The Longest Lasting Tube Ever
You aren’t going to believe this one….on Monday I had my first flat tire in two years. Yeah, it’s been at least two years and over 20,000kms on the road since I last had to change a tube. That’s like an eternity for a road bike tube. I can’t even believe it myself.
The thought has been lurking around in my mind for a while now. Each time I zoom past some broken glass or see a screw laying on the road, I think that this has got to be the time. Well, that time finally came and what did it was hitting a big rock with my back tire going down a hill. Something as simple as that and my tire changing streak was done.
Thinking back, I can’t honestly remember the last time I had a flat. What I do know is that I’ve had my Trek Madone for almost two years and this is the first flat I’ve had with it. I also know that I was living in Canada two years ago so I wasn’t outside riding between December and February. So the earliest date that my last flat could have occurred is pre-November 2008….incredible.
What the heck are they putting in the tire tubes over at the Trek factory? I’m not sure if it was the tube or the fact that I live a charmed life (like my friend Torsten tells me). Whatever it is, I’m totally okay with my next flat coming sometime around March 2013.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering…when I pulled out the flat tube, what I found was a Cheng Shin. Serious.
That’s crazy! I average about 2 a season on each bike. I’ll bet a big part of it is the streets you ride and the upkeep of them. That and you are charmed.
Whatever it was, I’m looking for the magic to continue in the future. The road conditions are definitely a factor. When I lived in the Caribbean it seemed like I was in Flatsville all the time.
Darryl
You should have put the top of you shifters in the grass. Now they will be scratch, so your life is not all that charmed with that lazy mistake.
Thanks Mermoth,
I actually don’t ride with a camera on me so that picture is a stock photo and not my bike. But you’ve got a great point and is something everyone should keep in mind when fixing a flat.
Darryl
Sometimes I think scratches add charm.
When I switched to Armadillo tires on my old Trek mtb/hybrid I didn’t have a flat for over 5 years. Those kevlar-lined tires may be too heavy for some folks, but for riding on the crappy city streets of Chicago they are the only way to go in my opinion. I hope your charmed life continues – flats are always a pain.
Wow, that is a long time. Thanks for your comments and keep on loving the bike in Chicago…even if they are crappy streets.
You live a charmed life, end of!
That’s impressive. My Trek hybrid’s been going on about a year and a half, with only 1 flat (rear tire, of course). I remember this being a bigger problem when I was younger, but I also didn’t have QR wheels on my Huffy bikes.
Yeah, it’s always the back tire isn’t it?
A few months ago (when I was actually riding) I went through a period of 3 flats and two cut tires. All on two rides.
How do your tires look after all those miles?
I’ve had to replace the tires, but I’m pretty sure they used the same tubes when the bike shop did it. I totally forgot about that….maybe they put new tubes in at that point. I’m not sure.
I hate you. 😉
If it keeps me flat-less, I’m okay being on your hate list….hahahahaha.