Flat / Puncture Prevention Methods
 

Here in AZ, I take flats seriously. I have gradually been transitioning my bikes to Gatorskins. However, for those "regular" tires that have not yet been replaced, what do you suggest, Tuffy's, puncture resistant tubes, etc? Any clever McGyver-like hardware store methods?

Thanks

RFC

The only puncture prevention methods I know of are the basics:

• Inflate rear tire to around 110 psi (there's a good formula for this, but this is ballpark). For better handling, inflate front tire to 90-100 psi.
• Stay away from glass, manholes, or anything that looks like a tire killer...
• If riding on rough roads, use puncture resistant tires like Michelin Krylions. I have Michelin Lithions, and they hold up well.
• Always carry a tube (or two), a pump and a patch kit.

Slime. Haven't had a flat in over two years.

Also, do you ride clincher or tubular? That will make a big difference.

Clinchers

up in WA, we laugh at flats.

how many are you getting anyway?

Ride in the center of the road as much as possible. Don't use superskinny tires that need to be pumped up to 120 PSI.

I haven't had a flat on my new bike since I bought it 300+ miles ago. I never carry tubes, pumps, or patches.

what will you do when you flat?

Walk home or call a cab. Hasn't happened so far.

lol. wow.

Bad idea. You don't want to be that guy, stuck 20 miles away from your house with no local cabs or taxis, and no public transportation. It sucks.

I commute and road ride mostly on Specialized Armadillos. Not a single puncture flat in close to 20,000 miles (3 sets of tires, 700x25, 700x23, and 26x1.5"). I avoid the right side of the shoulder at all times and ride in the traffic lane whenever possible to avoid almost all debris. The Armadillos take care of anything I might run over when I need to use the shoulder to let traffic pass. I always carry a pump and patches but often forget a tube when on my road bike because it's been so long since I've had a flat.

I don't do random out of town rides; all my riding's in town. If and when I start taking picturesque country tours, I'll probably buy a pump and patches.
Until then, though, I've got no need for them.

Yeah, but that's only, what - 2 or 3 rides?

Just wait.

You city folks have it a bit different than those of us who live out in the country in the west. Goatheads are everywhere this time of year and not just along the side of the road, they are all over the road. I've had Gatorskins as my training tire for almost two years now and they have helped but the addition of those orange Tuffy tire liners has helped the most. Instead of getting a flat every time I go out, its maybe once or twice a month. It's a heavy combination but having to change a flat or two every time you go out sucks more.

avoid scrap metal on the road.

Realize the context of your post. This is the road forum, not the commuting forum. Many of the posters here could do your "300+ miles" in a week. I'm no super high mileage cyclist but when I hear "no flats in 300+ miles" it's still pretty meaningless to me. That's about a month of just commuting for me. I haven't flatted in over 4 years though.

Actually, I've ridden five to six days a week since mid-August.
You keep waiting. I'll keep riding. :beer:

Find meaning wherever you can; I'm just relating what works for me. You can cover 300 miles in a weekend if it floats your boat. I'll keep riding at my pace. :beer:

Stay away from glass and other shoulder debris. I flatted for the first time at about mile 635. I have several holes in my rear tire, which my local LBS guys said could be patched from inside with a simple tire patch if the hole gets big enough to let in things like sharp pieces of gravel that wouldn't bother a pristine tire. I wouldn't be caught dead without a spare tube, patch kit and a couple CO2 cartridges. And don't forget a schrader-to-presta adapter. It's all cheap insurance.

I've also started checking my tires every 20 miles or so (when I stop to rehydrate) for embedded objects that might work their way through the tire.

+1. You've owned the bike for two months and averaged 150 miles a month.

slime is great for mtbs. i had a 1.25" inch nail and 4 other punctures in my rear tire for over a year. i just had a slow leak so every two weeks i'd pump it back up to 60psi.

but take the tire off of your road bike, check the inner tire for green goup and the tube, if there isn't any to be found then the slime hasn't done its job. on my road bike i've had(was unsafe to swerve or not enough time to bunny hop) to go over glass or nails or bone jaring potholes way to fast and i didn't get a flat. i didn't need any slime in my tube, just a decent tire.

for road tires slime is a really bad idea. it adds alot of rolling resistance and worst part is that it can cause the valve to snap off, remember road tires are at a much higher psi, and if you hit a pothole or go around a curve very fast it can cause your valve to fail

It will now.

Then you need to do some real rides.

If you need to ride 100 miles a day to feel like a real rider, go ahead. :thumb: