Road Bike/Racer in Dublin City

culline

Hey, I bought my first ever road bike late in 2010 and have used it almost everyday since then(just to commute,i dont race or go long distance). Unfortunately I found that the road bike itself doesn't suit Dublin City roads which are full of pot holes, cracks etc I have gone through 2 front and 2 back tyres already! Im just wondering has anyone else had the same problem(going through tyre after tyre) and what would they recommend me do? I was thinking of maybe selling the racer for a hybrid but I love the bike! Any thoughts/suggestions will be greatly appreciated

kincsem

Describe:
Brand and model
Inflation pressure
Failure problem

chakattack

A hybrid won't be any less hard on tyres but slower so don't bother.

How long is your commute?

10k each way daily would be around 5000k a year which sounds about right for 2 pairs of tyres on rough roads.

Some tyres will last much longer and other less. I can highly recommend continental GP4000s for longevity.

culline

I have a Trek 1000, got it 2nd hand but in great nick. No idea of inflation pressure sorry. I only cycle about 3-4km a day, literally 15-20mins through town. Is it just me or are racer tyres impossible to keep sound in a city? Seem to be always hitting little cracks in road/stones/glass etc!

Lumen

culline wrote: »

No idea of inflation pressure

culline wrote: »

Is it just me or are racer tyres impossible to keep sound in a city?

These are not unrelated. :pac:

smacl

Some good discussion on durability of tyres on a recent thread here. I've wider puncture resistant tyres on a hybrid, and have had no punctures and minimal wear on them so far this year, at the cost of weight and speed. Moving to a drop bar racer this week, choice of tyres is a big consideration, I'll probably go for 25mm Duranos.

Surveyor11

I have Panaracers RibMo on my road bike (2nd hand Giant SCR 3.0 - tyres came with the bike). Up to this morning (in the phoenix park, in the p*ssing rain!), had no punctures in about 5,000km - commuting daily and spins at the weekends, so not a bad innings in my book. As it's my only bike, they are for me a good allrounder. Only thing I would say is that they are an absolute b*tch to get on and off - very tight on the rims (Mavic Askium)

Icyseanfitz

id assume the air pressure in your tyres would be very very important

culline

To be honest I just get the air filled in local bike shop so that it's not to soft/hard,didn't realise it had such importance! I guess what im asking is there anyone out there that had to change their tyres umpteen times and were forced to sell their racer for a more robust bike?

bad2dabone

I do 20kms each day on a racer and i'm 17stone (was 18st 6 when I started my commuting) and no problems so far. I'm using Conti GP4000 on the front and a gatorskin on the rear. My Wheels are old Mavic Cosmos. Pump those suckers up and you should be fine.

culline

Thanks for your help mate,can you recommend a particular bike shop in dublin city to get these tyres?

bad2dabone

Pretty much any of the major shops stock them, I got mine from Bike hub in howth. I'd recommend a decent track pump so you can keep the pressure high, I run mine about 110 to 120 PSI cos i'm such a lump. The reason I have different tyres is cos I didn't have enough money to buy 2 gatorskins at the time However there are reports that the Gatorskins aren't great in the wet, i've had no issues, touch wood! The GP4000 is a nice tyre too and i've had it on my wheel for ages

chakattack

culline wrote: »

To be honest I just get the air filled in local bike shop so that it's not to soft/hard,didn't realise it had such importance! I guess what im asking is there anyone out there that had to change their tyres umpteen times and were forced to sell their racer for a more robust bike?

NO

Just buy a track pump and use it! Try to avoid some of the rougher surfaces if you can.

brownbeard

I bought a second hand racer from my LBS on Saturday. Cycled into Dublin today, got a puncture at 17:50, (all bike shops I know of closed and had to wait till 19:00 to get Dart).

I was somewhat unhappy with the situation.

culline

I had a look on the eurocycles website at the puncture protection tyres-prices ranging from 40-60,worth investing in a set of these?

culline

I just checked brake pad on front wheel and its basically no existent, worn right down to metal almost! Possibility this has been the cause of puncture(s)?!

Lumen

culline wrote: »

I just checked brake pad on front wheel and its basically no existent, worn right down to metal almost! Possibility this has been the cause of puncture(s)?!

Unlikely, unless the brake caliper is misaligned. The brake pad is supposed to operate on the rim, not the tyre.

I've commuted many thousands of km on racers with 23mm tyres without getting a puncture.

Good quality tyres help (these can cost up to €70 a set but you don't need to spend that much) but correct pressures are essential.

First step: buy a floor pump with a gauge.