Bicycle Puncture Stories Vol. 1

[KeenTeen17]

Just thought I would start a thread where we could share our stories of bike punctures whilst out in the wilderness. I once had a bike where I went birding in some local farmland and this was before I was a long distance biker by the way I had had a puncture on the Monday of that week and fixed it and then rode to college the next day only to get a puncture on the way. I fixed that and did a bit of geocaching that afternoon. 2 days later after not riding the bike I went out to this farmland and ended up getting another puncture. I never found the reason of all these punctures. I didn't have any spares or repair kits with me so I got quite annoyed. Luckily my mum picked me up

Now I always carry a spare tube, tyre levers, the rench thing and an inflater.

Anyone else have any interesting experiences?

[foxy mars]

Punctures, as a keen cyclist's I've had my fair share of them. I remember cycling to Edmundbyer's Youth Hostel and was on the Lanchester-Consett dis-used railtrack and had a puncture, pump was broken, but had a spare inner. 2 cyclist's were passing by and helped me, so I got to the Woolie's store in Consett and got a cheapie pump.

I was doing my first double Coast to Coast bike ride in 1993 and had a blow-out on the Kirkby Stephen to Hawes road, lucky for me, had a spare inner. I got Richmond and went to Caygill's for 2 more inner's.

Nowaday's, if I go cycle-touring, I carry at least 4 inner's and a folding tyre and 2 pumps. You can't be too careful.

[Jez]

Not long after buying my first serious touring bike and getting the feel for riding recumbent I decided to visit my relatives on a whim in Loxley just outside Stratford upon Avon and pay my respects to my grand parents at St.Peters Wellesbourne on the way,my first century ride! So I packed my panniers and psyched myself up for the ride as I was never a cyclist before hand and this was the furthest at the time I was going to go by pedal power! Midway the check the phone rang I answered the call, then locked up, sat in the seat and off I rode on what was a hot midsummers afternoon, and I was set to ride the same route I had travelled with my family since i was a nipper! Going like the clappers I arrived at my first port of call The Sun Inn for a well deserved short stop to refuel and got chatting to a nice couple who where over from the states, who just happened to be bent riders who had much admiration for my dutch bike. After the slurp and the easy chat I then set off again, and made another short stop to eat at yet another pub at Cookhill/Alcester. Finished up and went again on my merry way, two miles up the rode I caught a flat, no worries I thought I well prepared the bike will be back on the road in about 10-20 mins, got out my repair outfit, levers, spanners and pump and that was when I realised that when I was on the phone I happened to put the presta valve adaptor down by the phone!!! There was nothing else for it but to push the bike for the rest of the journey down long roads and up steep hills in the baking heat for 15 miles to get to my uncles house in pray someone would be at home! Luckily when i eventually arrived I received a great welcome with a few good laughs at my expense but a cracking BBQ lots of tinnies, good company a safe haven and help and support to get me home the following day!

[lol geoff]

I always carry a spare tube, repair kit and a chain splitter and a spring chain link.

If you keep getting punctures are your tyres getting a bit low on tread? Or do you ride tight to the gutters or where the gravel collects? For this is where the puncture fairies live.