Gone through 3 inner tubes in a week's riding

[JoeA]

Hi there, new A-Bike owner here from London.

I got my new A-Bike (Secondhand off ebay). Tried to pump up the rear tyre, but the valve was absolutely impossible to get at with the wheel still on the bike, so ended up ripping the tube near the valve stem.

Bought two new innertubes from the Mayhem website, fitted one and got some good cycling in for about 4 or 5 days. Tried to pump up the tyre as it was looking a little flat. This time I took the wheel off the bike and used a 90 degree valve extender so I could attach a pump without bending the valve stem too much. 5 minutes later and the new inner tube had torn just a little distance from the valve stem. After looking inside the hole in the rim where the valve pokes through I thought that the edge seems a little sharp and may have caught on the innertube and torn it, so I filed it down to a nice smooth edge. Fitted my last spare innertube and within one day BANG it bursts on my way home from work.

What have I got to do so I dont spend more on innertubes than I spent on the bike itself!?

And anyone seen anywhere in the UK that sells 6x1.25inch innertubes on the cheap?

I see the discussion on solid rear tyres, and I would be willing to give it a go, as even an A-bike that gets shaken to bits over a few months it better than one which is rendered unrideable because of punctures. Anyone in the UK found a place that sells solid tyres?

Apart from that Im loving that the A-Bike has cut my commute from 60min to 35min, but this innertube issue is becoming a real problem.

Cheers,

Joe

[Stevbike]

That sounds bad. I think the only place to get the tubes is from place where you got the bike. I use the A-bike copy that uses 8" solid wheels. The ride on it is bumpy at times but I think I have prevented some flats on some of the bad roads here on Stratford, Ontario, Canada. I would contact the place where you bought the bike from and ask about how to solve your tube problem. Hopefully you fix this problem soon. As you have found out that the bike is fun to ride I hope you have some more trouble-free riding soon.

stevbike

[rongood]

It is important to have a pump fitting that will not stress the valve stem. You should not have to take the wheel off to pump up the tyre. If you have the official A-bike pump, it still makes you pull too hard on the stem to screw it on. However, i filed off most of the black housing around the screw-on fitting so it will easily fit in place when trying to screw on to the valve. If you can't do that on the pump you have, look for a "shock pump" with a very narrow fitting, or a fitting that can be filed narrow.
And use the right tools to change the inner tube:
tools for changing inner-tube: (also available at Amazon.com)
Crank Brothers Speed Lever Tire Lever (use in conjunction with ordinary tire levers)
http://www.crankbrothers.com/speedlever.php
Kool-Stop Tire Bead Jack with Handle (essential for re-mounting tire)
http://www.koolstop.com/brakes/accessor ... rebeadjack

[triwy]

Hello, I have bought a A-bike original on ebay and I am enjoying it. Problem is that I had two flat tires in two days....what has gone wrong? Anybody with the same problems? Thank you, Daniela

[finzee]

Hello, I have bought a A-bike original on ebay and I am enjoying it. Problem is that I had two flat tires in two days....what has gone wrong? Anybody with the same problems? Thank you, Daniela

I have exactly the same problem, and I'm already quite annoyed with it. I've ordered FOUR inner tubes from Mayhem, and lost them all in one week, without even driving the bike with the new tyres!

Yesterday I changed my last inner tube (last one of those four ordered tubes), installed it to the tyre, and even didn't attach the tyre to the bike. I pumped it to <90PSI and left the tyre to the table. When I came home today, I suddenly heard *bang*... ...and the inner tube was empty.

I just cannot understand, what has gone wrong. I even watched the a-bike support video with very detailed instructions on how to change the inner tube. After few more inner tubes this will be the most expensive bike I've had!

[Amuro Lee]

I've never had to change my inner tubes on my 1st generation A-bike since I bought it in 2006.

Maybe I am lucky to have good quality inner tubes and rims on my A-bike. Perhaps I use a correct method and a suitable pump to inflate the tyres. I don't know.
http://www.abikecentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=623

Here is a useful tool for inflating the tyres of the A-bike:
http://www.abikecentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1375

[gganio]

the A-Bike has cut my commute from 60min to 35min,

Wow!

I hope sooner or later some good airless tires will come out.
It seems that Hutchinson tires, back in France,which developed an airless tire for the Velib (Paris bike rental) is now studying several solutions of airless tires. Besides, on Motocross and Enduro Motocross everybody is now airless.

[gganio]

I have just found (I was reading Eurobike exhibitor list) this here company:
FullStage Technologies GmbH FST Tech
MAC Tire



http://www.fst-biketech.com/html_e/MAC_System.html

It seems interesting. I would like to test one of those tire inserts.

This year I had decided not to attend at all the Eurobike show. Maybe I should visit at least one day and go get those inserts . It will be the first year in which MDE Bikes ( I am part of that group) will expose at Eurobike, but we are covered for the booth personnel, and I hate to go to those shows.....

[Amuro Lee]

Well, maybe someday, the late Sheldon Brown's comment about airless tyres will become out of date.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_aa-l.html#airless