constantly getting front flats

Wiseguy said:

I cannot get more than about four weeks out of any tube I put in my
front tire. The rubber separates from the valve stem at its base. My
frame is a stiff chrome-alloy frame with no shocks so I absolutely
have to leave the front tire a just a bit soft to absorb the numerous
roots across the trails. This quickly causes the tube to shift
slightly in the tire so that the stem is being pulled in the direction
of travel due to braking and tire rotation. the wheel is a 26x2.1 and
the tubes use a presta valve.

is this a common problem? The back tube is a (slime filled) one and
doesn't seem to slip, even though I leave it a bit soft too. I would
expect that the wheel connected to the power train would suffer more
tube slippage than the front wheel but that doesn't seem to be the
case.

why am I going thru front tubes so quickly and what can be done about
it short of replacing the front wheel completely?

Try putting talcum powder on your tube, so it doesn't stick to the tire and
"squirm" after a while. If the problem perisists you might consider using
something like "Stan's" sealant, so you can run tubeless. (You can try
another brand of tire and/or tube, too.)

Psssssssssst. Sorry 🙂

"Wiseguy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I cannot get more than about four weeks out of any tube I put in my
front tire. The rubber separates from the valve stem at its base. My
frame is a stiff chrome-alloy frame with no shocks so I absolutely
have to leave the front tire a just a bit soft to absorb the numerous
roots across the trails. This quickly causes the tube to shift
slightly in the tire so that the stem is being pulled in the direction
of travel due to braking and tire rotation. the wheel is a 26x2.1 and
the tubes use a presta valve.

is this a common problem? The back tube is a (slime filled) one and
doesn't seem to slip, even though I leave it a bit soft too. I would
expect that the wheel connected to the power train would suffer more
tube slippage than the front wheel but that doesn't seem to be the
case.

It would be nice if you mentioned what pressures you're running and how
narrow your rims are. Obviously less pressure leads to more tire slippage
but also a fat rire on a narrow rim will lead to slippage. But since you
don't mention a pressure we don't know if you're slipping at 30psi, 20, or
even 40 or more. In general I get no slippage above 30 psi with typical
tire and rim widths.

Quoted message said:

why am I going thru front tubes so quickly and what can be done about
it short of replacing the front wheel completely?

Try Sorni's solution first. After that you can buy tubular glue and apply
that to your tire bead. Tubular glue doesn't permanently stick the tire to
the rim but it provides enough tackiness to keep the tire from spinning. I
used it in the old days when I was running MA-2 road rims with 2.1" tires.

Greg

"Wiseguy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I cannot get more than about four weeks out of any tube I put in my
front tire. The rubber separates from the valve stem at its base. My
frame is a stiff chrome-alloy frame with no shocks so I absolutely
have to leave the front tire a just a bit soft to absorb the numerous
roots across the trails. This quickly causes the tube to shift
slightly in the tire so that the stem is being pulled in the direction
of travel due to braking and tire rotation. the wheel is a 26x2.1 and
the tubes use a presta valve.

is this a common problem? The back tube is a (slime filled) one and
doesn't seem to slip, even though I leave it a bit soft too. I would
expect that the wheel connected to the power train would suffer more
tube slippage than the front wheel but that doesn't seem to be the
case.

why am I going thru front tubes so quickly and what can be done about
it short of replacing the front wheel completely?

Pressure?

I did the same mistake, actually I did not know what was my pressure. When I
get myself a decent pump with manometer, there was a surprise, I was about
half of the recommended minimum. So check the pressure. Some people told me
to glue the tire and rim as roadies do. Made no sense to me, you can try.

D'amir

Wiseguy said:

My
frame is a stiff chrome-alloy frame with no shocks so I absolutely
have to leave the front tire a just a bit soft to absorb the numerous
roots across the trails.

What a load of malarkey! You just need to learn how to ride a bicycle
and air up that tire to the proper pressure. Here's a hint, your arms
and legs absorb shock.

JD

"Bill Sornson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wiseguy said:

I cannot get more than about four weeks out of any tube I put in my
front tire. The rubber separates from the valve stem at its base.

snip

Don't tighten the stem nut. Loading your tube so that the stem is
pre-shifted in the "good" direction might help?. I'm trying to picture
which direction is "good" buy my head hurts. I use Johnson's baby powder.
Nothing but the best for my tubes and I've never had a tube rash since I
started using it. I keep my spare tube in a freezer bag with BP in it. ( in
the camelback!) Make sure that the valve hole in the rim isn't sharp. what
else,,,,,,,,,,

--
DTW .../\.../\.../\...

I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing.
The rest, I've just wasted.

D T W .../\... said:

"Bill Sornson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
{???}
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wiseguy said:

I cannot get more than about four weeks out of any tube I put in my
front tire. The rubber separates from the valve stem at its base.

snip

Don't tighten the stem nut. Loading your tube so that the stem is
pre-shifted in the "good" direction might help?. I'm trying to
picture which direction is "good" buy my head hurts. I use
Johnson's baby powder. Nothing but the best for my tubes and I've
never had a tube rash since I started using it. I keep my spare tube
in a freezer bag with BP in it. ( in the camelback!) Make sure that
the valve hole in the rim isn't sharp. what else,,,,,,,,,,

Reply to the proper poster?

:-P

"Wiseguy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I cannot get more than about four weeks out of any tube I put in my
front tire. The rubber separates from the valve stem at its base. My
frame is a stiff chrome-alloy frame with no shocks so I absolutely
have to leave the front tire a just a bit soft to absorb the numerous
roots across the trails. This quickly causes the tube to shift
slightly in the tire so that the stem is being pulled in the direction
of travel due to braking and tire rotation. the wheel is a 26x2.1 and
the tubes use a presta valve.

is this a common problem? The back tube is a (slime filled) one and
doesn't seem to slip, even though I leave it a bit soft too. I would
expect that the wheel connected to the power train would suffer more
tube slippage than the front wheel but that doesn't seem to be the
case.

why am I going thru front tubes so quickly and what can be done about
it short of replacing the front wheel completely?

Not to belabour the obvious, but have you checked the inside face of the
tire for sharp edges and/or protrusions?

Paul

Try what everyone said and then what I have to say. Put
your fingers in the tire and move them all around for a long time over
the whole inside of the tire,even the bead. About 9 years ago I had the
same problem. The wire was broken and was sticking the tube. Before I
found this out I was going though tubes like mad.

[email hidden] scribbled on the stall wall:

Quoted message said:

Try what everyone said and then what I have to say. Put
your fingers in the tire and move them all around for a long time over
the whole inside of the tire,even the bead. About 9 years ago I had the
same problem. The wire was broken and was sticking the tube. Before I
found this out I was going though tubes like mad.

thanks. it is definitely a problem with the tube shifting in the
tire and pulling the rubber away from the valve stem.

I have no idea what the pressure is but like I said earlier, I have
to keep the tires a bit soft since it is a rigid frame (no shocks).
I tried wrapping a rubber band around the base of the valve stem last
season and that helped somewhat but in the end the problem
remained.

--
There are no interpersonal problems that cannot be solved with a
suitable application of the laws of chemistry.

-anything after the next line is ANNOYING [censored] that newsfeeds adds-
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"JD" <[email hidden]> scribbled on the stall wall:

Quoted message said:

Wiseguy said:

My
frame is a stiff chrome-alloy frame with no shocks so I absolutely
have to leave the front tire a just a bit soft to absorb the numerous
roots across the trails.

What a load of malarkey! You just need to learn how to ride a bicycle
and air up that tire to the proper pressure. Here's a hint, your arms
and legs absorb shock.

dude! you need to switch to a decafeinated brand. it's [censored] like
this is why the internet is considered the virtual bathroom wall of
the world and serious researchers don't even bother with using it for
research anymore.

Think before you put your nut sack in your mouth.

You're probably one of those [censored] who rooster tail snow all over
skiing students on the green slopes while you zip by on your snowboard
at 40 mph using the students as dynamic slaloms, right?

in any case I have no time for, or interest in, your drivel!

--
There are no interpersonal problems that cannot be solved with a
suitable application of the laws of chemistry.

-anything after the next line is ANNOYING [censored] that newsfeeds adds-
-directly contact newsfeeds and ISPs that piggy back them to complain-

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[email hidden] (Wiseguy) scribbled on the stall wall:

Quoted message said:

why am I going thru front tubes so quickly and what can be done about
it short of replacing the front wheel completely?

re: pressure...I have presta valves and don't have a meter that will work on
those rires...but, I prefer to keep the tires soft to absorb the shock of riding
on a very stiff frame bike. the same thing is done in atvs and jeeps: lower
tire pressure to get better traction.

I think the next thing to try is to deflate the tire after every ride and
repostion it: keeping the tires flat while transporting the bike.

--
There are no interpersonal problems that cannot be solved with a
suitable application of the laws of chemistry.

-anything after the next line is ANNOYING [censored] that newsfeeds adds-
-directly contact newsfeeds and ISPs that piggy back them to complain-

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Wiseguy said:

[email hidden] (Wiseguy) scribbled on the stall wall:

Quoted message said:

why am I going thru front tubes so quickly and what can be done about
it short of replacing the front wheel completely?

re: pressure...I have presta valves and don't have a meter that will work on
those rires...but, I prefer to keep the tires soft to absorb the shock of riding
on a very stiff frame bike. the same thing is done in atvs and jeeps: lower
tire pressure to get better traction.

I think the next thing to try is to deflate the tire after every ride and
repostion it: keeping the tires flat while transporting the bike.

If you're gonna run low pressure, try using a thicker tube. Maybe
something between a DH and a regular thin tube... I think they're called
"Thorn Resistant" The extra meat might be enough the keep the stem
attached??

Oh yeah, the baby powder is a must, as the other have suggested.
--
Slack

Slack <[email hidden]> scribbled on the stall wall:

Quoted message said:

If you're gonna run low pressure, try using a thicker tube. Maybe
something between a DH and a regular thin tube... I think they're called
"Thorn Resistant" The extra meat might be enough the keep the stem
attached??

Oh yeah, the baby powder is a must, as the other have suggested.
--
Slack

unfortunately the area here is technologically challenged...the
local bike shop doesn't have squat...but I would like to use a
better tube up front (maybe a slime) and I will start powdering the
tube before putting it in the tire.

question though: does the powder interfeere with self-adhesive tube
patches, if one should be needed in the future? and the inside of
the tube is rough so I have to wonder whether powdering the tube
really does anything at all.

--
There are no interpersonal problems that cannot be solved with a
suitable application of the laws of chemistry.

-anything after the next line is ANNOYING [censored] that newsfeeds adds-
-directly contact newsfeeds and ISPs that piggy back them to complain-

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"Wiseguy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"JD" <[email hidden]> scribbled on the stall wall:

Quoted message said:

Wiseguy said:

My
frame is a stiff chrome-alloy frame with no shocks so I absolutely
have to leave the front tire a just a bit soft to absorb the numerous
roots across the trails.

What a load of malarkey! You just need to learn how to ride a bicycle
and air up that tire to the proper pressure. Here's a hint, your arms
and legs absorb shock.

dude! you need to switch to a decafeinated brand. it's [censored] like
this is why the internet is considered the virtual bathroom wall of
the world and serious researchers don't even bother with using it for
research anymore.

You're a moron to not use that advice.

Greg

Wiseguy said:

"JD" <[email hidden]> scribbled on the stall wall:

Quoted message said:

Wiseguy said:

My
frame is a stiff chrome-alloy frame with no shocks so I absolutely
have to leave the front tire a just a bit soft to absorb the
numerous roots across the trails.

What a load of malarkey! You just need to learn how to ride a
bicycle and air up that tire to the proper pressure. Here's a hint,
your arms and legs absorb shock.

dude! you need to switch to a decafeinated brand. it's [censored] like
this is why the internet is considered the virtual bathroom wall of
the world and serious researchers don't even bother with using it for
research anymore.

Think before you put your nut sack in your mouth.

You're probably one of those [censored] who rooster tail snow all over
skiing students on the green slopes while you zip by on your snowboard
at 40 mph using the students as dynamic slaloms, right?

in any case I have no time for, or interest in, your drivel!

Hate to break it to you, /Wiseguy/, but he's exactly right. Why so abusive
to someone giving you GOOD (albeit a bit harsh) advice?!?

Powder your tube and pump it up; then shut up and ride (tm)... BS

Try any/all of these

Check the valve hole isn't sharp/rough
Talc the inside of the tyre
Switch to schraeder (car type) valved tubes
Switch to a heavy duty DH inner tube (mail order if necessary)
Use larger tyres. If you are running 2.1's at low pressure they will
pinch flat. Try something like a 2.5 motoraptor. Bigger tyres offer
much more shock absorption. Shaun runs Nokian Gazzaloddis and has had
them at very low pressure with no flats, the gazzas have a very thick
sidewall so resist pinch-flatting and don't squirm around as much as
some at low pressure.

Steve.

"Wiseguy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"JD" <[email hidden]> scribbled on the stall wall:

Quoted message said:

Wiseguy said:

My
frame is a stiff chrome-alloy frame with no shocks so I absolutely
have to leave the front tire a just a bit soft to absorb the numerous
roots across the trails.

What a load of malarkey! You just need to learn how to ride a bicycle
and air up that tire to the proper pressure. Here's a hint, your arms
and legs absorb shock.

dude! you need to switch to a decafeinated brand. it's [censored] like
this is why the internet is considered the virtual bathroom wall of
the world and serious researchers don't even bother with using it for
research anymore.

Think before you put your nut sack in your mouth.

You're probably one of those [censored] who rooster tail snow all over
skiing students on the green slopes while you zip by on your snowboard
at 40 mph using the students as dynamic slaloms, right?

in any case I have no time for, or interest in, your drivel!

--
There are no interpersonal problems that cannot be solved with a
suitable application of the laws of chemistry.

-anything after the next line is ANNOYING [censored] that newsfeeds adds-
-directly contact newsfeeds and ISPs that piggy back them to complain-

Hilarious

CG

Wiseguy said:

"JD" <[email hidden]> scribbled on the stall wall:

Quoted message said:

Wiseguy said:

My
frame is a stiff chrome-alloy frame with no shocks so I absolutely
have to leave the front tire a just a bit soft to absorb the numerous
roots across the trails.

What a load of malarkey! You just need to learn how to ride a bicycle
and air up that tire to the proper pressure. Here's a hint, your arms
and legs absorb shock.

dude! you need to switch to a decafeinated brand. it's [censored] like
this is why the internet is considered the virtual bathroom wall of
the world and serious researchers don't even bother with using it for
research anymore.

Dude! You need to pull your cranium out of your rectum. It's idiots
like you that spew fecal matter in the form of words on Usenet that
give it such a bad name. It's also idiots like you that give mountain
biking a bad name by not knowing how to properly ride or maintain a
bicycle.

Quoted message said:

Think before you put your nut sack in your mouth.

That's funny, especially coming from a squirrel.

Quoted message said:

You're probably one of those [censored] who rooster tail snow all over
skiing students on the green slopes while you zip by on your snowboard
at 40 mph using the students as dynamic slaloms, right?

BZZZZZT, WRONG! Guess again, einstein. I don't even own alpine skis,
let alone a snowboard. You're probably one of those idiots that makes
incorrect ASSumptions all of the time.

Quoted message said:

in any case I have no time for, or interest in, your drivel!

Then why did you respond? Let me answer that for you...you're an idiot
and just *had* to prove it by tap dancing around the issue that you
don't know how to ride a bicycle. Crow a little more loudly next time
and you may even expel all of the feathers.

JD

"Wiseguy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I cannot get more than about four weeks out of any tube I put in my
front tire. The rubber separates from the valve stem at its base.

Wise<cough!>guy - powder your tubes, run higher pressures, and ditch those
roadie-wannabe presta tubes for some Schrader = no more problems.

Shaun aRe - Never had a valve rip out, running as low as ~*10PSI*, VERY high
traction tyres, braking very hard (leaning way over the back wheel, yanking
on a 185mm front disc at ~30mph etc.).