Flat tyres

I want to commute on a regular basis,but flat tyres are becoming more and more frequent,causing problems with punctuality,and quite frankly,taking the pleasure out of the experience.
Have any of you amongst the commuting fraternity tried puntureless tyres,I've managed to find "TOOBZ" on the internet,what are they like?Can you advise me?
Have any of you amongst the commuting fraternity tried puntureless tyres,I've managed to find "TOOBZ" on the internet,what are they like?Can you advise me?
k.curtis
0
Posts
At the same time, spend a few quid on a track pump. That is the vertical type of pump, which you stand on the supports and pump up and down. Get one with a pressure guage.
Pump your tyres up really, really hard.
It might surprise you, but road bikes are generally pumped up to over 100 psi.
Obviously a mountain bike will be a lot less!
A combination of kevlar belted tyres and high pressure should see off the punctures.
Another possibility is Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres - these really should be the ultimate in puncture-proofness, but all tyres will allow pinch flats (snake bite) if under inflated.
I would personally not bother with sealants that go in the tubes - they may well just conceal punctures for later reappearance, with difficulty in then making a repair, as the responsible sharp thing will remain in the tyre - best to stop the sharp things getting through in the first place.
What sort of bike are you on?
Agree with the advice above. I wouldn't recommend the bog standard Spesh ACs as they are not very puncture-proof in my experience.
Specilaized armadillo tyres
Track pump - wheels pumped to 80PSI on my hybrid
As an extra precaution tyre liners - they have saved me on a few occasions despite the fact that I already had the armadillos and the high pressure http://mywheelsandmore.com/bicycles/bic ... eLiner.htm[/list]
I'm about to get a Carreras Subway 8,although I've been riding a Raleigh Chiltern 3-speed town & country bike for over a year now.Still very much the novice,I'm afraid.but flats are making me miserable,there's so much glass everywhere it seems,on the roads,towpaths,cyclepaths,no matter where I seem to go,I end up with a flat.
The tyres suggested so far sound promising,but the "TOOBZ" I found on the internet would seem to guarantee no punctures??Hasn't anyone tried them??
Hint: the entire air chamber of a "normal" tyre is a spring.
you are cycling 1m away from t kerb are nt you! not in the gutter, if not that will make a huge difference.
- @ddraver
For ultimate puncture proofness get some Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyre and pum them up to the upper end of the recommended range on the sidewall, and check regularly. Even with loads of glass and debris around you just shouldn't get punctures (okay, maybe 1 in 3 years) - I don't.
Another advantage of pumping tyres up really hard is that there is less rolling resistance - ie. the bike feels easier to pedal. If these Toobz are foam filled you will likely have soft squishy tyres.
I have a Subway 8 also - nice bike. I don't use it that often to be honest, and have just left the original tyres on it. Pump em up hard and take care with that glass and you should be OK.
I dont wish to tempt fate, but both the spare tubes Ive brought for my bike are unused in their boxes, and my puncture repair kit is unused. Only been 6 months I guess. Id like to see it stay that way.
If the gods aren't with you, you're screwed.
* Not a latent thorn in the tyre, either. Dif'rent spots every time.
I even took a footpump to keep my tyres @ 100psi. 2kg of pump weighed-up against friction-free cycling.
They're not THAT much more expensive and you save on those late-night-home-with-bike-in-a-taxi moments...
Schwalbe Marathon Plus are most probably the Ultimate (although maybe the new Schwalbe Marathon Supremes are the Ultimate
Yep I have to agree with you there. I've posted about this very issue on a cycling forum just this week and have found both Specialized Armadillos and the Elites not fit for purpose, i.e. commuting.
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.rec ... 158916f08b
I do watch out for glass and keep relatively far away from the gutter but they are NOT up to the job. Plain and simple by virtue of me repeatedly bending over yet another puncture in London.
I appreciate others may have a different experience, but mine is awful.
I'm gonna buy some Marathon tyres tonight. Should have done it ages ago and taken the hint whilst reading about the Battle of Marathon.
Cheers