The roads
gedme
Posts: 68
Hi new to this site thought see how get on in forum. How's everybody finding the roads at this moment? I am in Dundee last three times been out have had three punctures two today :twisted: what a nightmare some roads are. Had road bike for under a year did lot of cycling including 110 big belter without one single puncture then bang three in a row.... Doing etape this year as least if I get puncture will be quick changing it with all this practice.
Ged
Ged
0
Posts
Carbon wheels ? no chance
Welcome To BR.
I can sympathise (see my other post this morning) although my blowout wasn't, I don't think, due to the roads.
No magic solution, just a combination of reasonably puncture-resistant tyres, careful fitting (I have definitely had repaet punctures before from careless fitting), and eternal vigilance on the roads.
I tend to ignore the cycle paths and stay on the roads most of the time as the cycle paths tend to be covered in general censored and more than an insignificant amount of glass. For example, take the viewing deck down at the city quay round the back where it joins with the main path. Almost always some glass about there as I think youngsters go up there and then drop their bottles ... could be wrong, but I've seen them up there a few times.
It's also not the first puncture I've had on the Tay Bridge walkway caused by a loose screw from the new surface they've just installed.
The thing you neglect to mention is what has been the cause of the punctures? Punctures invariably happen because of something specific, such as a thorn/flint or an impact puncture (often referred to as a "Snakebite" due to the evidence left). It could be that you have had one puncture...but failed to identify the source (such as a small shard of glass that is still stuck in the tyre) and it is that which is causing the repeated issues.
As a trick, when you are at home, line a distinctive mark (such as the brand logo) on the tyre alongside the tube valve. Then, when you puncture take a few minutes to line the tube up against the tyre, locate the puncture and then, if it is a single hole, check the tyre in that area. Don't forget to reverse the tube and repeat as it could lie in either direction from the valve.
If the puncture is on the inside of the valve line (of you see what I mean) then it could be an issue with the rim/spoke, etc. Outside of the valve line usually indicates a tyre issue.
If you are getting repeated snakebites then have a good look at the rim to ensure that no sharp edges are left and either avoid the potholes and/or check tyre pressure (although I have found that if one twonks a pothole then it doesn't really matter what the pressure is, to a large degree).
Finally, just get into the habit of checking tyres carefully once a week and remove any ingress. Those small shards may not look much but they will work their way through a tyre over time and can be the hardest to find once on the inside of a tyre. Be careful though, a small pin works well but too much force in removing can leave a tyre badly cut up, particularly if the tyre compound is prone to this (Conti GP4000sII, for example).
Was out again yesterday all good phew thankfully.
I suspect that the second puncture was probably due to under inflation at the roadside which is quite common. Many suffer multiple impact punctures after a single puncture because of this. One needs to be very careful of the road particularly if reliant on a small hand pump for inflation.
Running tubeless will solve most of this but I get by without them so they are not the only answer, better care and technique are equally effective.