“Can you tell us how to deal with or prevent punctures? I don’t mean sticking a patch on, but what is the best strategy? I believe that the hassle of punctures really does put people off using a bike regularly for important journeys. In Peterborough the cycleways are edged with thorn bushes like pyracantha.”
James Haugh
Peterborough
Astonishingly, some local authorities continue to plant thorn bushes next to cycle paths and have no policy for sweeping debris from paths – something normally done by motor traffic on the road. Not surprisingly, cycle path usage continues to languish in these places.
James is quite right, of course.The (often irrational) fear of punctures does put many people off cycling, but these days the threat can be largely eliminated.With the right equipment and some basic preparation, roadside disasters should become rare events.
1. QUALITY
Choose good quality tyres and tubes, and replace them before they’re life- expired. Cheap and/or worn tyres are much more likely to puncture.The range of tyre brands is bewildering, and some are only suited to particular uses, so I can only give a few pointers: I’m not convinced that kevlar-banded tyres really do give much protection, but many swear otherwise.They certainly increase rolling resistance, as do puncture-proof liners, which can also cause tube failure if incorrectly fitted. An interesting, but heavier, option (as yet untested by A to B) is Schwalbe’s Marathon Plus, constructed with a special spongy lining to ‘bounce’ objects back out of the tyre.This is now available in the 47- 406mm (20-inch) size, with 18″ and 16″ on the way.
Surprisingly enough, slick and lightly-treaded tyres often work quite well, presumably because they are less likely to trap and hold road debris. But paradoxically, you shouldn’t write off treaded tyres either, because some are very puncture resistant. As a second line of defence, thick puncture-resistant inner tubes seem to help, at the expense of increased rolling resistance.
For a given bike/tyre size, ask regular users what they’d recommend. Much of the advice will be pure hearsay, but you should begin to get a picture of what works and, more importantly, the brands to avoid.
2. PREVENTION
Keep the tyres correctly inflated. Under-inflated tyres are good at picking up debris and can also suffer ‘pinch punctures’ on bumps and kerbs. It seems reasonable to assume that over-inflated tyres might be vulnerable too, although I have no specific evidence for this. A simple rule of thumb is to inspect the tyres with the bike loaded.They should bulge slightly around the road contact patch: No bulge, or too pronounced a bulge, and you’re asking for trouble.
Secondly, it might seem obvious, but if you can avoid thorns, roadside debris or glass, you will more or less eliminate punctures.Try to stick to the well-swept part of the road – wobbling along in the gutter is a recipe for tyre failure. If in doubt, jump off and push – or even carry – the bike through. Once back on a clear stretch of road, check the tyres quickly for foreign bodies and decide whether to remove them. If an object has barely begun to penetrate the tyre, remove it. If in doubt, break it off flush with the tyre and carry on – the inner tube will sometimes grasp and seal an object with very little loss of air. If you hear or feel a rhythmic bump, always stop and investigate.This sort of procedure takes seconds, but can save hours of unpleasantness.
Traditional cycle tourists use all sorts of clever tricks to prevent debris penetrating the tyre, including blades positioned close to the tread to knock objects off.These sort of things are best left to the experts, because they can cause more harm than good if poorly fitted or adjusted. However, it’s probably worth pouring in one of the proprietary leak sealants, but don’t forget those regular inspections.
3. REPAIR
Some cyclists take pride in their instantaneous roadside repairs, but a large proportion of mine seem to fail, particularly in miserable weather.These days, I very rarely bother to carry a puncture repair kit, following instead a few simple rules:
a) Holts Tyre Weld is a mixture of sealant foam and compressed gas that repairs smaller punctures and re-inflates the tyre. Designed to inflate one tubeless car tyre,Tyre Weld is arguably more effective with bicycle tyres, providing up to a dozen repairs, depending on the canister and tyre sizes.This product will usually get you home, and can even be treated as a permanent repair if you’re lucky. It won’t work in every case, but it seems to be wholly or partially effective in about 75% of punctures in my experience.
b) If sealant doesn’t work, it may be possible to pump the tyre up, ride on, re-inflate, ride on, and so forth, especially with front tyres, where less pressure is required. It’s not much fun, but easier than wrestling with the tyre, tube and glue by the roadside. Sealant foam can take a few minutes to work, so this technique may gradually provide a cure.
c) Ride a folding bike! If the worst happens, you can complete your journey or reach a cycle shop by train, bus, taxi or hitching a lift.This last resort is rare, but a folder does give peace of mind that you will be able to get home quickly and easily by other means.
