Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

New: Take Part in the new May's Giveaway: coming soon!


Tube deflates at rest but holds pressure while riding
#1
Can you explain this? I put in a new inner tube & pumped it to proper pressure & rode six miles on city streets. When returning to the bike a few hours later, the tire had deflated. I pumped it up (hoping there wasn't a hole) and, again, it held the proper pressure all the way for another 8 miles. After sitting a while the tire again deflated.

So, I've been greeting each ride with a pre-pump for over a week. I'm baffled at why it doesn't deflate while riding, returns to the proper pressure after pumping it up, but deflates again. It's time to put the bike (1980 Raleigh, mixte, 27") on the stand, remove the tire & check the tube.

Can anyone explain this? What do you suggest I look for? (I've checked the inside of the tire for glass, observed the opening in the rim where the valve goes in -- nothing seems out of order.)
  Reply
#2
Rubber tubes do loose air after a while, but not that quickly. Yes check the tube in a tub of water and check to make sure the valve core is sealing and is tight.
Never Give Up!!!
  Reply
#3
You have a slow leak. Pull the tube, fill the sink, fill the tube, submerge one section at a time to slowly inspect & find the tiny leak.
  Reply
#4
if you don't find the hole from the air bubbles in the clear water - add one drop (no more) of dish washing detergent, mix well into the water, and re-check. The soap makes the bubbles much more visible, and helps detach them from the surface of the tube, so they rise straight up, instead of following the surface of the tube.
Nigel
  Reply
#5
I haven't heard of that one before. Good to know.
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
Pre Ride Food Intake
Yesterday 11:12 PM
braking by reversing the pedals
Yesterday 09:34 PM
Exploring the Hills with My Birch Hunter...
Yesterday 12:49 PM
Triathletes disqualified after crossing ...
Yesterday 12:44 PM
New Member
Yesterday 12:41 PM
Customer service
Yesterday 12:13 PM
Doctors are Prescribing Cycling
Yesterday 12:09 PM
Gu/SiS/Energy Gels replacement
05-12-2025 03:37 PM
Third best reason to ride a bent or trik...
05-12-2025 10:24 AM
The great thing about trikes
05-12-2025 10:15 AM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Painkiller
21 posts
no avatar 2. Flowrider
18 posts
no avatar 3. SPINMAN
13 posts
no avatar 4. enkei
12 posts
no avatar 5. GirishH
12 posts