Hybrid Bicycles - Should I buy new slicks? If so which ones?

Wrestling with a dilemma here. 6 years ago is when I first got into biking; had a mountain bike and decided to put slicks on it in order to go faster and farther. Didn't know much so the LBS gave me a pair of WTB Slickasaurus's (26x1.5). They added about 2mph to my speed and I was very pleased.

Fast forward a year, and I moved out of my old house and into the country, which is unfortunately away from any known bike trails. Within 2 weeks of moving out here I ended up with a big flat; somehow a heavy duty packaging staple got firmly wedged into the tire and popped my rear tube. I thought I had it covered; I always carried a spare tube with me. That is until I realised that my rear wheel needs two wrenches to remove, and I had exactly 0 (only my front has a quick release skewer). So thus began my very long 15 mile walk of shame home.


That experience scared me. I put the dirt tires back on but was only able to ride a few more times before I just lost the zeal of it; constantly being afraid of getting another flat. In fact I ended up not biking after that for another 5 years, until this year. This year I got a rack and make sure I carry 2 spare tubes and all necessary tools, but I'm still a little fearful of flats and I am not mentally able to put the Slickasaurus's back onto the bike, even though it's killing me knowing that I could be going much faster.


So, I decided that maybe I should go and buy better slicks instead. I'm primarily looking at the Schwalbe Marathon Supreme HS 382's, 26x2.0. They're a little wider than the 1.5's, but in the intervening 5 years I've unfortunately let my weight balloon (~370lbs), and I think for now the safest bet is a wider slick to prevent more flats.

Is this a wise move? Am I just being paranoid? Do you guys think the Slickasauruses will still be good to use? Or will the Marathon Supremes bring me much happiness? Money isn't really an obstacle here, I'm far more concerned with avoiding flats at all costs, while having a relatively fast tire.

Thanks!

Schwalbe makes some excellent tires. Unfortunately they make dozens (ok, slight exaggeration) that carry the name "Marathon" and I cannot keep them straight. I believe that one or two of the Marathon models have excellent puncture protection. Someone else here can fill you in on which ones and probably will soon. However, even excellent puncture protection can and will fail on occasion so what you need to do is to buy a spare pair of wrenches and whatever else you might need to fix a flat and a bag for the bike of some kind to keep the gear in. Then just ride like there is nothing to fear and if you do get another flat you will be able to fix it in far less time than it takes to walk 15 miles!

Ken

Granny would like to chime in: I don't know a thing about tires, but...
Put your cell phone in that bag, too, and phone-a-friend, or someone--as a last resort, call the cops and ask their advice on who to call if you can't reach anyone else-- to come pick you up if all the spare tubes get flats and it's a very long walk. You can put the bike in the trunk well enough to get back home. You will not be biking on Mars. LOL
That 15 mile walk would take the wind out of most people's sails for awhile. I'd say get the tires you want, charge the cell, and go enjoy!

I just bought a bike today, after decades of not riding. I'm about to get foolish enough to venture out of the yard. :)
You'll be fine.

Granny would like to chime in: I don't know a thing about tires, but...
Put your cell phone in that bag, too, and phone-a-friend, or someone--as a last resort, call the cops and ask their advice on who to call if you can't reach anyone else-- to come pick you up if all the spare tubes get flats and it's a very long walk. You can put the bike in the trunk well enough to get back home. You will not be biking on Mars. LOL
That 15 mile walk would take the wind out of most people's sails for awhile. I'd say get the tires you want, charge the cell, and go enjoy!

I just bought a bike today, after decades of not riding. I'm about to get foolish enough to venture out of the yard. :)
You'll be fine.


I know that's the logical answer... but I have some personality issues which prevent me from being able to bother anyone. I suppose if I lived closer to the city I wouldn't mind so much, but as it is, I live nearly 30 miles away from friends and family, so picking up the phone and asking someone for help will require at least an hour of time commitment on their part and I just can't ask anyone to do that for me. I know that's weird but I simply cannot do it.


I think I'm going to get the Schwalbes'.

Carry the wrenches. Surly Jethro Tool (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=surly+wrench&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=10638138740924745284&sa=X&ei=-GXvTdDwNtT3gAfkx-iUDw&ved=0CCYQ8wIwAw#ps-sellers) might fit.

Real men don't call for help unless they need an ambulance.

@qms: Calling for a ride would have been preferable to riding in fear from that moment on. Has nothing to do with being a real man.
You're just mad at me!

@mith: I so understand how you feel about that! I'm that way, too, but honestly people are more willing to lend a hand than we imagine. Wouldn't you be glad to help someone out? Most everyone is that way, too. But it's harder when no one is nearby. Just keep in mind you could do that as a last resort. Maybe those new tires will make it a moot point. :)

It might be more cost & weight effective to just pick up a second quick release skewer rather than two new wrenches.

I wont say flats are inevitable, but glass/nails/thorns have a habit of sneaking up on your tires before you see them. In my experience puncture resistant tires are the only way to go but you'll still have to prepare for the eventual flat.

A bike shop mechanic turned me onto 26x1.75 Continental Country Plus tires as a semi-slick option and they are very robust with a fairly low rolling resistance for what they are. I'd recommend considering one or two if you want to explore other options.

I use Michelin Wild Runn'r slicks on my mountain hybrid:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/Erwin8r/accfbe82.jpg

They were only about $20 from bike tires direct dot com. I had these first mounted on my Specialized Globe and loved them. I'm at 235lbs, and they feel great, with minimal rolling resistance and good traction.

Here they are on my (former--now my son's...) Globe:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a141/Erwin8r/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_8049.jpg

I bought puncture-resistant tubes and carry one spare with a C02 cartridge and a multi-tool. Still, if I were out 15 or so miles, and I couldn't fix my bike, I'd start walking too... The only way I'd call someone is if they were close and/or the weather was inclement...

It might be more cost & weight effective to just pick up a second quick release skewer rather than two new wrenches.


I've been thinking of this. The things I would be worried about are:

1) What sort of compatibility would I be dealing with? I see one here for 7 speed wheels (which I have): http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Quick-Release-Skewer-Wheels/dp/B0039UZ7FQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1307552509&sr=8-2 Is it really as simple as that? Most things I deal with on bikes have lots of compatibility issues, I'd be worried about buying it and it not fitting
2) This is less of a concern as I don't usually lock my bike up anywhere, but it may be something I do in the future as I begin more bicycle commuting... I'd be worried about having to get another lock to lock the wheels to the bike just so some ***hat doesn't steal the wheels!

I've been thinking of this. The things I would be worried about are:

1) What sort of compatibility would I be dealing with? I see one here for 7 speed wheels (which I have): http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Quick-Release-Skewer-Wheels/dp/B0039UZ7FQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1307552509&sr=8-2 Is it really as simple as that? Most things I deal with on bikes have lots of compatibility issues, I'd be worried about buying it and it not fitting
2) This is less of a concern as I don't usually lock my bike up anywhere, but it may be something I do in the future as I begin more bicycle commuting... I'd be worried about having to get another lock to lock the wheels to the bike just so some ***hat doesn't steal the wheels!

Go by width. Measure your hub, then buy a skewer designed for the width of your hub. They're relatively inexpensive, so even a mistake won't be too costly.

This year I got a rack and make sure I carry 2 spare tubes and all necessary tools, but I'm still a little fearful of flats and I am not mentally able to put the Slickasaurus's back onto the bike, even though it's killing me knowing that I could be going much faster.

I missed this part earlier, you are already equipped to deal with flats. I think you should know that a packaging staple will go through just about any bike tire. It is unfortunate that your fast tires got bit so soon but it may indeed be only that, bad luck. You might be able to ride them until the rubber is worn down to the fabric and not have another flat. Only experience will tell you that because different regions of the world have different hazards and what works for me may not work at all in your area. There are micro variations too, the specific roads you ride on may be much better or worse than the average for your region. It depends on many things. If I were you I would try my favorite tires again. You are ready to deal with flats now if they occur and if they are too frequent for your tastes then try something else. A flat tire is nothing to fear if you have the tools to fix it and it only becomes an issue to worry about if it occurs too frequently. The more bulletproof a tire is, the slower it tends to be. However you may be able to find a relatively fast tire with minimal protection but precisely the kind of protection that does the most good against the hazards that are common in your area. It can take a lot of trial and error and those who go through it and find that magic tire will never buy anything else!

Ken

1) What sort of compatibility would I be dealing with? I see one here for 7 speed wheels (which I have):

First you have to establish that your rear axle is hollow. If your bike has an internally geared rear hub it may not accept a skewer at all. Most bikes that can use quick release skewers come with them that way from the factory but there may be exceptions so check yours first. If the axle is hollow then all you need is the right length. A bike shop can help you with that.

There are many different locks and locking strategies. Some folks remove the front wheel, lay it beside the rear, and then lock both wheels and the frame to a post or bike rack. Others use chain or cable locks that are long enough to catch all three. Kinda depends on what works best for you and worst for the local thieves.

Ken

I've been thinking of this. The things I would be worried about are:

1) What sort of compatibility would I be dealing with? I see one here for 7 speed wheels (which I have): http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Quick-Release-Skewer-Wheels/dp/B0039UZ7FQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1307552509&sr=8-2 Is it really as simple as that? Most things I deal with on bikes have lots of compatibility issues, I'd be worried about buying it and it not fitting
2) This is less of a concern as I don't usually lock my bike up anywhere, but it may be something I do in the future as I begin more bicycle commuting... I'd be worried about having to get another lock to lock the wheels to the bike just so some ***hat doesn't steal the wheels!

I was unaware about what Khutch said as I've never used internal gears, but assuming you are quick release compatible because you can see your rear cassette and you can see light through the wheel shaft...

Where are you riding? I have a set of Pin Head locking skewers that I don't really use now that I've moved out of a major city - these days they have some cheaper options, you could go that route. I should say though, I don't really like the pins' because they seem like they're either too loose or pressing my fork in too tight.

Assuming a multi-tool is already a part of your riding kit, I've seen alot of delivery people's mountain bikes where they just take a metal cinch you would use on an industrial hose or tube, and find at a hardware store, and tie off the quick release lever against the fork - that way, at least you need a hex wrench to get them off. I know some bikes (a Sub 40, for instance) have skewers with hex bolts on the end too, maybe you could find them on the internet. I think these are a new 'thing' now that urban biking is starting to drive more sales.

Lots of folks just cart around a small wire cord with their U lock and string it through the back wheel back into the U, which is holding the frame and front wheel. Since just about any worthy lock is unbearably heavy, I don't really notice the extra weight of the kyrptonight wire when I'm forced to bring a lock anyway.

When I bought my latest bike, I asked the dealer if he would mind replacing the quick release for something else. He replied that the only safe place to lock a bike is inside, anyway. He sold me.

I got a flat out on the trails with no cell reception before, and like you I always carry an extra tube. Waiting for my wife to come pick me up was humiliating as rush hour traffic whizzed by the side of the road and it started getting dark.

That experience scared me. I put the dirt tires back on but was only able to ride a few more times before I just lost the zeal of it;
Your tire didn't get punctured because it was a slick, it got punctured because of the packaging staple that got stuck in it. The dirt tires would've faired no better in that situation.

Having said that, I believe a Schwalbe tire from the Marathon line is a good idea, not only because of the puncture protection, but also because they are really high quality and long lasting tires. Schwalbe Marathon Plus should be the closest one can get to an impenetrable tire, at least if you don't get anything in the sidewalls. On the other hand, the Supremes have excellent puncture protection too, and they are much lighter and offer much less rolling resistance, so they should give you a faster and more pleasant ride. No tire is absolutely puncture-resistant, but these will keep their air in where most other tires would lose theirs.

Your axle is not hollow.

I have some Serfas Drifter survivor series tires on my bike. The survivor series is supposed to be extra tough, but I've only had them for a week so I can't really attest to that. They DO have really good traction and speed though.

1. Get new tires for the psychological benefit.
2. You have two tubes and wheel removing tools.
3. Patch kit is additional insurance should the newly installed tube flats as well.
4. Frame pump trumps CO2 when unwilling or able to call for a ride.
5. Someone already mentioned locking skewers. There's also ring locks that work for the rear wheel.