Bike trouble

[Cid]

Simple one, this...

There are a few possibilities;

1. You pinched the tire when changing it, common when using metal tire levers or new to tire changing. Can get around this by putting some air in before the change (and being careful with tire levers).

2. Pinch puncture, when you hit something hard edged and it forces the tube against the rim... best you can do is make sure your tire is properly inflated.

3. Rim puncture; your rim tape (the tape that keeps the inner tube separate from the wheel) is knackered, or you shifted it when you changed the tire. There're sharp bits under the riim tape that will knacker any inner tube.

If it's not any of these and definitely not the tire (check for cracks, worn tread etc) then your bike is an insane rubber eating maniac.

Oh, and remember to use lube and levers when you're prising the rubber out of your rim (this is not actually true, but I had to).

 

[mauvais]

Find the puncture. Pump it up and either feel for the escaping air or put it under some water and look for bubbles.

Now, if it's on the inside of the tube, i.e. next to the rim, you've maybe got a wheel problem - e.g. spokes are sticking into it. You probably need rim tape from a bike shop.

If it's on the outside, it's the usual kind of puncture. So, using the valve to work out how it fitted, match this up with the tyre and find the position (there are two possible places depending on which way round you had it). Check carefully with your fingers for anything poking through.

 

[Cid]

Oh, for pinch punctures good ride technique helps, e.g. don't just ride straight at a kerb, get your weight over the back of the bike and pulls some weight off the front, then shift your weight forward as your rear wheel comes up... Do a kind of miniature double hop if you can, idea is to have a smooth technique that prevents any sudden jolts or knocks as this is what causes tire and wheel damage. Even the sickest off road rim can be knocked out of true by the most trivial seeming things just because the rider has bad technique.