Matthames said:
I may of exaggerated on the having to rebuild the wheel every 5 mins bit. I haven't tried solid tyres and would probably be very difficult to be convinced into using them. The main reason is I would be very worried about the prospect of my wheels collapsing.
The forces in a solid tyre and a pneumatic one are very different. The air can act as a shock absorber and dissipate any point loads over the whole wheel. Solid wheels however, cannot do this. It is possible to test this as solid wheels tend to give a harsher ride then pneumatic ones for this very reason.
My answer is to get a better built wheel than the ones that are fitted.
My example being is when I bought the Dawes Audax 2006 I was riding along the Southwark Bridge Road when I realised something was wrong with the back wheel.On further inspection I realised many of the spokes on said wheel were loose and doing no job at all apart from looking pretty.
I had done 67 miles on a new bike I had bought from
Evans.Had to get another (stronger) wheel built.That Southwark Bridge/Upper/Lower Thames street has a crap road surface anyway due to the amount of lorries using it.
II wasn't using a Greentyre on this bike.
I notice the same trend on the fixed and am keeping a close eye on the spokes on the back but on further inspection I think the wheel isn't as well built as a spare wheel I have had for ages in my house.That was handbuilt as well.As I say it only takes a bit of tightening of the loose spokes anyway.Im still not convinced of the build of wheels on new bikes.
The Dawes Audax is fine and I must have been using these (tyres) for just over a year maybe nearly two.
Also I haven't had to have a wheel rebuilt and anyway the tyres have a bit of play in them bit like a fully pumped up tyre.
Im not actually trying to convince people to use these tyres I just want to share my honest experiences of using them.
Yes they have their disadvantages but it's the advantages I like.Im happy with them and if there was ever any doubt I wouldn't use them.Just a pity I dont know anybody else who uses them.
have also used this route when filming the route on the fixie so it probably hasn't helped.