Training advice for newbie

[Nigelnaturist]

HTF do you get that many miles without a puncture, it's just part of a ride out for me........Back onto the farmers and hedges thing

Don't know, I used to be plaqued with them at least one in every 500 miles, and then I ended up with a pair of gatorskins from halfords because the one I reserved had just been fitted to a bike, for the same price of about £13.50, that was in Aug 2013, and as I say apart from the couple of pinch punctures, they just keep going, and I don't particularly check them thoroughly after a ride either, thats how complacent they have made me, in fact they are that good they out last my wheels which I seem to get only 6-7,000 mile out of.
The debris I have ridden over is amazing, they just keep going.

 

[Turbo Rider]

Don't know, I used to be plaqued with them at least one in every 500 miles, and then I ended up with a pair of gatorskins from halfords because the one I reserved had just been fitted to a bike, for the same price of about £13.50, that was in Aug 2013, and as I say apart from the couple of pinch punctures, they just keep going, and I don't particularly check them thoroughly after a ride either, thats how complacent they have made me, in fact they are that good they out last my wheels which I seem to get only 6-7,000 mile out of.
The debris I have ridden over is amazing, they just keep going.

How many miles do you get out of gatorskins then and what sort of surfaces are you riding on? I had a panic attack and went with M+ after sooo many punctures in the space of not long at all. They serve me amazingly well, but thinking of going for something a little less hardcore when they eventually wear away...which I don't anticipate for a long, long time...bit scared to go for anything less than them though, so advance research can't do me any harm...

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Turbo Rider I haven't actually had a true puncture, just two pinch punctures from hitting stones (rear 23c), thats over 10,000 miles on the front 23c and 4,000-5,000 on the rear 23c ( I would need to go check mileage memory is a bit fooked) and about 5,000 on the 25c without issue.

 

[Turbo Rider]

Hats off to you and cheers

I'm less than a year in though, so still a bit of a gutter rider at times, which probably definitely doesn't help...getting more confident though, so hoping I can think about something lighter in future...nothing since October though

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Hats off to you and cheers

I'm less than a year in though, so still a bit of a gutter rider at times, which probably definitely doesn't help...getting more confident though, so hoping I can think about something lighter in future...nothing since October though

, the gatorskins I have just seem to bounce over most things ( not literally, but you get the idea), some people say they find them a little slippy in the wet, I have had a couple of occasions had wheels slip, but nothing major, the front even survived a good kerb scrapping, kissed it twice and came off but that was my fault not paying enough attention.

 

[Turbo Rider]

Oooh, love those slips! Nearly had an off with a slip on a wet manhole cover last year but held it somehow...makes you feel alive! Don't wish for a repeat though

 

[Turbo]

Considered a fixie?

 

[Nick 0668]

Don't know, I used to be plaqued with them at least one in every 500 miles, and then I ended up with a pair of gatorskins from halfords because the one I reserved had just been fitted to a bike, for the same price of about £13.50, that was in Aug 2013, and as I say apart from the couple of pinch punctures, they just keep going, and I don't particularly check them thoroughly after a ride either, thats how complacent they have made me, in fact they are that good they out last my wheels which I seem to get only 6-7,000 mile out of.
The debris I have ridden over is amazing, they just keep going.

 

[Nick 0668]

Please don't talk to me about hedges, or trees lol! That's why I'm on a bicycle after 30 years, can't afford a car!

 

[Dobby]

Thanks, all. Considering joining a club - a couple near me that have plenty of groups going out each weekend. Too hilly round me for a single speed. Re the flats issue - stopped having them once changed hybrid from default Specialized tyres (pretty rubbish) to Marathon Plus (great for not getting flats, but weigh a ton - nearly 1kg each tyre for 700x35). I'll have to get some decent tyres for the road bike - current ones are those that came with bike (not so hot).