Punctures and how to prevent them?
Discussion
I’ve just ordered a bike from the Specialized store and asked the guy in store about how best to prevent punctures and he swore by some stuff called Muc-Off. Apparently you just put it in your inner tubes and jobs a good‘un. Is it as good as he says, worth doing, and any downsides to using it? Thanks
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Do a YT search on setting up tubeless. Can be a bit frustrating to do but once you've set it up it's a really effective system
A track pump with an air chamber and injecting the sealant directly through the valve stem makes it easier. Your LBS could set up but as you'll need to top up the sealant from time to time, then it probably makes sense to DIY
IMO if your tyres are less than 35mm then the benefits of tubeless begin to diminish and TPU inner tubes are very light and somewhat puncture resistant.
You'll also need a tubeless repair kit
Do a YT search on setting up tubeless. Can be a bit frustrating to do but once you've set it up it's a really effective system
A track pump with an air chamber and injecting the sealant directly through the valve stem makes it easier. Your LBS could set up but as you'll need to top up the sealant from time to time, then it probably makes sense to DIY
IMO if your tyres are less than 35mm then the benefits of tubeless begin to diminish and TPU inner tubes are very light and somewhat puncture resistant.
You'll also need a tubeless repair kit
Master Bean said:
You can buy slime inner tubes but my best advice is to pray not to get a puncture. Also don't say or think the p word when out on a ride.
Schwalbe Marathons are the go to tyre but the reality is it's pot luck if you get a puncture. I'm so screwed on my next ride.
Thanks. The guy mentioned those tyres - that could be an option Schwalbe Marathons are the go to tyre but the reality is it's pot luck if you get a puncture. I'm so screwed on my next ride.
oddman said:
Do a YT search on setting up tubeless. Can be a bit frustrating to do but once you've set it up it's a really effective system
Cheers. I don't think I can go tubeless on the wheels that come with the bikeWhat are you using the bike for?
The Marathons on my commuter bike has done 5 years+ and well over 7000 miles without a puncture. Infact they have outlasted 2 chains, a rear cassette and wheel!!
They are really heavy though and very numb to ride.
My Vado has come with some Specliazed Infinity touring tires which the shop promises me are essentially like the Marathons. 500 miles in they are right so far.
The tires on my Creo however puncture every other ride, partly because I'm more adventurous on the Creo interms of road surfaces but also I don't want tires that weigh nearly 1kg each on my 'Fun' bike.
The Marathons on my commuter bike has done 5 years+ and well over 7000 miles without a puncture. Infact they have outlasted 2 chains, a rear cassette and wheel!!
They are really heavy though and very numb to ride.
My Vado has come with some Specliazed Infinity touring tires which the shop promises me are essentially like the Marathons. 500 miles in they are right so far.
The tires on my Creo however puncture every other ride, partly because I'm more adventurous on the Creo interms of road surfaces but also I don't want tires that weigh nearly 1kg each on my 'Fun' bike.
^Is this on a Vado SL? I see these things weigh 600-800grams, that's a chunky tire. For reference the Pathfinders on my Creo comes in at 380g for 35cm.
I would be tempted to try them first and see how they go. Marathon's are bullet proof but do feel very numb even compared to the similar in weight Infinity tires on my Vado.
I would be tempted to try them first and see how they go. Marathon's are bullet proof but do feel very numb even compared to the similar in weight Infinity tires on my Vado.
Meh, you should be fine. I have been hoovering up all the puncture seed recently, surely can't be any left!
I have tried anti-puncture tyres, slime tyre liner and slime in the tube and still got punctures with all that. I also tried using Scabs to fix punctures, they were very hit or miss for me. Gone back to old fashioned tubes and repair patches with glue.
Biggest variable seemed to be the tyre itself.
I have tried anti-puncture tyres, slime tyre liner and slime in the tube and still got punctures with all that. I also tried using Scabs to fix punctures, they were very hit or miss for me. Gone back to old fashioned tubes and repair patches with glue.
Biggest variable seemed to be the tyre itself.
I've been using Slime filled tubes for about 10 years. Only once have I been stranded and that was due to a pinch flat on a rough track.
They do add a bit of weight, but it's irrelevant at my level, and the reassurance is worth it in any case.
Have seen them work several times, and I'm sure they've done the job countless others where I've not noticed.
They do add a bit of weight, but it's irrelevant at my level, and the reassurance is worth it in any case.
Have seen them work several times, and I'm sure they've done the job countless others where I've not noticed.
This post contains no useful information.
My kid finally learned to ride a bike two weeks ago and has already cycled to school 4 or 5 times and discovered the fun of hooning round the village with a gang of mates on bikes. This is all brilliant.
Thursday night: "Dad, my rear wheel is broken."
"Son, that's a flat tyre."
First of many father and son conversations that will eventually get to "She's a lovely girl. Don't knock her up."
First thing Friday I dig out a twenty year old puncture repair outfit and patch the rear inner tube and off son goes to school. Still holding air on Friday night, so all seems good.
Saturday morning: "Dad, rear tyre is flat again."
The patch from Friday morning is still holding air just fine. But there's a new fine tear on a different bit of the tube. No sign of anything having penetrated the tyre, no crap rattling around inside the tyre, tape covering the spokes is fine, etc, etc
And as I'm just standing there looking at the bike, there's a "phut" and the front wheel goes flat too. Spontaneously. Bike just leaning against the wall. 40PSI to zilch in a couple of seconds. "Phut."
On inspection that tube had also failed with a small tear, this time right next to the where the valve is sealed into the tube.
OK, so for reasons unknown these tubes seem to be failing by themselves. Perhaps the bike is haunted?
20 mile roundtrip to get some new tubes. Get home, fit them, bike ready to use. But it turns out that while I was getting the new tubes, son has found the confidence to start riding his new, bigger bike. It's a much, much better bike, so this is A Good Thing, but a bit galling given the monkeying to make the other one useable.
And then son decides to give the bike I've just fixed to one of his mates who has a near identical bike that's in pretty bad shape. So off it goes to a new home. Happy ending.
That's my story of three punctures in three days. I haven't looked at the bikes this morning. Maybe there will be more flats?
My kid finally learned to ride a bike two weeks ago and has already cycled to school 4 or 5 times and discovered the fun of hooning round the village with a gang of mates on bikes. This is all brilliant.
Thursday night: "Dad, my rear wheel is broken."
"Son, that's a flat tyre."
First of many father and son conversations that will eventually get to "She's a lovely girl. Don't knock her up."
First thing Friday I dig out a twenty year old puncture repair outfit and patch the rear inner tube and off son goes to school. Still holding air on Friday night, so all seems good.
Saturday morning: "Dad, rear tyre is flat again."
The patch from Friday morning is still holding air just fine. But there's a new fine tear on a different bit of the tube. No sign of anything having penetrated the tyre, no crap rattling around inside the tyre, tape covering the spokes is fine, etc, etc
And as I'm just standing there looking at the bike, there's a "phut" and the front wheel goes flat too. Spontaneously. Bike just leaning against the wall. 40PSI to zilch in a couple of seconds. "Phut."
On inspection that tube had also failed with a small tear, this time right next to the where the valve is sealed into the tube.
OK, so for reasons unknown these tubes seem to be failing by themselves. Perhaps the bike is haunted?
20 mile roundtrip to get some new tubes. Get home, fit them, bike ready to use. But it turns out that while I was getting the new tubes, son has found the confidence to start riding his new, bigger bike. It's a much, much better bike, so this is A Good Thing, but a bit galling given the monkeying to make the other one useable.
And then son decides to give the bike I've just fixed to one of his mates who has a near identical bike that's in pretty bad shape. So off it goes to a new home. Happy ending.
That's my story of three punctures in three days. I haven't looked at the bikes this morning. Maybe there will be more flats?
Edited by ATG on Sunday 12th July 09:44
Another vote for tubeless.
Run it on both my roadie and MTB. I commute on my roadie daily so have a tendency to pick up glass.
Even though I've written off a few tyres (slices that don't seal properly), it's never left me stranded!
For bigger tyres it's a no brainer, bigger air volumes and lower pressures. Sealant would easily seal thorn pricks - you'll never know you had them.
Run it on both my roadie and MTB. I commute on my roadie daily so have a tendency to pick up glass.
Even though I've written off a few tyres (slices that don't seal properly), it's never left me stranded!
For bigger tyres it's a no brainer, bigger air volumes and lower pressures. Sealant would easily seal thorn pricks - you'll never know you had them.
^Agree, you have to be doing some mad riding over constant broken glass to puncture Marathons.
This is what happened to the OEM tire that came on my Creo.....I don't think tubeless will have helped, luckily with a new inner tube in I still got home ok.
The current ties are better but a nice bit of Leicestershire gravel still kills it. Again I'm not sure tubeless will seal a medium sized cut.
Marathons on the other hand are amazing. The tread is starting to wear noticeably now, I've fallen off the bike twice and it's never punctured even than. I'm seeing how well the OEM tires last on the current commuter bike before switching to Marathons.
Changing an inner tube isn't that hard on a weekend ride, changing an inner tube on the side of a busy B road with no pavement, in the dark rain, at 6pm in the middle of winter however is a different matter. I don't even bother carrying an inner tube on the commuter bike with the Marathon tire on these days.
This is what happened to the OEM tire that came on my Creo.....I don't think tubeless will have helped, luckily with a new inner tube in I still got home ok.
The current ties are better but a nice bit of Leicestershire gravel still kills it. Again I'm not sure tubeless will seal a medium sized cut.
Marathons on the other hand are amazing. The tread is starting to wear noticeably now, I've fallen off the bike twice and it's never punctured even than. I'm seeing how well the OEM tires last on the current commuter bike before switching to Marathons.
Changing an inner tube isn't that hard on a weekend ride, changing an inner tube on the side of a busy B road with no pavement, in the dark rain, at 6pm in the middle of winter however is a different matter. I don't even bother carrying an inner tube on the commuter bike with the Marathon tire on these days.
One of my three bikes has tubeless - and I have never had to take a tyre off at the roadside when riding that one, over eight years and about 10,000 miles.
Furthermore it is a road bike with 700 x 25c tyres. Virtually everything you read about tubeless road tyres seems to be nonsense. They are no more difficult to put on than many tubed tyres, you don’t have to keep changing the valves, the sealant lasts a long time (orange seal endurance in my case), you don’t need special pumps (just a normal track pump), the ‘sardines’ work well for larger holes (and work as permanent repairs).
Furthermore it is a road bike with 700 x 25c tyres. Virtually everything you read about tubeless road tyres seems to be nonsense. They are no more difficult to put on than many tubed tyres, you don’t have to keep changing the valves, the sealant lasts a long time (orange seal endurance in my case), you don’t need special pumps (just a normal track pump), the ‘sardines’ work well for larger holes (and work as permanent repairs).
I've done thousands of miles on the Schwalbe Marathons, they have kevlar and are the closest thing to being invincible. They do, however, still get punctures on the sidewalls, like any other tyre.
As people have said, it can be potluck. The Marathons just give you better odds, but it can still happen.
As people have said, it can be potluck. The Marathons just give you better odds, but it can still happen.
Foss62 said:
One of my three bikes has tubeless - and I have never had to take a tyre off at the roadside when riding that one, over eight years and about 10,000 miles.
Furthermore it is a road bike with 700 x 25c tyres. Virtually everything you read about tubeless road tyres seems to be nonsense. They are no more difficult to put on than many tubed tyres, you don t have to keep changing the valves, the sealant lasts a long time (orange seal endurance in my case), you don t need special pumps (just a normal track pump), the sardines work well for larger holes (and work as permanent repairs).
I have had similar experience riding with my tubeless set ups once fitted, but switching from tubes to a tubeless set up from existing set up can be very challenging depending on tyre rim combinations, rim tape and valves. It's possible to set up using a track pump and I imagine it's easier on a 25c but dumping a high volume of air into a gravel or mountain bike tyre is much easier with a reservoir. I've had the range of experience from easy as falling off a log to very frustrating.Furthermore it is a road bike with 700 x 25c tyres. Virtually everything you read about tubeless road tyres seems to be nonsense. They are no more difficult to put on than many tubed tyres, you don t have to keep changing the valves, the sealant lasts a long time (orange seal endurance in my case), you don t need special pumps (just a normal track pump), the sardines work well for larger holes (and work as permanent repairs).
For those who are fans of puncture resistant tyres like gatorskins and marathons. I used them for commuting but they are horrible on any kind of decent wheel set up I'd prefer to be tubeless or GP5000 with TPU inners than run a nasty tyre.
One thing I think is overlooked is the valves. Don't just get the cheapest available. I've got the Peaty x Chris King ones on my mountain bike. They are very good and the tool in the cap for removing the valve stem is really useful
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