Thin tyres + high PSI = Stone chip cannon

SPOODZILLA

My commute takes me along 13 miles of busy A road and through a city centre. Due to the high quality road surface falling apart, I'm contronted by several patches of stones and pebbles. Hitting these stones just off centre seems to send them catapulting into the sides of the unfortunately car doosr to my right. I've had a few very annoyed looking people glaring at me. Anyone else have this problem?

DavidTQ

Yeah I have this happen. Its not your fault that so many cagers break up the road surface or the council dont maintain the road sufficiently well to prevent this. We have traffic and stuff to watch, Whilst I avoid riding over loose stones where possible, where its not possible theres not a lot that can be done, its the state of the roads not the cyclists behaviour at fault.

Most of the crap on the roads is there because of the motorised traffic, but I dont start getting angry with the nearest driver when a bit of smashed head lamp goes through my inner tube.

Gr.uB

Yep, I ping small stones quite often too. Very disconcerting but I've also had cars throw up stones as well, and is one of the reasons I wear eye protectors ( glasses ).

always_tyred

Of course, the road is only breaking up because of the cars and trucks using it, not the bicycles. When this happens while I'm cycling, I manage to cope with my guilt. I've suffered enough punctures and knackered wheels from pot holes caused by cars, and I've not had any motorists stop and apologise.

fossyant

I have also had cars throwing stones up - gashed my nose badly, blood everywhere and 20 miles from home......even 15 years later I have no feeling where the scar is.......

Don't worry - cars do it to other cars, trucks etc.... tough !

nwallace

Something that amazes me about surfaces:

You can find perfect bits of tar 50 years old, great surface sometimes on sections of old main road out of use for 20 years. And you find 5 year old bits of tar all broken up on a quiet road. Then you got to Ireland and wonder why they bother!

Bassjunkieuk

I find it quite surprising how far I can ping stones sometimes! These have all been accidental ones on quiet residential streets as there's probably only 1 road I can think of that I commute on that this happens on!

In all honesty it's not your fault that stones are flicked up by your tires, it's one of those un-avoidable facts of life much like the bug graveyard on the nose of your car after any long journeys on a motorway!