As my RANS Stratus XP sat in the house, there was as sudden expulsion of air for no known reason. On attempting to re inflate the tire, air escaped. I removed the tube and found a relatively large holes about 1″ to the left of the value stem in this photo, with an unusual imprint as if something pushed it up from inside the tube. Given the point of failure, there is a second protrusion that might well have failed also. I do have tight fitting Veloplugs in this rim. The only explanation I can offer is that at times when I was not riding this cycle, the tire would deflate and perhaps the tube weaken at that point for some reason. What is not clear is why the deformation rises from the inside of the tube. There is no obvious marking on the reverse side of the tube to suggest pressure was applied from the opposite side.This is not a puncture flat.
Anyway, I’ll bet that had I ridden [my bike of choice] the 4th day of FestiVELO, I would have flatted yet again.
Okay detectives, why did this happen???
