Avoid bike flats. Deflate tires for the trek to BRC

drumtech · Post by **drumtech** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:06 pm

Tip for people who are driving from California to Burning Man:
Deflate your bike tires for the drive along I-80 E before you leave Sacramento. The change in altitude as you gain 7000 ft to go over Donner Pass has been known to pop some fully inflated bike tires.
There's nothing worse than arriving at Burning Man to find your bike tires have been blown out!
(Bring a hand pump too obviously)
C U THERE!!! SOON!!!!

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:59 pm

I'm a fan of Amerityres, which are solid tubeless tires. They even come in reflective yellow, which looks cool. They ride pretty well and it is impossible to get a flat. No, they aren't cheap.

Gage · Post by **Gage** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:05 pm

<---- Coming from California. Thanks for the advice!

Shalise · Post by **Shalise** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:57 pm

I hadn't thought about that!

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:02 pm

GageNdG wrote:<---- Coming from California. Thanks for the advice!

makes me start humming Led Zeppelin tunes...............

I wonder if there are any Led Zeppeling camps?........

steveboy · Post by **steveboy** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:56 pm

I love tips like this. Thanks a ton!

goneguy · Post by **goneguy** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:43 am

That is a great tip. I have also read that we should bring spare tubes. Is there much on the playa that would cause a flat tire? Also, will a common kick-stand work or will it just dig into the playa causing my bike to fall over?

Bounce530 · Post by **Bounce530** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:54 am

Put a tennis ball at the end of your kickstand to keep your bike from falling over.

drumtech · Post by **drumtech** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:57 am

goneguy:
There really isn't anything you will run over to pop a tire out on the playa. The most common reasons for bike tire failures are worn out tubes from old beater bikes that finally give out under the heat and weight. New bikes and tubes work well and should not have a problem.

Most people find they have a flat when they first try out their bike on the playa due to altitude popping, or the heat and stress change, or its the first time they've used the bike in a year and the rubber has since cracked.

To be prepared, bring and extra tube, you might make a new friend very happy. and bring wd-40 for the chains. most of the problems i see are chains locking up with the dust.

For kickstands, one is better than none. You'll find that half the time it is helpful, and half the time it might sink into the playa.

Baskets are a must, however. The sillier the better, but you want to have both hands free while riding and not have to hold on to your water bottle, ice bag, playa gifts, musical instrument, virginity, etc. while riding.

drumtech · Post by **drumtech** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:00 am

bounce530: that's a fantastic idea! that will totally work. i'm going to try that!
but please everyone bring your own tennis balls and don't take the ones being used a rebar caps...

somekind · Post by **somekind** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:39 am

I've never had the altitude issues, but, there are ruts out there, and if you hit them with underinflated tires they can pop.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:53 am

Other altitude issues we've had coming from California over the years include exploded pop and beer cans, and most fun, exploding bags of chips. (They make a very disturbing pop somewhere near Donner Pass).

I have even had a couple of bottles of sparkling wine blow - but I think they were bottled in CA.

Now we buy all the explosive stuff in Reno.

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:54 am

Bottles of lotion can puff up and throw the caps off. Squeeze out the air before you seal them, and put them in zip bags.

steveboy · Post by **steveboy** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:47 am

Bounce530 wrote:Put a tennis ball at the end of your kickstand to keep your bike from falling over.

Thanks for that one! I was wondering what to put on my kickstand the moment I ran across this. My bike augered into the dirt every five seconds last year. This year I've got a rearview on the handlebar and it'll get gacked if it falls, so you've saved me. :)

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:59 am

Sound advise all.

Also, don't forget to convert your money to casino chips at the border, since that's the only accepted currency in Nevada.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:52 pm

I've popped guitar strings as well. I try to remember to loosen them before I go to altitude.

joemomma · Post by **joemomma** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:11 pm

I don't understand... higher altitude means less air pressure....mmmm...then less air pressure means less pressure on the outside of the tire....less resistance..... oh I get it now....
thanks!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:36 am

If your head is clogged up when you approach alititude, you may be incapable of equalizing pressure. This happened once to wifey on an airplane trip; it was very painful. we now pack Sudafed for emergency use.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:01 pm

joemomma wrote:I don't understand... higher altitude means less air pressure....mmmm...then less air pressure means less pressure on the outside of the tire....less resistance..... oh I get it now....
thanks!

A fine illustration of what sets us apart from the rest of "Mamalia".........

Avoid bike flats. Deflate tires for the trek to BRC

Avoid bike flats. Deflate tires for the trek to BRC

Thank You