I have experience riding 30 miles on a rear flat tire on a zipp carbon wheel w/ aluminum rim, and the only damage was the inner tube. Yes, I had 2 inner tubes w/ me, but let’s just say it’s one of those days.
I’m thinking of getting a set of enve wheelset, but i’m afraid that having a full carbon rim will not hold up in the event that I get a flat and have to ride w/ it home, I don’t plan in doing so but these things just happen. Now if this were to happen to a full carbon rim will it hold, anybody have any experience? If so, in the end how was the wheel condition.
It the tire comes off or folds into the cavity you will scar the rim pretty quickly. I wouldn’t chance it with a rim that expensive. Just buy a patch kit and a shraeder adaptor and keep it in your bag.
With a tubular you are almost always going to have a decent thickness of tire between the rim and road. Thats not always true of a clincher and abrading the rim bed on a tubular isn’t usually as bad as abrading the hook on a clincher
You rim will likely get trashed. Riding slowly while out of the saddle with most of your weight on the front wheel and being super careful going over road variations will work for a while, but the tire will eventually move around, exposing the rim to the asphalt, pebbles, and such. AL rims get dinged or even deform a bit. They are usually okay. Carbon can easily crack.
I don’t see what the problem is. Carry a freaking patch kit and a pump. People used this method for decades before everyone got lazy and decided they would just call their girlfriend when their one extra tube was not enough.
As a last-resort, you could remove the tube and stuff the tire with grass. It’s likely to be a bumpy ride but better than riding on the rim. Holy cow, that would be a LOT of grass!!
That is not really advisable on a carbon clincher rim, and if you don’t want to risk replacing it you shouldn’t even a mile like that. Tubulars will be fine, though there’ll be a small bump whenever the valve section contacts the road. Shift your weight forward by standing and leaning forward or sitting at the nose and it’ll be much better.
This is the best. I do it all the time on my 808s and disc wheels. In fact, someties I let all the air out just to ride straight on the carbon clincher… It is definitely more aero.
I have gone 6 miles on a flat front 808 tubular and the rim was fine. I agree with those that say the tubular is thick enough to get away with it. Not sure about a clincher. Didn’t Chrissy Wellington ride a flat front carbon clincher at IMAZ a few years ago?
I have gone 6 miles on a flat front 808 tubular and the rim was fine. I agree with those that say the tubular is thick enough to get away with it. Not sure about a clincher. Didn’t Chrissy Wellington ride a flat front carbon clincher at IMAZ a few years ago?
Maybe we need to define what we mean by FLAT … if we mean down a few lbs from fully inflated from a slow leak, thats real different than flat (0).
A fully flat tire will rub on the rear chainstays or the front forks … particularly a tubular … and you’ll go nowhere. Tubular or clincher if fully flat (0) will slow down dramatically and besides damaging an expensive carbon or metal rim … it would seem strange to not replace it unless you were very close to a finish (or home).
So I will say fine … if we mean down a few pounds and want to call that a flat … then fine. If we say flat is zero pressure … then I agree …BS.
Spare tube, co2 cartridge- less than $20.00
Replace ruined carbon clincher- $1200.00-$2700.00
Why in God’s name would you not carry a flat kit? I can not understand how any rider would ever hop on the bike with out at least one spare tube and some co2 cartidges. I take them even on a ten mile spin.
Spare tube, co2 cartridge- less than $20.00
Replace ruined carbon clincher- $1200.00-$2700.00
Why in God’s name would you not carry a flat kit? I can not understand how any rider would ever hop on the bike with out at least one spare tube and some co2 cartidges. I take them even on a ten mile spin.
I agree completely … but I think a further issue is that a lot of people don’t know how to change a flat … tubular or clincher. I think its pretty funny actually since both are so simple to do. I see lots of people on the bike ride I do frequently sitting along the path with that deer in the headlights look because they had a flat and have no clue what to do … many of them even have a kit. I’ll help the cute women … but the guys can just walk it home so far as I care (unless I know them). Lots of competitors at IM events clearly don’t know how to change a tube/tire and wait for bike support … pathetic! I think we’ve all seen pro’s having tantrums about their tubulars that they can’t change … even Chrissy didn’t know how to use her CO2 inflator at Kona when she flatted … pretty funny really for such a simple task.
Why in God’s name would you not carry a flat kit? I can not understand how any rider would ever hop on the bike with out at least one spare tube and some co2 cartidges.
No need to carry all that when you can just pick some grass from the side of the road.
I regularly venture out without any repair supplies on 3 mile trips with super durable tires. The one time I got a flat I walked the rest of the way. Flat repair supplies are quite sensible at all times however. You’re going to have to fix it sooner or later, unless you’re late for something or it’s super cold, might as well get on with it.