A tyring question

henryw

Right, I've got a road bike (a Forme Rapide) and I'm really, really happy with it. Apart from one thing, which is that I seem to be getting punctures fairly regularly. The other day I was out for a ride and hit a minor bump, which was enough to cause a snakebite pinch puncture.

I've read around a lot and from what I understand putting wider tyres on my bike would prevent this from happening in the future. I'm currently riding 23mm tyres, but I'm considering going up to 25mm, 28mm or even 30mm. I'm mainly riding on roads, with occasional canal paths and slightly bumpy tracks, and I'm not bothered about losing a little speed to gain a few fewer punctures. I'm not racing or anything. Yet.

What would you guys recommend? The cheaper the better, too.

Tom Dean

How much pressure are you putting in your tyres?

wishitwasallflat

How's your rim tape?

kentphil

+1 to putting more pressure in your tyres

henryw

I'm going up to about 100psi - this seems to be the recommended amount for road riding. Would I benefit from lowering/upping it?

I've actually replaced the rim tape on the back wheel after noticing a slight kink in the original stuff. As far as I know the rim tape's fine.

daxplusplus

Unload the wheels as much as possible when they are about to hit a bump .. so as to give them an easier time.

Depending on the bump that might mean just shifting your weight off the front and then, a little later, off the back wheel. Or it might be simplier just to bunny hop the bump entirely.