Quote:
Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate
I have gotten 3 flats in the last 2 weeks. It's really getting irritating. I took it into Mountain Equipment Co-op and they said there is absolutely nothing wrong with the rim or the tire. The fellow from MEC thinks that I'm getting pinched tubes. Only thing he could recommend was ensuring that I had the right tire pressure before each trip out. Is there anything else I can do to avoid pinched flats?
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Proper inflation is the only real key to avoiding pinch flats. Having adequate inflation reduces rolling resistance and eliminates pinch flats even when going over big bumps. Having proper rim tape without any sharp edges poking up is also important. Also, if you do have to change a flat, make sure that none of the tube is trapped between the edge of the tire and the rim, that will become a flat for sure.
I got three flats in a row last fall and found that there was an almost invisible sliver of glass poking though the inside of my tire. Since then, if I get a flat, I run my thumb (wearing a glove) or use the round end of a tire lever firmly pressing all the way around the inside circumference of my tire to dislodge anything that might be lodged in the rubber.