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Rough Roads - Blowout?

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Rough Roads - Blowout?

Old 04-20-07, 10:49 AM
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Rough Roads - Blowout?

I discovered a new route yesterday that is near where I live on some very seldom traveled country roads. I love the route, its got rolling hills. Im a fairly new rider though, and on the descents, Im wondering if my tire will blow out simple because of the roads. If this did happen, would I be thrown from the bike and something catastrophic happen, or would I just roll for a bit and then stop? The roads aren't like cobblestone or anything, just enough to give me a good bit of vibration on the fast downhills (damn Mississippi roads). But if you could assuage my fears about a blowout, or warn me, it would be greatly appreciated.
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Old 04-20-07, 11:13 AM
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I guess if you hit a huge pothole you could blowout....and a real blowout would make your tire instantly flat. A flat front tire is a huge danger and could very well put you down in an instant if you were riding fast, downhill and/or on bad roads. A rear tire blowout could be dangerous too but, in my experience, not as dangerous as a flat front.
With all that said, I do not think it is very likely that you will blowout on rough roads. You would be more likely to suffer a pinch flat or have debris in the road puncture your tire and create a slow leak. If you get a pinch flat or normal puncture, you will probably hear it or otherwise notice it and have time to stop before your tire goes completely flat.
With the road conditions you described, I would be more concerned about loose gravel and/or wide cracks on the road that might throw you off balance. It is more of a bike-handling danger than creating a danger of equipment failure, in my opinion.
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Old 04-20-07, 11:15 AM
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If you're scared about road debris puncturing your tire, get armadillo tires or other puncture resistant tires.
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Old 04-20-07, 11:17 AM
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Yeah Armadillos are a good idea. Also, theres not much loose gravel or cracks for that matter, the road is just very 'pitted' i suppose is the best way to put it.
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Old 04-20-07, 11:24 AM
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I mean, people ride road bikes on roubaix and flats are a little less common than say bent rims or loss of true (I believe anyway). I'd say getting puncture resistant tires, and maybe tubes too, will give you the functionality benefit you need at the loss of a little speed, but that's good since you're training anyway and you'll have to train harder.

Good luck, and stay safe.
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Old 04-20-07, 11:28 AM
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Thanks for the good wishes. How much do these armadillos cost anyways? Im a college student with a cash crunch...but a little saved up.
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