I'm So Freakin' Sick Of Pinchflats!

[Scotty H]

I've just pinch-flatted for the third time in two weeks. It never happens near home and I don't like riding with tools. Are there any innertubes that are better than others?

I run 40 psi, by the way, and it still happens. It's those darn sharp concrete ledges! Well OK, maybe my lack of smoothness plays in too, but how else am I going to learn to pedal up over 18"? It never happens when I bunnyhop it... just pedal-ups. I'm riding a £4 cheap-o innertube that i got from my local crappy bike shop.

can you please tell me were to get good innertubes from and what are good ones?

(a "pinch-flat" is a different name for a flat tyre)

thanks scott

Edited April 15, 2006 by Scotty H

[planet x alan]

put talc powder around the tube that helps

[chrishayton]

what rear tyre do you run? if you ride stock get a maxxis dual ply and you should be fine, both the minion and the high roller are great and get it in 2.5 for extra protection. or get a DH tube. have a look on tartybikes they sell heavy duty DH innertubes. for mod then im not the guy to help sorry

[B.E.A.U]

Or do what my mate did. Put a thin layer of foam in between tire and tube shub be fine.

[rickyb]

Why not try a motor bike innertube they help a lot because they are very thick and when changing your tube run your hand around the rim and the inside of the tyre and see if there is anything that could cause a problem with the innertube.

ricky

[woodster90]

keep one of your cheepo inner tubes that you split........cut out the valve, and then cut a slice out all the way round the inside.....then simply wrap it around your new tube.

its a bit fiddly getting it back in the wheel, but it will give you double protection.

its also not that noticeable in the weight side of things.

it works a treat

woody

[Littleharrys]

The best tubes for the rear are the nokian DH tube at 3mm thick rubber and a good tyre pressure of 40 psi they should be fine.

H

[cvtrial]

With a 2-ply tyre rear, I think it will stop getting "flatted" so often!

[madmanmatt]

There are some tyres that are designed to be more resistant to pinch flats, Such as these, which might help.

[Sam Ward]

Well as you ride mod get a maxxis tyre and a decent inner tube from tarty, not a shitty bike shop one, and don't run too high a pressure, like it sound like you are now and you should be ok.

sam

[Lee Cable]

Haha, you run 40 psi and expect not to get pinchflats. I run mine at 25psi and i dont pinch flat, and im a harsh rider. Im using 50 pence innertubes, so its not about the innertube. i reccommend running between 15-25 psi

From Lee

[ManxTrialSpaz]

just try running a lower psi and carry on. Yes, it does get annoying but you'll have to get over it. I was having to replace inner tubes every 3 days which got very annoying. Whatever you're doing, just carry on with a lower psi and eventually you'll find you burst less and less inner tubes. Last one I needed was a month ago and it was about 5 months before that. Just keep going on with it.

[spode@thinkbikes]

I run a fairly hard tyre, but since cutting up an old inner tube and using it as a secondary rim-tape, I haven't had any punctures yet

[craigjames]

i've been using nokian downhill tubes on my downhill and trials bike, usually running 20-25psi on the trials and 20-35psi on the downhill bike and i've never pinched a tube. and its definitely not because i'm a smooth rider! as said before a lot of it is down to the tyre you run, in my experience maxxis seem to be about the best, but then i run 26" so it may be a bit different for you. all the doubling up on tubes and running silly high pressure isn't necessary, unfortunately it may mean you might spend a little bit more to start with, but you'll soon save more when you stop replacing tubes allthe time!!

craig

[yoyoyo]

There are some tyres that are designed to be more resistant to pinch flats, Such as these, which might help.

Yup, never had a pinch since i've had that tyre on.

[spode@thinkbikes]

Yup, never had a pinch since i've had that tyre on.

Hmm. They look pretty nice. I'm running El Gato's at the moment, but they look nice.

[quick_spider]

Did you know that 'El Gato' is spanish for pinch-flat

Look at either running more pressure, or a different rear tyre. Talc will also help.

What rim are you running? I found narrower rims were more prone to pinches that wider ones.

Jon

[<PACE>]

It always used to happen to me and still does the odd time. I changed my riding style to a smoother ride and also get an innertube that is the same size as your tyre so the inner tube doesn't move around as much. You could also get a tyre with thick sidewalls.

[JT!]

40 psi is alot really.

Unless yourva very rough rider, it's goto be something to do with the rim. Take the tyre right off and have a really good look. Also, look on your innertube where the puncture is and then you'll know where on the rim too look.

[John planet x]

I havent got a rear puncture in about hmm 1.5 years due to this

Get a downhill tube (cant remember what i have, maxxis or nokian ? sommit)

Get a normal tube and cut her up, and stick that around your downhill tube

And there you have it, a so far invincible tube....

Hope it helps

[aff1e]

hi i have just started using the monty inner tubes from www.cleanbikes.co.uk £5.00 and they have been great hope i helped aff1e

[sammerz]

Run a try-all tyre with a heavy duty innertube

Never fails

>>Sam<<

[trialstar]

Ummmm.... Being 16 stone, a very heavy rider (and a little out of practice) I should know...?

James (who hasn't ridden in 2 years!) 4 step guide to less pinch flats!

Step 1.) Wide Rim: The wider the rim, the less chance you have because theiy generally have shallower braking surfaces. Try Phatso rims or BMF's (I've always ran one of these on the rear and never had any problems.)

Step 2.) Fat f**k Off Tyre (with a good sidewall): Obviously! The more rubber you put between the road, the tube and the rim the better! El Gato's are pretty crap as far as side walls go but they're as grippy as fook! High Rollers are practically indestructible (although u can occasionally rip the studs off if your not careful) but not quite as grippy (particularly in the wet) but generally it's down to personal preference. Just make sure it's at least a 2.3! <---[Magic Number]

Step 3.) Fat f**k Off Inter-Tube: I think this one speaks for itself. There are two main ones here that I use, you have the Hutchinson DH and the IRC DH. Now I don't care about weight generally so I run the IRC on the rear cause that's so much thicker than the Hutch but if you care about weight then the Hutchinson will do you fine. And they do come in a lovely shade of green

Step 4.) Finally... If you still pinching after all that, go and find your Dad's old mountain bike at the back of the garage, take that shitty 1.95 back tyre off it, cut the sidewalls off and put it inside your tyre. It will feel really hard so you will probably have to take the pressure down ever so slightly. I've always maintained the best pressure for a back tyre is anywhere between 23-32psi depending on preference and riding style.

Anyway that's that. Hope it helps!

By the way if anyone rides in Sheffield, like I said I haven't ridden in about 2 years since I came up here to go uni and really could do with getting out again so drop me a line.

That's all folks!

[poopipe]

good tips.

sadly - since he rides mod not much of that it is going to help him.

The simple answer is run about 8-12 psi in your el cheapo innertube , get a creepy crawler on a wide rim - try-all, hog etc. and try not to smack your wheel into things so hard.

I've only had one pinch in the last year and that was from a badly executed drop gap onto the pointy edge of a curb. It may be because I'm smoother than a brazilians bikini line but more likely its the combination of low pressure, wide rim and a big fat tyre.

[Scotty H]

ok thanks for all your help on pinch flats

its helped me a little bit

:) :D