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• #52
direct drive turbo trainer, get the front fork mounted to a stand to avoid any punctures there
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• #53
Following every wet ride, invert the bike, deflate both tyres, pinch the tyre and, using a darning needle or similar, pick out all of the bits of flint and glass that have worked their way into the carcass. Otherwise they'll only work their way through the carcass and into the tube the next time it gets wet.
I very rarely suffer punctures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyRYKfZjqy4&t=18s
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• #54
I agree with Squaredisk and Jonny 69.
I never go out of walking distance from home without puncture repair kit. The same with a car, I make sure I can change a wheel - and that means having a tool that will undo wheel nuts that have been tightened with a pneumatic spanner.
Since J B Dunlop suffered his first puncture in 1888 there have been attempts to make puncture proof tyres, but none have really been successful. So far as bikes are concerned, it's possible to have tyres that are resistant to puncturing, but these are usually so heavy that there's little pleasure to be had using them.
If you want any measure of speed you have to accept the risk. It's a good strategy to consider the conditions for the ride that you intend to do - a wet winter clubrun needs tough tyres and plenty of spares, a 25 mile TT on a good dry road, if you're in good form, needs the lightest tyre you can afford.
Incidentally, I've just recovered my best TT wheels from a shed where they had been quietly rotting away for about the past 25 years. I'm not planning to use them, I just couldn't bear seeing them decompose. The front tub is a Clement silk (about 7 or 8 ounces, say 225 grams), and it seems still to be in useable condition. It's done enough miles to wear away the centre tread (admittedly very fine ) but there are no cuts at all.
Of course, it's only ever been used in the dry!
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• #55
Rather reductive, but fair (Marathon Supremes btw). I have never had to stop to fix a Hutchinson tyre on the road, either
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• #56
LFGSSers dont let LFGSSers ride gatorskins. You will die on corners, but the paramedics will appreciate your intact tyres whilst youre being whisked to A&E in an ambulance in December.
I actually think tubeless is at it's best in the commuter scenario. Larger tyres, weight doesn't matter, typical spiky glass London roads, and you can always get to work on time, even if you puncture. Personal experience speaking.
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• #57
I fly everywhere now by helicopter. Problem solved.
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• #58
Back when I was a courier, and avoiding punctures was a big thing, Specialised Armadillos were the go-to tyre. People riding hundreds of miles a week in all weathers seem like a pretty good group to be guided by but perhaps something better has come along since.
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• #59
My old boss used to commute by helicopter. Nobody was surprised when he was prosecuted for fraud and money laundering. 0 punctures though tbf.
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• #60
Well, one can always drive. And if there's a problem, Lexus Rescue will be there to help
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• #61
My Specialized Crossroads Armadillo 38s are working well as a good lighter puncture proof replacement for the heavy but bomb proof Marathon Plus 35s.
Perhaps not quite as grippy on sharp corners on smooth paving in the rain (ouchy ouchy), but I can probably put that down to rider error.
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• #62
bontrager aw1 hardcase tyres have been extremely good for me, relatively lightweight, grippy and in a variety of sizes. i've had very few punctures in the 8 or so years i've been using them on my 700c bikes, always pumped up to 110 - 120 psi rock hard and impermeable to ingress
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• #63
Is that not pretty harsh to ride tyres at that pressure?
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• #64
Is there anyone on this forum who has never had a puncture? Surely there’s someone.
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• #65
it's what i've always done, 700c x 23 at full pressure just feels faster and more efficient, i've never been a fan of squidgy tyres, even riding my aluminium cannondale caad4 track and cannondale caad3 road bike which are about as rigid a frame as you can get, i've never felt overly battered from the ride, sure you get a bit of vibration through to the bars but that doesn't happen all the time. roads are mostly smooth and the lumpy bits are less common
i know there's been a movement towards more supple tyres for a nicer ride in recent times i just don't find it an issue to be honest and we are trying to prevent punctures !
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• #66
Science disagrees. Being shaken around is fatiguing. You are just confusing road buzz with speed.
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• #68
Road vibration is absolutely exhausting IME!
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• #69
I'm close... I've had one in approx 10,000km of London riding, mostly in the gutter, don't swerve for glass. 3 inch nail did it.
(28 marathon plus)
Now let me just go puncture on my way home
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• #70
+1 for IRC.
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• #71
Marathon Plus’ (25) are no match for Norfolk thorns during hedge cutting season.
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• #72
Wow, such informative and helpful comments!!!!
What does everyone think about solid tyres? Like these ... >>> https://www.tannus.co.uk/products/tannus-airless-tyre-700-x-25c-fits-16-18mm-inner-rim-width
https://www.greentyre.co.uk/bicycle-tyres.php
Has anyone tried these....? Does anyone know how it compares to puncture resistant tyres like the marathon Plus?
Look forward to your thoughts!
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• #73
Tannus Ride like bricks
Wouldn’t trust them on corners
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• #74
Never! If you’ve got high volume tyres and don’t give that much of a shit about how your bike rides Tannus armour is quite good. We used to use them on the trailers at work
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• #75
didn't jah tim used to run tannus tyres for a bit on his red gold and green bike
My recommendations are:
Vittoria randonneur tech ~ £30
Schwalbe marathon + ~ £40
Tubeless setup - untold amounts of time & fucking around, with a large dose of black magic thrown in. It's all great until they spectacularly fail without notice, usually 10km from work, 10km from home, on a cold, wet night in December. I speak from experience. Good luck