Coach’s Corner — Avoiding Flats
How to Avoid Flat Tires
Our Coach’s Corner series is your chance to have your biggest cycling questions answered — right from longtime cycling coach Darryl MacKenzie. In these short Q&As, Coach Darryl speaks from his 35+ years of cycling and coaching experience to help you become a stronger, smarter cyclist.
Motivated Cyclist:
Coach, I heard you did not have a flat tire in over 9,000 miles of pedaling in 2024. What’s your secret to avoiding flats?
Coach Darryl:
It’s true! In 2024, I had zero flats in 9,184 miles (14,777 kilometers). And in 2023, I had only one flat in 8,050 miles (12,955 kilometers). So since the beginning of 2023, I’ve had just one flat in over 17,200 miles (27,681 kilometers).
Plus, I was pedaling three road endurance bikes over that period, so I had six tires active at any time.
It’s not just a coincidence — I don’t like getting flat tires, so I do what I can to avoid them. And when it comes to preventing flats, what you do off the bike is as important as what you do on the bike.
Here is what I do to prevent flats on my rides:
• Before each ride, I give both tires the thumb test to confirm proper inflation. Under-inflation is a major cause of pinch flats, so I’m always sure I know what a properly inflated tire feels like to quickly check before setting out.
• While riding, I watch diligently for road hazards and steer around them. Very rarely do I hit a hazard.
• Every 100 miles when I clean my chain, I slowly check each tire at the road contact point and on each sidewall. If I find any new flaws, I immediately replace the tire.
Some people ride their tires until they’re so worn out they start getting flats. This obviously leads to more frequent on-the-road leaks. But think of it this way: Even though you may get a few more miles on your partially worn $80 tire, it may be worth sacrificing that $20 or so of possible future wear to prevent a flat during your next ride.
You can also keep your wheels intact by choosing a more flat-resistant tire. I made this switch several years ago, moving from a faster road tire, the Trek R3, to Continental Grand Prix 4 Season tires, which offer more flat resistance without sacrificing too much pedaling efficiency.
This simple change took me from 1,500–2,500 miles per tire to about 4,000 miles per tire. That alone cuts my chances of having a flat tire roughly in half!
Here’s the bottom line: While flats are occasionally unavoidable, many punctures and blowouts can be prevented. It just takes a little forethought and regular checkups to ensure your tires are road-ready.
