Is this tire safe to ride on the rollers?
 

On my Trek 1500, with the stock Bontranger Select tires, there is a gash in the side wall about an 1/8 of an inch long, and it is completely through to the tube. Can I still ride it on the rollers, or do I need to stop riding until I can get new tires? Any suggestions on new tires?

Simple aswer to your question, by another question: what happens if you puncture while on the rollers? You are not stranded away from home. You are not spinning out of control down a hill. You are not sliding under the wheels of a 10-ton truck. You are on rollers in your home. You stop and go get a beer from the fridge.

Go spin. Stop agonizing.

I don't know, man; having a blow-out and crashing into a wall at speed sounds pretty scarey to me... ;)

If I remember correctly from a post a while back discussing rollers, the spin produced by your wheels does not produce enough torque(?) to push you forward more than an inch. I distinctly someone saying the only way you can get your head into a wall is if you fell over to your right or left.

While I personally have not tried that I have spun a tire pretty fast and dropped the bike down and it went forward maybe 6 inches. I would assume, with you body weight (bike is only 20 so lbs.), it would go considerably less.

I would think a blowout would just leave leave your ears ringing and maybe scratches on stuff.

Worse that can happen is you'll scratch up your rollers if it blows unexpectedly. Why not just put a cloth patch on the inside if you're worried? I've got all kinds bumps and bubbles in the tires of my roller bike, but I'm too lazy to do anything about it because they're tubs.

I was teasing. :rolleyes:

I figured, but I remember how worried I was when I was considering getting rollers so I wanted to reassure the OP. Still haven't gotten around to them yet... need money.

Cut up a piece of thin cardboard (like a tube box), put it in there, one layer, and you're good to go. If you make it too thick (2 layers) it'll thump a bit due to the tire not stretching as much. If you use a dollar bill, tire usually stretches a bit too much (and thumps).

For a good trainer tire, go to a shop and ask for the cheapest steel bead tire your size. They probably have some left over thing for $10 and it'll be good for a few years of trainer riding.

Right now I use my (new) Michelin Krylions, which, after about 15 hours of riding on a CycleOps fluid trainer, still have the flashing up the middle of the tread. I am using them simply because they're on the wheels that are on the bike. I also use Schwable Blizzards (steel bead tire per my suggestion above, I've trained on the rear tire for about 3 years of winters and trainers), Conti/Vittoria tubulars, and whatever tire happens to be on the wheel.

cdr