Stupid bike questions

G-Money

Sorry in advance for the stupid questions, but it's been years since I owned a bike.

I assume most people here who cycle regularly carry a puncture repair kit with them and perhaps a spare tube or two? Is there something on the bike to clip these on to or do you need to store them in a bag or something?

I also read another thread where someone seemed to be having a few too many punctures and they were recommended to get different tyres on their bike. When you buy a bike do you have a choice in this regard? If I buy a bike should I request they put a specific make/brand of tyre on the bike? I will most likely be considering a hybrid bike and it would probably be used for commuting short distances to work (about 3 miles round-trip per day) and possibly longer rides at weekends. I'm also quite heavy at the moment (16.5 stone) so about 4-5 stone overweight so I don't know if this would affect the type of tyre I should consider.

Those are all the stupid questions I can think of for now

Thanks.

Darkglasses

G-Money wrote: »

Sorry in advance for the stupid questions, but it's been years since I owned a bike.

I assume most people here who cycle regularly carry a puncture repair kit with them and perhaps a spare tube or two? Is there something on the bike to clip these on to or do you need to store them in a bag or something?

I also read another thread where someone seemed to be having a few too many punctures and they were recommended to get different tyres on their bike. When you buy a bike do you have a choice in this regard? If I buy a bike should I request they put a specific make/brand of tyre on the bike? I will most likely be considering a hybrid bike and it would probably be used for commuting short distances to work (about 3 miles round-trip per day) and possibly longer rides at weekends. I'm also quite heavy at the moment (16.5 stone) so about 4-5 stone overweight so I don't know if this would affect the type of tyre I should consider.

Those are all the stupid questions I can think of for now

Thanks.

To your first question, most people use a saddle bag like this: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cycle/saddle-bags/. Its pretty unobtrusive and should fit everything you need for punctures. If you don't have a CO2 system, most bike pumps clip onto the frame (Although I just throw mine into a pocket)

To the best of my knowledge, complete bikes from a shop will nearly always come with a certain tyre as standard. Any bike shop will facilitate you if you do want a different tyre, but expect to pay extra. You don't sound quite so heavy that you'd need a special tyre, I think whatever comes on the hybrid will be fine! Assuming the hybrid has wider tyres than a typical racer, then you should have to worry too much about weight. I'd say wait and see if the standard tyres works out or not before you go looking for a new one.

Stupid questions are my specialty :pac:

macnab

I assume most people here who cycle regularly carry a puncture repair kit with them and perhaps a spare tube or two? Correct on both accounts
Is there something on the bike to clip these on to or do you need to store them in a bag or something? I use a small bag clipped to the saddle
If I buy a bike should I request they put a specific make/brand of tyre on the bike? Most modern tyres have relatively good puncture protection, some more than others. For instance Gator Skin tyres have very good puncture resistance, they are however heavy and dont have great wet grip.
I'm also quite heavy at the moment (16.5 stone) so about 4-5 stone overweight so I don't know if this would affect the type of tyre I should consider. Not really, just make sure you keep good pressure in your tyres to avoid pinch punctures

Jawgap

There's no stupid questions.

I carry two spare tubes plus levers & a mini-pump in my jersey pockets or back pack. A saddle bag is another option or you could put stuff in an old water bottle & carry it on the frame if you don't fancy slapping a saddle bag on your bike.

You can get the shop to put more puncture resistant tyres on but they will probably charge extra, but it's worth it.

It's important to keep the tyres properly inflated to avoid "pinch" punctures and to make it as easy as possible to cycle.

Good luck with the bike

G-Money

I had a look at the website of the place I'm thinking of buying a bike from but they seemed to only have Continental tyres, not sure if they are good and what tyres come fitted on the bikes they have.

When it comes to fixing a puncture though, does the kit come with instructions? I'm just wondering what you do as it's unlikely to be something you can practice at home to make any actual roadside fixes quicker and easier.

kenmc

G-Money wrote: »

I had a look at the website of the place I'm thinking of buying a bike from but they seemed to only have Continental tyres, not sure if they are good and what tyres come fitted on the bikes they have.

When it comes to fixing a puncture though, does the kit come with instructions? I'm just wondering what you do as it's unlikely to be something you can practice at home to make any actual roadside fixes quicker and easier.

Replace the tube, bring the holy one home and fix it in the comfort of your living room.

07Lapierre

G-Money wrote: »

I had a look at the website of the place I'm thinking of buying a bike from but they seemed to only have Continental tyres, not sure if they are good and what tyres come fitted on the bikes they have.

When it comes to fixing a puncture though, does the kit come with instructions? I'm just wondering what you do as it's unlikely to be something you can practice at home to make any actual roadside fixes quicker and easier.

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/bikeradar-video-of-the-week-repairing-a-puncture-19716/

Wishbone Ash

See if the shop will fit Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres. They're practically bombproof. I've never had a puncture while using them over several thousand kilometres. (They're also used on the Dublin Bike Scheme bikes). Even if the shop won't compromise I'd get them anyway myself. Cost about €70 a pair.

I wouldn't bother with a puncture repair kit on the bike. Just carry a spare tube and leave a kit at home and/or work. Very few cyclists repair punctures on the road. Your commute is very short anyway so if the worst comes to the worst you can easily walk.

G-Money

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

See if the shop will fit Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres. They're practically bombproof. I've never had a puncture while using them over several thousand kilometres. (They're also used on the Dublin Bike Scheme bikes). Even if the shop won't compromise I'd get them anyway myself. Cost about €70 a pair.

I wouldn't bother with a puncture repair kit on the bike. Just carry a spare tube and leave a kit at home and/or work. Very few cyclists repair punctures on the road. Your commute is very short anyway so if the worst comes to the worst you can easily walk.

Cheers.

Yeah the commute distance is short, I was thinking more about if I went for a longer cycle at the weekend or something.

Anyway, just getting some info at this point, I haven't bought a bike yet. There's some changes going on with my contract at work and I can't avail of the Bike to Work scheme at the moment but may be able to in the next few weeks or couple of months. Although I'm not sure I really want to wait that long.

kenmc

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I wouldn't bother with a puncture repair kit on the bike. Just carry a spare tube and leave a kit at home and/or work. Very few cyclists repair punctures on the road. Your commute is very short anyway so if the worst comes to the worst you can easily walk.

While this may be true in this particularcase, I'd always throw a couple of patches in my saddle bag as well as (usually) 2 tubes. They don't take up much space, and if you replace a tube and it goes again, then you're in the sh1ts.

Or, as happened to me on my commute one day, you go to use the spare tube which had been sitting unused in a saddle bag for so long that it developed a friction hole from contact with something else, at least you can get home.

(I guess that's the problem with gatorskins - you go so long between punctures that your spares get damaged or perished!)

07Lapierre

Bring two spare tubes, some money and a mobile phone. That'll get you out of most situations. I've about 10 tubes at home waiting to be patched...(Someday i'll get around to it! )

Wishbone Ash

kenmc wrote: »

(I guess that's the problem with gatorskins - you go so long between punctures that your spares get damaged or perished! you have to stay at home if it rains)

Fixed that for you!

(Sorry I couldn't resist. )

kenmc

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Fixed that for you!

(Sorry I couldn't resist. )

I consistently fail to understand the reputation that gatorskins have for being slippy in the rain. I've never experienced this, ever, and I've been riding them for about 4 years, both commuting and training. I guess it must be down to the lack of ability on behalf of some riders to keep their bikes upright in the rain.

Or maybe it goes something like this:
- bad rider overcooks it in the wet
- blames gatorskins
- changes gatorskins
- has lost confidence in the bike due to previous spill and backs off a bit
- doesn't spill any more and credits the new tyres.

Lumen

kenmc wrote: »

I consistently fail to understand the reputation that gatorskins have for being slippy in the rain. I've never experienced this, ever, and I've been riding them for about 4 years, both commuting and training. I guess it must be down to the lack of ability on behalf of some riders to keep their bikes upright in the rain

I regularly spin my GP4000S-shod back wheel in the wet, usually accelerating up hill. This is easily preventable by cycling slower, but where's the fun in that?

Are you saying that they're not much worse than GP4000S, or that you never lose traction on any tyre?

kenmc

Lumen wrote: »

I regularly spin my GP4000S-shod back wheel in the wet, usually accelerating up hill. This is easily preventable by cycling slower, but where's the fun in that?

Are you saying that they're not much worse than GP4000S, or that you never lose traction on any tyre?

Of course I have lost traction, but usually in the conditions you have described. I have never felt any tire sliding whilest cornering, which is what the common complaint about gatorskins seems to be.

squeaky crank

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

See if the shop will fit Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres. They're practically bombproof. I've never had a puncture while using them over several thousand kilometres.

+1 on the Schwalbe Marathon Plus:), Ive never had a puncture either
Ive have had several punctures on gatorskins:mad:

Jawgap

G-Money wrote: »

I had a look at the website of the place I'm thinking of buying a bike from but they seemed to only have Continental tyres, not sure if they are good and what tyres come fitted on the bikes they have.

When it comes to fixing a puncture though, does the kit come with instructions? I'm just wondering what you do as it's unlikely to be something you can practice at home to make any actual roadside fixes quicker and easier.

Depends on the actual model of Continental tyre - the racier ones tend to be lighter and less resistant to punctures.

I Continental Gatorskin Hardshells on one bike and found them to be a good compromise between weight, grip and resistance to punctures. They've given over 5,000km of honourable service and only recently a couple of punctures have persuaded me to change them. Going to try Michelin Krylions.

I've Continental GP 4 Season tyres on another bike and they're fine - no punctures (touch wood) in over 6 months of riding, but they are heavier and can be a bit skittery in the wet.

Finally, there's Armadillos on another bike - heavy, bomb-proof, but slippy when there is any kind of moisture around, especially on road paint and manhole covers.

You pays your money etc.

topcat77

Just a small point. I bought a Charge mixer in 2009 and had issues with punctures to start (5 in 2 months). Had a look around on the internet if anyone had this issue. What i found was that a lot of people had the same issue with this particular bike and it was down to the low quality Tube the bike company used (Kenda tubes i think). It's surprising what difference a good quality tube can make (Continental). Haven't had a puncture since i changed the tubes and using Continental Sport Contact Bike Tyre.

cdaly_

Jawgap wrote: »

I Continental Gatorskin Hardshells on one bike and found them to be a good compromise between weight, grip and resistance to punctures. They've given over 5,000km of honourable service and only recently a couple of punctures have persuaded me to change them. Going to try Michelin Krylions.

Yep, the gators seem to last a good long time but once they start to go you can get multiple punctures. In my case, a big shard damaged the inner casing which then chafed replacement tubes. Third puncture in the same place over about a week was my signal to change. Put on new Gatorskins...

Jawgap

cdaly_ wrote: »

Yep, the gators seem to last a good long time but once they start to go you can get multiple punctures. In my case, a big shard damaged the inner casing which then chafed replacement tubes. Third puncture in the same place over about a week was my signal to change. Put on new Gatorskins...

I'd have no problem going with another set of Gatorskins - I just fancied trying something different. If I don't like the Krylions I've already decided the Armadillos can go and the Krylions can replace them and lesser used bike.

bbolger

kenmc wrote: »

While this may be true in this particularcase, I'd always throw a couple of patches in my saddle bag as well as (usually) 2 tubes. They don't take up much space, and if you replace a tube and it goes again, then you're in the sh1ts.

I'd also wrap the spare tubes in cling film. You normally have to take them out of the saddle bag to get at the other tools/levers etc when doing a roadside repair.

This helps stop any grit from the road getting in at them.

Wishbone Ash

kenmc wrote: »

Or maybe it goes something like this:
- bad rider overcooks it in the wet
- blames gatorskins
- changes gatorskins
- has lost confidence in the bike due to previous spill and backs off a bit
- doesn't spill any more and credits the new tyres.

That reply is trotted out regularly but it doesn't explain how my Strava times on a 36km commute improved when I got rid of the Gatorskins. I didn't have a problem with cornering as such but on uneven or poor tarmac surfaces the back tyre would regularly slip sideways. It doesn't seem to happen with other brands (on the same commute).

Canis Lupus

Never had a slip on gators.

Just as a side note on the Marathon pluses, they're supposedly horribly slow tyres.

G-Money

I won't be going for any speed records. I just want to make sure it has decent tyres and hopefully less likely to get punctures. The bike will mostly be used for short commuting and maybe an hour or two's cycling at the weekend.

I had considered buying in Halfords but a couple of people recommended a smaller specialist bike shop near to where I live so I might give them a go.

Lumen

G-Money wrote: »

I won't be going for any speed records. I just want to make sure it has decent tyres and hopefully less likely to get punctures. The bike will mostly be used for short commuting and maybe an hour or two's cycling at the weekend.

Right, but super-super-tough tyres like Marathon Pluses are actually less pleasant to ride on, I believe due to the reinforced sidewalls. If you're not getting sidewall problems, they're overkill.

I think they're justified on hub geared city bikes (like Dublin Bikes) where changing a rear wheel puncture is a pain in the hole, but for normal bikes no.

Jawgap

Put the Krylions on last night and the review I read that said that installing them was like sh@gging a fat bird wasn't wrong.....


......lots of huffing, puffing and hard work - but the end result seems worth it.

Another tip I learned last night was not to let the wife catch you using the kitchen scales to compare the weights of tyres:)