Any bicycle enthusiasts?

[Jim Oaks]

Yesterday I decided to air up the tires on my bicycle and get it ready to ride. I have a hybrid with 700 - 38C (28 x 1-5/8 x 1-1/2) tires and they were flat from sitting and not being ridden in 2-years. Seconds after airing up the front tire the innertube exploded. I only aired it to 60 psi, below its max psi. I had another wheel/tire and stuck it on, and this time only aired it to 45 psi. Again a few seconds later the innertube exploded. It ripped a 17-inch section of innertube open. WTH? The only thing I could find online is that the inner tube could explode if it's pinched between the tire and the rim.

Has anyone ever experienced this? How am I supposed to air them up without them exploding seconds afterwards???

 

[RobbieD]

Yesterday I decided to air up the tires on my bicycle and get it ready to ride. I have a hybrid with 700 - 38C (28 x 1-5/8 x 1-1/2) tires and they were flat from sitting and not being ridden in 2-years. Seconds after airing up the front tire the innertube exploded. I only aired it to 60 psi, below its max psi. I had another wheel/tire and stuck it on, and this time only aired it to 45 psi. Again a few seconds later the innertube exploded. It ripped a 17-inch section of innertube open. WTH? The only thing I could find online is that the inner tube could explode if it's pinched between the tire and the rim.

Has anyone ever experienced this? How am I supposed to air them up without them exploding seconds afterwards???

 

[Curious Hound]

Your air is too sharp.

 

[danielschudel]

Yesterday I decided to air up the tires on my bicycle and get it ready to ride. I have a hybrid with 700 - 38C (28 x 1-5/8 x 1-1/2) tires and they were flat from sitting and not being ridden in 2-years. Seconds after airing up the front tire the innertube exploded. I only aired it to 60 psi, below its max psi. I had another wheel/tire and stuck it on, and this time only aired it to 45 psi. Again a few seconds later the innertube exploded. It ripped a 17-inch section of innertube open. WTH? The only thing I could find online is that the inner tube could explode if it's pinched between the tire and the rim.

Has anyone ever experienced this? How am I supposed to air them up without them exploding seconds afterwards???

Two different wheel/tire/tube sets and the tube in both exploded? If so, it would rule out a puncture thru the tire, or, a sharp edge in the rim.

I always had problems where the spokes came thru the rim. That's what the duct tape, or professionally rim tape, is for. To keep the tube from rubbing on something sharp.

Two years of no use and dry rot could be a factor.

You pumping these by hand with a bike pump?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

My SWAG is oxidation of the rubber, or whatever its made of. Same thing happens to rubber bands, the oxygen attacks the rubber and it deteriorates.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Two different wheel/tire/tube sets and the tube in both exploded? If so, it would rule out a puncture thru the tire, or, a sharp edge in the rim.

I always had problems where the spokes came thru the rim. That's what the duct tape, or professionally rim tape, is for. To keep the tube from rubbing on something sharp.

Two years of no use and dry rot could be a factor.

You pumping these by hand with a bike pump?

I'm pumping them with a hand pump. I ordered new heavy duty innertubes (thicker material) that should be here tomorrow.

 

[Curious Hound]

I've had that happen with old inner tubes. It's just old age.

 

[Curious Hound]

I used to enjoy riding my bike. Growing up, I rode a lot. I even taught the bicycling merit badge in Boy Scouts. By 8th grade, I was leading guys on 25-50 mile rides. But I wouldn't ride on the roads around here, these days. I would feel too small, unseen and vulnerable to the distracted motorists around here. There are even bike lanes in some of the small cities I live near. But I never see anyone use them.

If I had decent "mostly deserted" roads to ride, I think I would like a recumbent bike. If I lived more in the mountains around forest service roads, a good mountain bike would be enjoyable. But since I have to drive to get to places like that, I might as well just use the Ranger for exploring instead of using it to transport the bike. Then Livvy gets to ride with me.

 

[don4331]

Yesterday I decided to air up the tires on my bicycle and get it ready to ride. I have a hybrid with 700 - 38C (28 x 1-5/8 x 1-1/2) tires and they were flat from sitting and not being ridden in 2-years. Seconds after airing up the front tire the innertube exploded. I only aired it to 60 psi, below its max psi. I had another wheel/tire and stuck it on, and this time only aired it to 45 psi. Again a few seconds later the innertube exploded. It ripped a 17-inch section of innertube open. WTH? The only thing I could find online is that the inner tube could explode if it's pinched between the tire and the rim.

Has anyone ever experienced this? How am I supposed to air them up without them exploding seconds afterwards???

I used to ride 10 miles to/from work year round for about a decade - it was faster than driving -> less stressful and it was healthier (kept me in shape for hockey). Had my fair share of flats.

Internet is probably pretty close - the tube gets pinched between the rim and the tire. As you add pressure it gets to the point where it fails.

To prevent it; you put just a little pressure in the wheel (maybe 5psi) then go around the tire pushing it in with fingers (tire should still be soft enough to press off the rim) to make sure the tube isn't pinched. Once confirmed, inflate to pressure.

The second part of the process is to make sure the tire is centered on the rim. Bicycle rims don't have a "ledge" for the tire to sit on like automotive tires. So, you can have the case where the tire isn't concentric with the rim. And if the tire is barely on the rim when you inflate, it pops of which is very detrimental to the tube (your 2nd example sounds like this).

 

[Blmpkn]

I'm pretty terrible with money but I'd take this as justification for some nice new tubeless rims and tires lol. New bike parts are just about as fun as new truck parts.

All I used to do was ride bikes back in the day.. 50/50 BMX and MTB. Haven't been on a bike in probably 6 or 7 years now though.. I miss it.

Lift access downhill is an incredibly good time.

Anyhow.. sounds like a pinch

 

[sgtsandman]

I used to ride 10 miles to/from work year round for about a decade - it was faster than driving -> less stressful and it was healthier (kept me in shape for hockey). Had my fair share of flats.

Internet is probably pretty close - the tube gets pinched between the rim and the tire. As you add pressure it gets to the point where it fails.

To prevent it; you put just a little pressure in the wheel (maybe 5psi) then go around the tire pushing it in with fingers (tire should still be soft enough to press off the rim) to make sure the tube isn't pinched. Once confirmed, inflate to pressure.

The second part of the process is to make sure the tire is centered on the rim. Bicycle rims don't have a "ledge" for the tire to sit on like automotive tires. So, you can have the case where the tire isn't concentric with the rim. And if the tire is barely on the rim when you inflate, it pops of which is very detrimental to the tube (your 2nd example sounds like this).

Talcum power helps with this as well. It prevents the tube from sticking and binding to the tire.

 

[sgtsandman]

Yesterday I decided to air up the tires on my bicycle and get it ready to ride. I have a hybrid with 700 - 38C (28 x 1-5/8 x 1-1/2) tires and they were flat from sitting and not being ridden in 2-years. Seconds after airing up the front tire the innertube exploded. I only aired it to 60 psi, below its max psi. I had another wheel/tire and stuck it on, and this time only aired it to 45 psi. Again a few seconds later the innertube exploded. It ripped a 17-inch section of innertube open. WTH? The only thing I could find online is that the inner tube could explode if it's pinched between the tire and the rim.

Has anyone ever experienced this? How am I supposed to air them up without them exploding seconds afterwards???

In my experience, what works best is to put the inner tube in a Ziploc bag with some talcum or baby power and shake the bag so the tube gets coated. The powder will help the tube from binding in the tire and the rim so it moves and slides better.

Like previously mentioned, air up the tube a little bit after it's in the tire helps get everything in place. The check to make sure the tube isn't pinched and the tire is seated properly.

When working with the tire, use tools that are not sharp or have corners. I find small box end wrenches work well for this.

Once everything is set, then you can pump up the tire the whole way, check to make sure the bead is seated on the rim periodically as you go.

 

[bobbywalter]

the last 12 years or so, tire rubber products, my lawn/small tractor tires, small trailer tires, bicycle tires and tubes of all kinds are simply formulated to fail.

i can say this with positivity as i have 25 plus year old tires and tubes that still work fine and anything that is more than 5 years old looks like it is 25 years old if it has not already failed.

high end stuff tends to be good, but the lower end of the market is straight garbage.

even my hand trucks.

 

[don4331]

When working with the tire, use tools that are not sharp or have corners. I find small box end wrenches work well for this.

I find the spoons from the kitchen make nice bicycle "tire spoons". The set we have are thin and nicely rounded.

I just have to avoid getting caught...​

 

[Jim Oaks]

Sum bitch!

Houston, we have a problem.