Australia & New Zealand Outdoor Adventure Forum

Have you ever had the frustrating experience of having a flat bike tire while you were using it?

This has happened to me a few times, and most of them always happen in places where I can't fix the tires. It causes me a sense of impotence mixed with frustration.

I have to end up going to my destination using another means of transportation. It's annoying when your plans are interrupted and you do not have a plan b to execute at the moment.

That happened to me once while using the bike route. I used to take the bike route often to head for far away areas because it was a straight, clean road. Nothing in your way except bats. While I was traveling at night, my bike got a flat tire due to some small nail that was on the road. It wasn't so bad except for there were bats everywhere and in the bike route if you're far in enough, there is no way you'll get back to civilization without walking a few miles. The bike route is fairly safe but the bats flying around sure do strike some fear in you. Now, I would make sure to bring the proper lightweight gear to change my tire.

When biking in a remote area, you should be aware of problems like flat tire or damaged brakes. For the flat tire, it is good to always bring a kit to repair the tire in case of a puncture. I admit that I don't bring a kit when I bike because I usually bike inside our village. Any technical problem will be quick to resolve since I can walk my way back home. But when I bike for long distances, I have to bring along my biking bag that is complete with the kit and other needs like water and face towel.

Well, I never experienced it for bike. But yes it happens many time with my car but mostly I keep spare tire so I can easily change the tire. But I had one bad experience with car too, at that time even spare tire was flat. So I have to took that flat tire to some shop for puncture which was quite away from the my car's place. So it was tiring experience.

@Shine_Spirit I have had that experience on more than one occasion and to my surprise I found a repair shop every time and that too within walking distance. Sometimes I thought was it the repair center guy responsible for those nails which left me with a flat tire? However, back in my home country the repair centers/shops are commonly available with in a short distance so that doesn't pose a big problem for us unlike in developed countries where you have almost no such facilities.

Sadly, flat tyres are just all part and parcel of cycling, and no matter how much care you take, the fact is that they will and do happen. I went through a spell a few years ago when I had about 4 punctures in 4 rides over a couple of weeks, but recently I have been quite lucky. Puncture repair kits are an essential item to carry with you anytime you go cycling, but they are only a stop gap until you can get the tyre fixed properly.

I know people that repair a puncture and carry on cycling, thinking and hoping that they can get away with it but the tyre does need replacing, and the only way you can guarantee not to get a puncture ever again...is to stop cycling, and lets be honest, none of us are going to do that.

Well, I don't use bike these days. But in past days I have faced this many times. I have to take my bike to shop by walking for making puncture at shop. Walking with holding bike is always difficult. I have faced it many time in past and yes it is quite irritating.

Oh Gosh!! Flat tires are a pain in the ass. Especially, if you don't have a spare one to fix or unavailable equipment to do so.
To me, the joy of cycling comes to a halt with flat tires. A flat tire can you a very different impression of cycling as it makes you regret for even deciding to cycle in the first place.

This is really a painful situation specially when you don't have you gears with you. I've encountered this for so many times but luckily I have my friends to help since I don't go biking alone.