Had a blowout on a group ride at 35mph on Highway 1 last Saturday

I was cruising down a descent near Pacifica with my club when my rear tire let go at full speed. Managed to stay upright somehow but it shredded the tire and dented my rim on a pothole. Now I'm paranoid about tire pressure and carry two spare tubes instead of one. Anyone else change their setup after a crash or close call on a fast downhill?

3 comments

3 Comments

wesleyflores17d ago

Honestly @emma_baker61 sounds a bit dramatic, one blowout doesn't mean every descent is a death trap.

emma_baker6117d ago

Oh man, that's a scary one! I'm glad you kept it rubber side down, but a 35mph blowout on Highway 1 is no joke. Just a heads up though, checking your tire pressure before every ride is good, but make sure you're also looking for cuts or wear on the tire sidewall since that's often what lets go first.

zara_sanchez17d ago

Emma nailed it with the sidewall thing. A buddy of mine had a tire that looked fine at a glance, pressure was perfect, but there was this tiny little bubble you could barely see near the edge. He rode on it for weeks thinking it was nothing, then it blew on a straight road at 30mph. The sidewall is where the real damage hides, especially if you've ever hit a pothole or curbed a wheel. @emma_baker61 is right, checking for cuts and that weird rubber sometimes saves you before the pressure even matters. A good habit is running your hand along the tire after checking, you can feel a problem before you see it.