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Post by medic09 on Aug 20, 2006 18:43:41 GMT -5
I've had my bike barely two weeks. It's been fine, including a few medium rides on the interstate (2 X 50 mi round trip, and once 100 mi round trip).
I put it in the garage two days ago. Today I took it out for a ride, and notice the bike 'shimmying', especially when I slow or apply the brakes.
I returned home, and found that both tires were severely underinflated - the front almost nil, and the back around 12 or 14 lbs.
Is this natural loss of air, or am I looking at some more significant problem?
Thanks!
Mordechai
Santa Fe, NM
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Post by rodentrancher on Aug 20, 2006 23:01:52 GMT -5
Mordechai,
Assuming the tires were properly inflated two weeks ago, that's definitely not right. Since it's both tires - how old are the tubes? If they're old enough, perhaps they've both developed slow leaks from dry rot, rather than a puncture ??
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Post by StewRoss on Aug 21, 2006 0:23:44 GMT -5
Hi, Valve cores...Try tightening up you valve cores...also push them in and let them out again...clears the seats. If a bike has been left for ages they can tend to leak down a bit anyway. Sometimes all it takes is to ride on them for a bit...did you pump them up when you got the bike? Pump them up and try the old bicycle trick of spitting on your finger then covering up the end of the valve stem with the spit...any bubbles? Once inflated monitor the pressure over a few days...if they keep going down, then try replacing the valve cores with new ones. Valve caps...Another thing to consider is to always use good quality, rubber sealing valve caps. Preferrably metal ones. I nearly always use aircraft type brass caps (..normally they're painted yellow). Tubes...Tubes can move, especially if the tyre has been a bit low in pressure while riding. The tyre moves on the rim and it takes the tube along for the ride. Unfortunately this has the effect of pulling the tube against the valve stem, that is usually locked in place by a nut. This stresses the tube in the area of the stem and can result in leakage or total deflation. Also if your tubes have no nuts on them then the stems can end up at an angle to the rim...you then need to deflate the tyre and reset the stems straight again...if the stem is over a long way, I'd probably change the tubes anyway...it's a pain having a flat in the middle of nowhere!  If the problem persists though, as previously indicated, I'd look at replacing the tubes. Punctures...Just a comment on punctures...if you get a nail or something through the tyre and it punctures the tube...I'd probably replace the tube these days. Puncture repairs are almost a thing of the past...(...even though I've done it enough times...remember 'burn on' patches?...ah the old days...). The other thing to do is to remember to remove the pointy thing from the tyre...sounds obvious, but... An important consideration is not to run your hand around the inside of the tyre carcass to feel for the object. Look with a torch or light etc...Many a person has uttered profanities as they discover the sharp object with their fingers...Ouch!!! (...not of course that I've ever done this...heh, heh  ... Hope this helps... SR  |
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Post by tradrockrat on Aug 21, 2006 16:21:19 GMT -5
my rims are tubeless so I came across an interesting fact a few years ago - the valve stem is held on with a nut. If that nut vibrates loose because the shop didn't use locktite (WTF?) you can loose all your air overnight and blow your bead on the way home from work in 110 degree heat.  |
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