The Rock Island Trail

How come so many flats?

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Wilson from Santa Barbara on 9/21/2006 1:56:11 PM:

Hmmm... There seems to be a lot of comments about multiple flat tires when riding the trail. What's causing these flats and why do some folks seem to get them but others not at all?

Xavier from Sunset Hills on 9/22/2006 9:24:36 AM:

Great question. I have also read many comments about taking a spare and fix a flat. I was also wondering the same thing. Thanks for asking.

Anonymous on 9/22/2006 10:53:26 AM:

Here is some good info about tires for the trail:
http://www.bikekatytrail.com/tires.asp

Trek Biker from St. Joseph, MO on 9/22/2006 11:14:57 AM:

That is apparently one of the many mysteries of the Katy. We have ridden many miles, between Sedalia and Treloar, and have not had a flat tire one. Our bike tires are 26 x 1.95 and 700 x 28 (to 35)C…..nothing special……no super duper high dollar steel/Kevlar/kryptonite belted radials.

Although we have not had any flats, I carry a very small package of stick-on patches, a pump, and one spare tube of each size just in case. Traveling with more than that is overkill for us. Stick on patches are quick and easy to apply and do not require unreleasing a wheel to remove a tube. And…..yes they do work well when applied properly. If you don’t know what you’re doing….a patch of any kind or removing a wheel axle to slide a tube past won’t work well for you.

sbikes from Kansas City on 9/22/2006 10:07:57 PM:

The Trail is out in the world of nature and there are sometimes sharp, pointy things in
nature. I ride tires about an inch wide that are Kevlar belted and haven't had many flats. But,
one of the flats I had was out in the middle of nowhere where I ran over this HUGE
thorn....another time I had a flat becuase of just a bad tube. In neither case would a patch kit
of helped...the thorn tear was too big and the bad tube split right close to the valve stem. If I
had not had spare tubes and a pump both times, I would have been walking. I have seen
folks along the Trail with flats because they are riding road bikes with road bike slicks. And,
sometimes, flats just happen. Better to be prepared with a spare tube ... unless you just
enjoy walking your bike...

Anonymous on 9/23/2006 9:56:45 AM:

The vines that tend to crawl over the trail (have no idea of their name)do have thorns, so be careful and avoid riding over them if possible.

Wilson from Santa Barbara on 9/24/2006 6:31:18 PM:

Wow, thanks for all the great advice and direction!

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