I've never had a puncture

[Riverman]

on any of my three mountain bikes. One that got nicked, a BSO that broke and my latest bike.

I've been riding for almost a year, relatively regularly i.e.- everyday commuting and the occasional big ride.

Is this normal?

It's just I've just bought a pump with a pressure gauge, so will be interesting to see whether I start getting punctures now, as I'm told increasing the pressure to 30-40 psi will reduce the likelihood of punctures. I have tended to ride a little flat on occasion.

 

[theloafer]

dont say that word its.... pu****re...you will get lots now

 

[Theseus]

It all depends ...

Assuming your bikes have all lasted an average of 4 month, that is not at all unsurprising as unless you get unlucky with a sharp thorn you are more likely to get a puncture on an older tyre. One that has been in use for a few thousand miles.

I would highly recommend pumping your tyres to as high as you find comfortable and they can take. I tend to go to the limit of the tyre or rim. This not only reduces the risk of punctures, but will also reduce the rolling resistance and make you journey take less effort.

 

[Slowgrind]

YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!......................

 

[ASC1951]

Is this normal?

It's not particularly unusual, Riverman. I do about 3500 miles a year, some of it off road, and I get on average a couple of punctures.

If you are using the thicker MTB tyres for commuting you may well get very few indeed, especially if you bang plenty of air in them. I would be on 40-60psi offroad, where you need the grip, and firmer on road, so you might be better with rather more than your '30 - 50'.

IME there are three roughly equal factors in avoiding punctures - tyres in good condition, correct pressure, keeping way from debris.

 

[Panter]

Might be worth taking your walking boots on all future cycling journeys now....

 

[Norm]

I just fixed two this afternoon. One was about a month old, but a slow one which took several days to go down, and the other was one I picked up around Windsor Great Park on Friday, pretty shitty roads and a piece of flint got through. I changed the inner on the road and fixed the puncture in the (relative) warm and dry of my garage.

 

[palinurus]

I've frequently gone a year without getting a puncture, I do about 6000 miles a year.

Last couple of years I've had a few, but all on the Cyclocross bike. None on any of my road machines.

 

[swee'pea99]

I think that's probably the silliest subject line I've ever seen.

 

[cookiemonster]

You've just tempted fate now.

 

[XmisterIS]

Riverman - you must be treating your bike like it was made of china, or you have super-thick tyres!

I have had more punctures on my mountain bike than hot breakfasts! I've had tyres puncture, had pinch flats, shredded the tyre and inner tube on thorns, tacoed rims, you name it, I've broken it!

That might have something to do with the way I ride my mountain bike though ...

 

[Davidc]

1. If the punct*re fairy reads cyclechat you've had it! (See Panter's comment above)

2. Punct*res are bus like and they all come together, so you've had it even if she doesn't.

 

[Maz]

I have tended to ride a little flat on occasion.

That's called a puncture.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Just fitted some new tyres cos the old ones were p*nct*ring so often. Old worn tyres = p*nct*res.

 

[Riverman]

That's called a puncture.

. Strange puncture if it can be pumped up to 40psi and stay there.