It all started so well...

[mrmacmusic]

I set off at 7am this morning feeling much more comfortable sporting my newly acquired buff and lightweight middle layer, and having cleaned and lubed the bike yesterday, the drivetrain was whisper quiet and lovely and smooth Even the fact that this was Monday, and that meant I had a pannier full of clothes and food for the fridge at work, didn't seem to matter at all... my legs felt fresh!

Navigating the first cycle path section made me realise that my front light is woefully inadequate. OK, it's not that bad, but I need to buy another one. Pronto. Yes, I've seen the threads (even started a few), and no, I've not decided if it's MagicShine or torches yet

Then, approx 20mins into my 55 minute run I get that feeling. You know, that one? Yep – "unscheduled deflation"

Stopped under a streetlamp, removed the tube and replaced it with a patched one from my bag, all the time cursing my so-called "puncture resistant" tyres. No sign of a thorn in the tyre, but a big hole in the side of the tube. Cursing again my tyre's thin bead round the circumference which clearly offers no sidewall protection at all (just like it didn't last Monday when I collected a stray piece of tree and had another unscheduled deflation).

I pumped up the tyre as best as I could, reflecting on the fact that my old mini pump is a) hard work; b) doesn't inflate up to the 100psi I need; and c) I've got a full, heavy pannier today. I had a feeling....... Surprisingly, I made it to within 2 miles of the office before the 'slight' under-inflation and really crappy, bumpy road surface caused a second, somewhat inevitable pinch flat.

So I finished my commute on foot, and have come to the conclusion that I need to buy a pump and front light, and really am seriously thinking about replacing at least my rear tyre with something more robust. Looks like it's going to be an expensive week

 

[upsidedown]

Ah well, the week can only get better.

 

[StopsAtRed]

They're heavy and stiff I know, but I swear by my Schwalbe Marathon Pluses for commuting. Probably just jinxed myself into getting that feeling on the way home tonight.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Ah well, the week can only get better.

I sure hope so!

I can understand needing to invest in a better pump and front light, I just can't decide whether I should or shouldn't be investing in tyres for a bit more puncture resistance.... I'm somewhat unconvinced that any tyre will be puncture proof, and I'll suffer 'unscheduled deflations' anyway, but then again, clearly my Continentals aren't offering the best sidewall protection.

 

[smokeysmoo]

+1 for M+ if you don't ever want another puncture*

Or if you want to save some weight, Durano+ are also excellent IME.



















*this is my own experience and does not reflect any experiences you may or may not have if you do or do not decide to buy these tyres, phew!

 

[fossyant]

Navigating the first cycle path section made me realise that my front light is woefully inadequate. OK, it's not that bad, but I need to buy another one. Pronto. Yes, I've seen the threads (even started a few), and no, I've not decided if it's MagicShine or torches yet

Still not decided, blimey

 

[Col5632]

No worse feeling than getting a puncture when you have somewhere to be and its early doors

 

[thnurg]

I hope your week gets better. Mine nearly started on a downer when some idiot who had parked on the pavement pulled out without seeing me. (We have parking bays on one side of the main road and an extra wide pavement on the other which is often clogged up with motons.)

Ah well, after that it was nice to have a tail wind on the way in for a change, but now I'm not looking forward to the head wind home.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Still not decided, blimey

I know... I'm terrible at making decisions LOL! Seriously though, with it getting gradually darker around my commuting time, this morning was actually the first time it was properly dark and I was able to evaluate the performance of my old light. It's definitely a "be seen" light, and just isn't bright enough to inspire any kind of confidence.

 

[mrmacmusic]

I hope your week gets better. Mine nearly started on a downer when some idiot who had parked on the pavement pulled out without seeing me. (We have parking bays on one side of the main road and an extra wide pavement on the other which is often clogged up with motons.)

Ah well, after that it was nice to have a tail wind on the way in for a change, but now I'm not looking forward to the head wind home.

At least that was nearly started on a downer.... I noticed a distinctly higher than average number of idiots on the road this morning

 

[mrmacmusic]

No worse feeling than getting a puncture when you have somewhere to be and its early doors

Especially when you've got up and out early... even more sad was the fact that my legs felt fresh this morning following a few days last week where I felt decidedly off! Hopefully they'll still be in the mood for my return journey in a few hours time.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Having now repaired both tubes during my lunch break, I've established that a shard of glass was responsible for both punctures. Embedded in the tyre (presumably just to the side of whatever protection bead is actually in my Continental Contact "Safety System" rubber bands) it was impossible to see, although I still think under-inflation and the bumpy road didn't help with the second deflation.

The tyre is now cut through and although I have removed the glass, I reckon I will have to replace the tyre. Thanks to those for mentioning Schwalbe Marathon Plus – looking at previous threads they do seem to be well liked

I'm also considering Bontrager Hard Case and Continental Gatorskin Ultra, as well as dropping a size from 28c to 25c.

 

[BlackPanther]

Agree Agree Agree.

Schwalbe Marathon plus 25mm on the rear, Schwalbe Durano Plus 23mm on the front. That's my road bike set up, with over 2,500 puncture free miles. My hybrid has M+'s front and year and did 4,800 puncture free miles last year.

Why oh why oh why do commuters use anything else?

 

[mrmacmusic]

Agree Agree Agree.

Schwalbe Marathon plus 25mm on the rear, Schwalbe Durano Plus 23mm on the front. That's my road bike set up, with over 2,500 puncture free miles. My hybrid has M+'s front and year and did 4,800 puncture free miles last year.

Why oh why oh why do commuters use anything else?

I'm using something else as the bike was only bought a matter of months ago - I figured the factory-fitted Conti Contacts would be fairly puncture resistant given their 'safety system' but clearly there's room for improvement! Still, perhaps 5 punctures in 1200+ miles is OK... but it's the 3 in less than a week that's really quite frustrating

 

[Moodyman]

Having now repaired both tubes during my lunch break, I've established that a shard of glass was responsible for both punctures. Embedded in the tyre (presumably just to the side of whatever protection bead is actually in my Continental Contact "Safety System" rubber bands) it was impossible to see, although I still think under-inflation and the bumpy road didn't help with the second deflation.

The tyre is now cut through and although I have removed the glass, I reckon I will have to replace the tyre. Thanks to those for mentioning Schwalbe Marathon Plus – looking at previous threads they do seem to be well liked

I'm also considering Bontrager Hard Case and Continental Gatorskin Ultra, as well as dropping a size from 28c to 25c.

Bontrager Racelite Hardcase on my main commuter and the M+ on my back up bike. I found Bontrager to have the best balance of speed, puncture protection, grip & price.