Road tyres....are punctures so common!!?!?!?

[beanbag]

I've had my Specialized Sirrus about 3 weeks now and I've already got my first puncture

I've got Armadillo 28c's pumped up to 110psi so what can you do to avoid getting a flat? I've heard of this gunk stuff you can "inject" through the valve into the tube, but I've heard it's very messy.

Any ideas?

[v8 jago]

Try to keep away from freshly cut hedges and dont ride right in the gutter as thats where all the debre is swept of the roads.

[mat205125]

Without sounding personal, are you quite a heavy person?

110psi should be fine, but rumbling over frost damage with an extra few stone will put a lot of force onto your tyres. Just rolling over some sharp gravel could pop one

Punctures are just one of them things. I've done about 800 miles on my road bike this year, and not suffered any yet.

[deckster]

I find that by running my 23Cs at 80psi I get significantly fewer punctures than if I pump them up to 100. I can't remember the last time I had one on my daily 10-mile round commute on country roads whereas they were reasonably common before I lowered the pressure. Speed isn't the primary consideration though so running at this slightly reduced pressure doesn't bother me at all.

I used to get loads (well, one a month or so) on the London leg of the commute (another 8 miles or so round trip) but a while ago I switched to Continental Securities which have an extra-thick band around the tread. Since then I've not had a single one - again not great if you're after outright speed as they're pretty heavy, but ideal for me.

(cue two punctures on Monday, no doubt )

[beanbag]

I'm not particularly heavy! 80kg at 182cm height!

I've just got a new tube however the first shop I went to replaced the whole tyre. The tosser in the shop told my my old one was worn out and I should have it replaced for me even though the bike is 3 weeks old!!!

I couldn't believe his cheek! I told him to give me back my old tyre and inner tube and went trekked right across the city to the shop where I bought the bike. Could believe a person would have the audacity to be like that!!!

Anyhow....only problem I've just found out with high pressure tyres is pumping the bugger up! It was hard enough with a foot pump at the shop so I've just invested in a Crank Brothers Power Pump Pro as it has a high pressure mode which is still bloody hard but does it's job.

[The Londoner]

Generally run my road bike tyres at no more than 90psi and touch wood rarely have puncture problems. The only time I went to 100+ for a sportive ride was the one time this year I have punctured.

[beanbag]

The Londoner said:

Generally run my road bike tyres at no more than 90psi and touch wood rarely have puncture problems. The only time I went to 100+ for a sportive ride was the one time this year I have punctured.

I might take the advice and reduce to 90psi. I'll take the chance for now and keep them at 110 and if I get a puncture, I'll try 90....(fingers crossed I don't)

[SystemParanoia]

no punctures on my roadie as yet... but the roads are so bad, i now have my seccond buckled wheel

realllly annoying