Thousands of kilometres without a puncture and then I just have to get one on the way to an important meeting yesterday afternooon.
I headed over the hill on Coode Street, down toward the Bayswater subway. I picked up plenty of speed on the downhill and had a blast. I got to the bottom of the hill and started to ease off on the speed. I went under the subway and was slowing down to turn when I noticed that my back wheel was a little ‘lumpy’.
“Oh well” I thought, “I’ll just have to change it and keep going.”
I changed tubes, got out the pump and noticed that it was a little stiff. Well, a lot stiff actually.
Seeing as I hadn’t had a flat for so long the pump plunger had dried out. The pumping action heated it up and it seized inside the pump chamber. It then broke. Doh!
After much fuss I was picked up and given a lift to the meeting.
I still don’t know for sure that I’ve removed the source of the puncture. I’ve checked and re-checked for glass or other foreign objects to no avail. I hope that it’s not still in the tyre getting ready to give me that sinking feeling again.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
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Do you have liners in your tyres to protect the tube from punctures?
I don’t use a liner. Punctures are a very rare occurence for me.
With 23mm tyres it would be difficult to get a liner and the tube seated properly. I’ve heard too many stories about liners causing pinch flats.
I have got liners in my old trusty rusty bike (12 yo Indi 500 Falcon Racer) and they are great – its got real thin wheels. 🙂