First Commute - First Puncture

Bullet1

Now the snow and ice has gone and the temperatures are a balmy 5 degrees I decided to make my first commute of 17 miles into work this morning.

13 miles in all was going well......until I got a punture. Changed the tube, CO2'd the tire back up to 80% inflation (some escaped) and limped the last 4 miles into work.

There is obviously no exact answer and it will vary hugely, however how common is it to get a puncture on traffic filled roads - once a month, once every 3 months, once a year???

Basically i'm looking for a bit of confidence to keep me commuting and not have to have a puncture once a week!

Thanks

gnashers

Its best not to mention the P word, thats the only advice i can offer without tempting fate......

CiB

I had 3 in one day a few weeks ago, none since. There is no norm.

Watch out for road debris, grit, glass, thorn bush clippings etc and keep your tyres fully inflated at 100 - 110 psi, and avoid pot holes & stones as much as possible. Pinch flats are more common if your tyres are too soft.

antikythera

C'mon fate... I dare you :P

First puncture in 2 1/2 years last week. Most likely due to the Wally works digging up the road and leaving piles of cr*p.

giant_man

Just bad luck mate, sure it won't be your last, depends on road you're riding on and your tyres/pressures/condition.

Hoopdriver

It depends on your tyres and your skill in spotting, and avoiding, potential trouble. It helps too to keep your tyres properly inflated and check on the pressure once a week. I very, very seldom ever get flats (knock on wood). I generally ride a touring bike and use Schwalbe marathon tyres - I do not bother with the heavier weight XR or Extreme tyres unless I am on an expedition but for roads around town rely on just the standard marathon. Schwalbe tubes as well. I used this set up - standard marathons - for a 10,000-mile solo trek through the Australian outback and had only two punctures.

On my road bike I use Continental GP 4-Season, again with really no problems with flats.

I ride about 8000 to 10,000 miles a year and would typically get a flat once every couple of years, at most - and then usually only because I have neglected to keep an eye on the wear in the tyre and have stupidly been riding around on threadbare tyres.

If you are riding in a very rough area, with lots of broken glass etc, you may want to consider some kind of liner for inside the tyre. I used to do that when I commuted in Melbourne on some pretty rough streets, just as added protection and because I really didn't want to have the hassle of a flat on my way to or from work.

I've never tried putting slime in the tube - never felt the need given the infrequency of flats - but I have not heard much good about it.

I hope this helps

Lillywhite

CiB wrote:

....thorn bush clippings.....

They are an absolute pain on rural roads at this time of year, particularly when the farmer doesn't bother to clear them with a blower to the verge :evil:

They can be made liable.

Steve_b77

Not had one for 6 months then got 3 in a week :shock:

iain_j

Depends on your tyres.

On my Giant with its 23C Conti Gatorskins I'd get several punctures a year. On my Claud Butler with its 35C Marathon Plus - don't like to say it, but it's over 2 years since the last one 8)

wilshawk

Ive been commuting in London, for abuot 7 months, in that time only had one puncture, I think I ran over some glass.

In general, for safety's sake I am often looking several meters ahead for potholes and traffic, but other than that I try to keep an eye on the road just a few meters ahead so to dodge any sharp items that could cause a puncture.