No Punctures - What's Wrong?
Discussion
Having been reading lots of threads on here on how road-bike riders need to carry a spare inner-tube or two everywhere they go, it got me wondering why I've not had any punctures on my road bike yet?
New to road-bikes after getting one for my commute to keep my MTB for off-road use, I've clocked up just over 1,000 urban commuting miles on my Trek 1.2 road bike without punctures since I bought it 3 months ago.
I don't just pootle along either, constantly trying to better my PBs on Strava, and I have ridden over the usual urban roadside debris of broken glass, cans (oh, and a pigeon which literally flew under my front wheel). I do try to bunny-hop any big pot-holes etc if I can't go round them, but I've inadvertently clattered into quite a few.
Have I just been lucky, or are the Bontrager-branded tyres which came as standard on my bike, made of really thick and hard rubber (giving a good resistance to punctures but therefore, quite heavy?).
I guess there's a balancing act between puncture-resistance and the weight penalty. Maybe I've got a big weight penalty without realising it?
I assume the OEM tyres are pretty poor, but would an upgrade increase my puncture risk?
I'm about to do a 60-ish mile Sportive in the Peak District and want to know if I should be packing a bag full of inner-tubes! I do carry one, plus a repair kit, so hoping that will be plenty.
I normally only carry one tube on my MTB as well, but again, can't remember the last time I needed to fix a puncture on the trails. Obviously due to my immense level of skill on picking lines and dealing with the big hits well... and definitely not due to me riding like a big girl’s blouse!
New to road-bikes after getting one for my commute to keep my MTB for off-road use, I've clocked up just over 1,000 urban commuting miles on my Trek 1.2 road bike without punctures since I bought it 3 months ago.
I don't just pootle along either, constantly trying to better my PBs on Strava, and I have ridden over the usual urban roadside debris of broken glass, cans (oh, and a pigeon which literally flew under my front wheel). I do try to bunny-hop any big pot-holes etc if I can't go round them, but I've inadvertently clattered into quite a few.
Have I just been lucky, or are the Bontrager-branded tyres which came as standard on my bike, made of really thick and hard rubber (giving a good resistance to punctures but therefore, quite heavy?).
I guess there's a balancing act between puncture-resistance and the weight penalty. Maybe I've got a big weight penalty without realising it?
I assume the OEM tyres are pretty poor, but would an upgrade increase my puncture risk?
I'm about to do a 60-ish mile Sportive in the Peak District and want to know if I should be packing a bag full of inner-tubes! I do carry one, plus a repair kit, so hoping that will be plenty.
I normally only carry one tube on my MTB as well, but again, can't remember the last time I needed to fix a puncture on the trails. Obviously due to my immense level of skill on picking lines and dealing with the big hits well... and definitely not due to me riding like a big girl’s blouse!
I think i am taking them for you....... ive had numerous and usually complete blow outs air hissing tyres slashed sort of thing!! Going down a hill following my buddy at 35 mph and he crosses lanes, i follow, same line..... hes fine i get "HISSSSSSS" and so need to flip the tube out.
The law of sod if applied here. It happens. Carry a tube, carry patches. Fingers crossed you dont get any as getting the tyre on and off is a ball ache!!
The law of sod if applied here. It happens. Carry a tube, carry patches. Fingers crossed you dont get any as getting the tyre on and off is a ball ache!!
The standard tyres on your bike have the weight, toughness and grip of concrete. They are pretty good for puncture resistance, but I think I saved about 100g per wheel just by swapping to new tyres and tubes on my old Trek, and gained speed, grip and comfort in the process.
The other thing saving you at the moment is that your tyres are still pretty new and thick. Once they wear down a bit they'll pierce much more easily.
The other thing saving you at the moment is that your tyres are still pretty new and thick. Once they wear down a bit they'll pierce much more easily.
Indeed - that was impressive that one 
(for the benefit of our readers - we'd descended a steep, tight, narrow, wet lane for probably 6 or 7 mins. Got to the bottom, waiting in a group for everyone to get together again and while simply rolling about waiting tyre dropped into a tiny hole and exploded with an almighty bang (so much so that people thought it was an engine backfire from bikes we'd just seen!). Upon changing the innertube, I found my rims to be rather warm indeed. Oooo er!)
(for the benefit of our readers - we'd descended a steep, tight, narrow, wet lane for probably 6 or 7 mins. Got to the bottom, waiting in a group for everyone to get together again and while simply rolling about waiting tyre dropped into a tiny hole and exploded with an almighty bang (so much so that people thought it was an engine backfire from bikes we'd just seen!). Upon changing the innertube, I found my rims to be rather warm indeed. Oooo er!)
TonyHetherington said:
Indeed - that was impressive that one
(for the benefit of our readers - we'd descended a steep, tight, narrow, wet lane for probably 6 or 7 mins. Got to the bottom, waiting in a group for everyone to get together again and while simply rolling about waiting tyre dropped into a tiny hole and exploded with an almighty bang (so much so that people thought it was an engine backfire from bikes we'd just seen!). Upon changing the innertube, I found my rims to be rather warm indeed. Oooo er!)
And puncture repair girl was no where to be seen! (for the benefit of our readers - we'd descended a steep, tight, narrow, wet lane for probably 6 or 7 mins. Got to the bottom, waiting in a group for everyone to get together again and while simply rolling about waiting tyre dropped into a tiny hole and exploded with an almighty bang (so much so that people thought it was an engine backfire from bikes we'd just seen!). Upon changing the innertube, I found my rims to be rather warm indeed. Oooo er!)
In answer to the question from the OP, we carry a spare tube because it's often easier to change a tube and get going again than mess about at the side of the road.
Also, sometimes they can't really be patched, (Tony,) and even if they can be, the pressure that you ride at may mean the patches don't get you home.
Some people are just lazy though.
Also, sometimes they can't really be patched, (Tony,) and even if they can be, the pressure that you ride at may mean the patches don't get you home.
Some people are just lazy though.
TonyHetherington said:
Indeed - that was impressive that one
(for the benefit of our readers - we'd descended a steep, tight, narrow, wet lane for probably 6 or 7 mins. Got to the bottom, waiting in a group for everyone to get together again and while simply rolling about waiting tyre dropped into a tiny hole and exploded with an almighty bang (so much so that people thought it was an engine backfire from bikes we'd just seen!). Upon changing the innertube, I found my rims to be rather warm indeed. Oooo er!)
At least you'd finished the decent - my last puncture on the weekend bike was about 75% of the way down the hill approaching a left hand corner when the bike suddenly felt odd, backed out of turning and just jammed both brakes on heading straight on into a wire fence (for the benefit of our readers - we'd descended a steep, tight, narrow, wet lane for probably 6 or 7 mins. Got to the bottom, waiting in a group for everyone to get together again and while simply rolling about waiting tyre dropped into a tiny hole and exploded with an almighty bang (so much so that people thought it was an engine backfire from bikes we'd just seen!). Upon changing the innertube, I found my rims to be rather warm indeed. Oooo er!)
To answer the OP, I give it a week
There are lots of variations - tyres, tyre wear, road surfaces, weather. I had Bontrager Hardcases on my old weekend bike and never got a puncture in about 3 years but I was riding it at the weekend, in nice weather, on decent roads and the Hardcases are a solid tyre. My commute is on London roads, Michelin Pro4 Endurance tyres in all weathers and the tyres are fine until they get worn or I come across half a nail...!Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff