returned to a road bike after 15 years - issues

[pjgraham86]

I've just purchased a new Raleigh Airlite Carbon Comp from a friend who runs a couple of bike shops. I have been riding a Diamondback Allure hybrid for about the last 15 years but wanted more speed and longer rides.

The new bike is very light and very fast - helped by clipless peadls - another first for me and no falls yet !!

One or two issues - the two lowest gears are still noisy but I guess that might settle. More annoying are the two rear punctures out of 3 (short) trips. I had two punctures in all the time I rode the D/B !! I realise road bikes are a bit more susceptible to bursts but if this carries on I'll need to think hard about a change of tyre/tube.

Anyone out there got any thoughts/advice ? My pal who sold me the bike says pump up the tyres and lose a few kg - he's right on those counts (I'm 12 stone 10 lbs) but I would appreciate any other input.

Thanks

P

 

[4F]

Get some decent tyres and pump them up the the recomended pressure.

I have found that continental sports contacts and schwalbe marathon plus to be the best as a commuting tyre.

 

[RedBike]

Assuming the punctures are being caused by road debris then the only way to cure this is to change the tyres. Stock tyres are often pretty rubbish so changing these might be a good idea anyway. I've just been recommend Bonti Hardcase tyres and I used to run Conti Grand-prix tyres which are excellent if a little expensive.

If when you come to mend the puncture there's nothing stuck in the tyre and there's what looks like one or two slits then you're getting pinch flats (snake bites). These are caused when the tyre compresses enough for the rim to strike the ground pinching the tube. To avoid these you need to pump your tyres up (A good idea anyway). Most narrow road tyres need to be run at about 100psi.

Another possibility is there's something sharp within the rim or the rim tape is no good.

 

[marinyork]

Schalbe Marathon plus may help on the puncture front but they are impossible to get on or off (never mind a real life road situation). They don't ride great either. Your weight will have nothing to do with it, most likely.

 

[wlc1]

I'm 13 stone so I have no idea what your mate is on about. ( and puncture free for the last 6 months)

I use Conti GP4000 and no problems at all

 

[Dayvo]

It looks a very good bike, indeed!

http://www.raleigh.co.uk/b_details.aspx?id=357

I was going to suggest having a look at the rim tape as the spokes might have been poking into the tube, but that's probably not the case.

Otherwise I can't suggest another reason for the flats!

 

[Blue]

Anyone out there got any thoughts/advice ? My pal who sold me the bike says pump up the tyres and lose a few kg - he's right on those counts (I'm 12 stone 10 lbs) but I would appreciate any other input.
P

I hope your mate took the tyre off the bike and checked it for you. Others have already covered the issues that may be relevant.

His advice about the weight is rubbish in relation to the flats. However, it holds good if you want more speed, esp on hills

 

[pjgraham86]

Thanks for all the comments guys - I'll try pumping the tyres right up nearer 100 psi and see how I get on beofre going for new tyres.

Cheers

p

 

[yenrod]

I ride 130psi back and 110-120 front.

Less rolling resistance.

Though im a speed job.

 

[swee'pea99]

Does look like a mean machine, but its standard tyres score 3.21 out of 5

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheels/tires-clincher/continental/PRD_367284_2489crx.aspx

with many reviews mentioning pun**ures, while, eg, Continental GP4000s

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheels/tires-clincher/continental/PRD_366445_2489crx.aspx

score significantly better @ 3.79/5.

But as an earlier poster has said, if I were you my first step would be to keep the pressures up to 120 rear, 100 front, using a decent track pump with a gauge and checking religiously every week, and see how you go. (If you don't have a track pump, you're probably running at about 70-80psi at the moment, which is like inviting the p****e fairy along on every ride.)

 

[pjgraham86]

Thanks again for the further responses guys - much appreciated.

I need to invest in a track pump soon - Argos stock one (Cyclepro?) at £7.99. Most online bike stores (and my local shop) don't seem to have any which come in at much below £20. Is there a huge gulf in quality/features between the Cyclepro and the likes of Blackburn pumps which seem to be widely available from £20 upwards ? All I need is a pump with a gauge.....!!

Thanks

P

 

[nilling]

Schalbe Marathon plus may help on the puncture front but they are impossible to get on or off (never mind a real life road situation). They don't ride great either. Your weight will have nothing to do with it, most likely.

Arn't they just! As i found out this morning grrrr. On my road bike I need just one tyre lever in to get the tyre off. However, the Schwalbe needs ALL three levers in to get anywhere. It took me nearly 5mins to get 2 levers in grrr....

 

[andyfromotley]

can you give your mate a kick up the arshe from this fat lad.

thanks

 

[RedBike]

Thanks again for the further responses guys - much appreciated.

I need to invest in a track pump soon - Argos stock one (Cyclepro?) at £7.99. Most online bike stores (and my local shop) don't seem to have any which come in at much below £20. Is there a huge gulf in quality/features between the Cyclepro and the likes of Blackburn pumps which seem to be widely available from £20 upwards ? All I need is a pump with a gauge.....!!

Thanks

P

I can't comment on the Argos one but imo it's worth paying a few pounds extra for a good quality track pump. The really cheap pumps / car foot pumps just aren't capable of pumping a tyre up to the pressure you need.

 

[HF2300]

I've got the Argos £7.99 one (because I needed a cheap track pump quickly!). It works, and works to good pressure, but the gauge is hopeless +/- 10 to 20 psi at best and goes up in big jumps.