Road quality

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ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
Was cycling down the A1055 Meridian Way. Got to lights at the junction with Ardra Way. There was a queue of cars that that had just started moving. Looking I was OK to go up the inside. Just after the lights doing maybe 15mph the road surface just seems to disintegrate. I couldn't move right as there were cars or left so as to miss the poor road surface so hit the brakes but too late. Nearly came a cropper here 2 years ago as the handle bars nearlly got ripped from my hands so am normally rather careful but they fixed it up around 6 months ago. Haven't been this way since November last year.

www.fillthathole.org.uk
 
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Ride2017

Ride2017

Well-Known Member
Change your route?
I did try going up Tottenham High Road but the standard of driving is a bit mental and the pedestrians aren't much better. Was just going past the football stadium and hit a pothole you could have gone caving in. My view had been blocked by a bus.
The A10 is just too busy and any further that way just adds too many extra miles as does the A112.

Is there an official way to report potholes? Dangerous road surfaces for cyclists?
 
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User6179

Guest
Famous last words but I have never had a pinch flat since switching to 25s from 23s .
 

Welsh wheels

Lycra king
Location
South Wales
Change your bike?


My 35c shod hybrid and 32c shod GT Grade shrug off mere chasms like the ones you are describing. And before anyone says it, neither bike is slow!
Agreed, hybrids are a lot better at handling rough stuff! My hybrid glides over all the local potholes like they were nothing, whereas when I'm on my road bike I have to read the road carefully and avoid potholes accordingly or I get thrown off or at best severely jeopardize my family-starting capabilities.
 
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Ride2017

Ride2017

Well-Known Member
Famous last words but I have never had a pinch flat since switching to 25s from 23s .
I'm using 28s and have had 3. Being Monday I checked the pressure this morning to 110psi.

Anyways
 

I like Skol

A Minging Manc...
I'm using 28s and have had 3. Being Monday I checked the pressure this morning to 110psi.

Anyways
Given this extra information maybe it is your riding style that is the problem? Perhaps you need to learn how to 'ride light'? If you cling rigidly to your bike as you crash through broken bits of highway then you will get more wheel and puncture problems. If you loosen up, stand off the saddle a bit and allow the bike to move around under you then the bike receives much less punishment and you will experience far fewer pinch punctures.
 

KneesUp

Guru
I'm using 28s and have had 3. Being Monday I checked the pressure this morning to 110psi.

Anyways
That suggests you have a heck of a lot of weight over your wheel - something in the order of 65kg per wheel?

bertopresschart.jpg
 

KnackeredBike

I do my own stunts
Given this extra information maybe it is your riding style that is the problem? Perhaps you need to learn how to 'ride light'? If you cling rigidly to your bike as you crash through broken bits of highway then you will get more wheel and puncture problems. If you loosen up, stand off the saddle a bit and allow the bike to move around under you then the bike receives much less punishment and you will experience far fewer pinch punctures.
+1 to this. Around here the council love putting nasty speed humps which get potholed either side. If you stand off your saddle and move your weight towards the centre you can use your legs as suspension and reduce the peak stress on your bike. I'm 106kg/105psi and (again famous last words) haven't had a pinch flat on 25c Conti Gatorskins.
 

Johnno260

Guru
Location
East Sussex
I was having issues with pinch punctures, I have spare tubes and a CO2 inflater in a small bag under my saddle.

It's definitely worth carrying them.
 
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