subject: Bike repair - Why Flat Tires Happen to Good People ? [print this page] Bike repair - Why Flat Tires Happen to Good People ?
When it comes to flat tires, the universe does not play favorites. The next victim of a flat could just as easily be Lance Armstrong on an expensive racing bike in the French Alps as a little old lady from Kansas on a utility bike with a loaf of bread in her basket. Given that none of us is immune, the best you can do is understand what causes flats, try to limit the chances of having one, and be able to recover from one if you're on the losing end of this game of chance.
Before you figure out how to handle flat tires, you need to know the parts of the bike involved:
Wheel: The wheel includes the rim, spokes, and hub.
Tire: The tire sits between the rim and the road and is made of interwoven fabric and rubber.
Tread: The tread is the rubber-coated part of the tire that comes in contact with the road.
Tube: The tube is an inflatable balloon that fills up the inside of the tire as it expands.
Valve: The valve is a metal connector that can be opened and closed to inflate or deflate the tube.
When it comes to flats, the tube plays a leading role. The tube provides the cushion of air between the road and the rider, allowing for a smooth, efficient ride. When the tube is damaged in some way such that it can no longer maintain air, a flat is the result. Tube damage can be caused by any of the following:
Sharp objects: Objects such as glass or a nail can pierce a tire and tube.
Low tire pressure: When your tire pressure is low, it's easier for an object to penetrate the tire rather than bounce off.
The tube getting caught between the sharp edge of the wheel rim and the tire: When this happens, the result is something called a pinched flat or snakebite puncture.
Tires wearing out: When your tires wear out, they lose their capacity to protect the tube.
Tubes losing their integrity: If you've patched your tubes multiple times, they'll be more prone to damage.
