Puncture resistant female

landranger

Hi all,

My girlfriend has a Trek 5.5 and loves it. So much so she's determined to ride to work.
This will be mainly along canals but road as well.
Then we can both go nuts over the weekend as her fitness levels will be vastly improved

However, with an office job, she really does not want to be faffing with punctures. What's a guy to do? We don't want to be forking out for tubeless tyres so what's the best puncture prevention for a faff free female?

Should we use Slime sealant in the tubes, tyre liners or the ready filled tubes?

Cheers.

neil_sheehan2000

The cheapest option I can think of is to wrap the inner tubes up in old inner tubes- i.e. snip the valve off an old inner tube and cut a slit around the inside of the tube. Then slot the good tube inside and fit as normal.

It's a bit fiddly (and adds a bit of weight, obviously) but it's cheap and dramatically decreases your chances of getting punctures; the only time I've punctured using this technique was riding over a broken bottle in town- but shards of glass will probably puncture most things, I guess.

Also, make sure the tyres are pumped up hard if you're just commuting in town. (Actually, it's probably better to have a separate set of commuting tyres as well but that's a super-faff if you use your bike for everything...)

landranger

Nice one, I'll give that a go

xtreem

Or buy thicker freeride inner tubes.
For 2.3"-2.5" tires, if the curent tires are 2.1.

stumpyjon

Best advice is keep the pressures up, and look for commuting tyres with added sidewall protection.

ride_whenever

Fit some serious commuting rubber and swap for weekends.

Marathon pluses or specialised fatboys.

clodhoppa74

i commute on my one bike, mainly gnarly uncared-for towpath and a bit of roads. i've been doing at least 2 days a week since spring (including last year, not wet winter though) and had 2 punctures.

i carry a spare inner tube with me, as well as a repair kit, then it's a 2 minute job to replace the tube, then patch the other up when you get home and keep that as a spare.

just my 2ps worth. i don't rate all these punctureproof tyres, or adding stuff inside your tyre, as surely if it's tight then you're more likely to end up with pinch punctures yeah?

also, i use panaracer xcpro 2.1s for everything, and will advise them to everyone.

topsey_turvey

I use Panaracer strips inside my tyres and ride on quite a lot of towpaths. Never had a puncture yet. Weight isn't a problem. Surely old inner tubes are just as likely to let a thorn through as a new tube?

Cunobelin

There are a number of tyres that would do the job better than messing around with inner tubes.

Try the Marathon Plus or for more grip off road - the XR.

Virtually P*nct*re proof and good enough for a canal ride and minor off-roading.

tptvmbircn

if your not bothered about grip in snow, all year i have used halo twin rails and raleigh downhill inner tubes, never had a puncture yet "touch wood" i cycle to work every day.

Tyre pressures max around I have it 55-60 psi?

skullthaw

2 sets of wheels so just change wheels at
the better pair 4 off road and fun
cheaper set 4 commuting (ebay!!!)
with swable city jets on 9 months riding every day 10-15 miles no punctures!!!
and these will make the commute more do-able

KnightofCydonia

am I the only one who thought he meant he wanted a blow up doll that wouldn't puncture? I really have got to stop watching family guy :x

landranger

Family Guy, that show cracks me up!!!

Any way, I was looking for the cheap option and it looks like Panaracer strips or the inner tube. As it looks like it'll be pi55ing it down all weekend I'll put in the overtubes for now.

A spare inner tube is what I'd do clodhoppa74, but my GF doesn't want to be messing around with tubes and whatnot on a tow path on her own. Especially with an expensive bike.

The other wheel and tyre idea sounds good, but again, more expense. Especially as the out lay for a new bike and all the gear you gotta buy when you get a new bike is totted up. We're talking a small fortune between us! That is unless some one can point us in the right direction on ebay . . . .

Thanks everyone for the suggestions