Skinny wheels v potholes

[3narf]

If I start commuting on a skinny-tyred racer instead of my current XC racer hybrid, will I have perennial problems with punctures and buckled wheels? Or indeed perineal problems?

I try to ride round them if possible but as I set off to work before 5am I sometimes miss the odd crater. I have Pace RC35s which have about an inch & a half travel and take the worst of the shock.

I reckon I could knock 5-10 mins off my time over the 17.5 miles, but I don't want the bike to be a liability...

Thanks, Andy

 

[Hacienda71]

Get a magicshine to spot the potholes and some puncture resistant tyres and you will be fine. My commute is 17.5 miles with pot holes and lots of unlit country bits, my bike is running 700c x 23's and most of the other guys and gals I see are on similar road bikes or hybrids.

 

[GrasB]

If I start commuting on a skinny-tyred racer instead of my current XC racer hybrid, will I have perennial problems with punctures and buckled wheels? Or indeed perineal problems?

Buckling resistance depends on the quality of the wheels. Cheap rims are more likely to give pinch punctures & low quality factory built wheels will buckle more easily. A hand built wheel by someone who really knows what they're doing using a decent rim will take all kinds of abuse & survive virtually intact.

I try to ride round them if possible but as I set off to work before 5am I sometimes miss the odd crater. I have Pace RC35s which have about an inch & a half travel and take the worst of the shock.

For me the problem isn't the wheels it's what happens to me, I had an off a couple of weeks ago where I didn't see a pot hole. Dazzled by a car with the headlights on full beam I hit it at around 16-17mph next thing I know I'm sliding along the verge on my side. Ended up munching industrial strength ibuprofen for the next 7 days (doctors orders)

I reckon I could knock 5-10 mins off my time over the 17.5 miles, but I don't want the bike to be a liability...

what sort of commute & what sort of average speed?

 

[biggs682]

i have commuted on 700 x 15 Nisi sprinter rims with michelin erium tyres for over 10 months now and hjave not had problem so far , but totally understand what you say , try it for a whil and see how you get on

 

[Alien8]

My normal commuter has Alexrims DA22's with 700x23c (~100psi) tyres so nothing particularly special.

On the odd occasion when I haven't been able to avoid (deep) potholes they've been fine.


The bigger problem may be staying on the bike.

 

[fossyant]

100 plus PSI and keep it checked.

I run 120 psi in my rear as I have panniers. I've dented rims in the past.

 

[Moodyman]

If you see the pothole too late to avoid it, then unweight your saddle to minimise impact on the wheel.

As Fossy says - keep your PSI maxed so the tyre cushions the blow for the rims

 

[MacB]

learn to do low level bunny hops on a road bike

 

[GlasgowGaryH]

learn to do low level bunny hops on a road bike

+1

 

[Wobblers]

I've done thousands of miles on skinny 23 mm tyres, and crashed through my fair share of potholes. If you've a decent set of wheels and tyres pumped up to a reasonable pressure (100 psi in my case, but I'm a lightweight!) you won't have any problems. As GrasB and Alien8 say, I'm more worried about what happens to me should I hit a pothole!

If you lift yourself off the saddle, your arms and legs will act as shock absorbers and decrease the load on the bike and wheels. And get good lights so that you can spot the potholes far enough ahead to avoid them.

 

[buggi]

i hit a MASSIVE one the other day on my 23c's and nothing. jolted my whole body, no unplanned deflation and no buckled wheel.

i've been riding 23c's to work for the last 7 years. Had about 5 unplanned deflations out on the road, and a couple of slow ones that deflated over night, but i don't think that's a bad record as my commute varies between 25 and 50 miles.

i don't see why people question what tyres to use when commuting and then happily go club riding on 23c's. You're still on the road after all.

 

[HLaB]

i don't see why people question what tyres to use when commuting and then happily go club riding on 23c's. You're still on the road after all.

If anything the ones on the club run can be even worse; riding in a pack if you have less time to spot them and are reliant on shouts from ahead which don't always come and you're usually travelling faster.

 

[snailracer]

I think retaining control through unavoidable potholes is more about the handlebars than tyres/wheels. Mountain bikes have wide straight bars which gives more leverage for rapid corrections and are less easily deflected in the first place. A more upright position also places less body weight over the bars, so the arms are "looser" and are more able to absorb the shock.

 

[HLaB]

I think retaining control through unavoidable potholes is more about the handlebars than tyres/wheels. Mountain bikes have wide straight bars which gives more leverage for rapid corrections and are less easily deflected in the first place. A more upright position also places less body weight over the bars, so the arms are "looser" and are more able to absorb the shock.

Not a Mtb but I find pot holes on my upright flat bar hybrid are less comfortable over potholes than my drop bar bikes. But then again I commute on the hybrid and often am more interested in holding my line and on the roadbikes they are used on quieter country roads/ lanes where it doesnt hurt to go around them/ sit in the primary longer so the exposure to potholes isn't all that similar

 

[Tynan]

25mm on hand built mavic open pros, I've really spanked some big holes unseen in the dark and the wheels have survived them, the exception has been some stinkers that have put dings into the rims, and in one case split the rim, I'm 15st plus pannier

in short, hand built wheels are money well spent