There are several key factors that frequently cause flat tires. Glass through your tires from broken bottles and tail lights can puncture your tube. Small slivers of wire from car tire blowouts can hide in the pavement and also slice right through your tire to your tube. As we have discovered over the past week in the desert, goathead thorns are well disguised in the sand and can immediately cause a flat tire.
In addition to problems with tires, cyclists also have to regularly clean their chains and cassettes. Even when very careful about cleaning, chains stretch out with more miles and have to be replaced to prevent shifting from deteriorating and preserve the integrity of the cassette.
Handlebar tape and rim tape have been two very common replacements.
All in all, the bike is a great tool but just like a car, you have to take care of it. Lube your chain, check your brakes, pump your tires, get the dirt out of your bearings, and spend the time to give your bike some TLC.
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