How Long Can You Ride on a Flat Bike Tire?
No one even wants to imagine it: You’re out on a long bike ride, enjoying a beautiful day, when suddenly you notice that your wheel is making contact with the road. You stop to check out what’s going on with your bike, and your suspicions are confirmed—you have a flat tire. So much for enjoying the rest of your ride and getting back home in a reasonable amount of time!
Fortunately, you can avoid some flat tire situations and, in case you do have one, be prepared to deal with it. Flat tires are an issue for bike safety in Naples, FL that pop up from time to time for many cyclists, and are a particularly big issue for long-distance riders. Let’s look at the best steps for avoiding flat tires, and addressing them when they do occur.
How common are flat tires?
You may think that you’re careful as a cyclist to avoid all debris on the road; you figure that a flat tire won’t happen to you. But for long-distance riders, this is a common occurrence. Odds are you’re going to have a flat in the first 1,000 miles on the road. However, there are ways to reduce the number of flats you experience and to make a flat less painful.
Prevention first
It’s important to first understand that what appears to be a flat tire is actually a flat tube. On most bikes, the inner tube is protected by a layer of rubber. Flats usually happen due to wire or construction debris, but it can also be due to glass or potholes.
There are a number of things you can do to prevent a flat tire. Keeping the bicycle’s inner tube inflated is the most important thing. The average bike’s inner tube loses 5 to 10 pounds of air pressure per square inch each day; so, after a few days in the garage, the inner tube will not be properly inflated. That’s why you need to have a pump at home. Upgrading your tires may also help prevent flats from happening.
Preparation next
If you’re going on a longer ride, you should store at least two inner tubes. For those riding more than 50 miles, then it’s recommended to bring along three inner tubes. You’ll also want to carry several CO2 cartridges, which allow you to inflate in a matter of seconds. You can also bring a hand pump along as a backup.
While you can replace or fix a tire on your own, there are plenty of situations where you may want to call in the professionals to help. The next time you need bike repair in Naples, FL, then turn to the expert team at Big Momma’s Bicycles.
We’re a locally-owned shop servicing the Naples area since 2005. Our experienced team does it all including repairs, rental service, resales, services, tune-ups and more. Give us a call right now or stop by today to see how we can help with all your cycling needs.
Categorised in: Bike Repair