasks can be completed with a basic tool kit. If you know an experienced cyclist ask them to go through the basics with you. If not there is a guy on here Mr Skeffington (in Dublin) who gives maintenance courses. http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055611674
He gets great feedback here from customers and may well save you some cash in the long run.

nochain5

all the recent rain tends to wash glass etc onto the road..ride in the wheel track of vehicles for a cleaner surface.good quality tires,rim tape and max pressure in tires are good prevention..also any nicks in the tires?drop of super glue to seal them..aint the guys in the shops fault just a part of a cyclists life:P