the downside of not getting punctures

justo

In October 2011 I went through a spell of endless punctures. It came to a head when I went flat for the 3rd time in two days and was hunkered over the bike on the Kilbarrack road cursing the bike.

Cdaly, who contributes to these pages, was polite enough to stop and ask if I needed assistance. We got chatting and he recommended Schwalbe Blizzard or Marathon Plus as tyres that would not let me down.

After about 10,000 kms (16 months * average 160kms per week commute) I got my first puncture last night. Yes - the dirtiest night this (or last) year, battling a freezing headwind, at the bottom of Watermill Rd and the Causeway in Clontarf/ Raheny my back wheel went down.

I could not believe my bad luck but had to accept that I had got good value from the Schwalbes. Here's the clincher (excuse the pun): the screw that holds the value tight to the wheel had become utterly stuck due to non-use, due to non-changing of the tyre since October 2011!

I tried to loosen it but after about 5 minutes my hand froze and fingers could not budge the screw. I'm a pretty hardy cyclist I think, but with hypothermia setting in I did what any rugged, out-doorsey kind would do: I called my wife to come pick me up.

Lesson 1: Buy Schwalbe: they rock.
Lesson 2: Spray a bit of wd40 on those damn valve screws from time to time!

babaracus

With you on the Schwalbe Marathon Plus. I also went through a run of rotten luck with 5 punctures in a 6 week period. I invested in the Schwalbes (bought them on sale online) and I have not had a puncture in 14 months! That is daily short (6k each way) commuting use. They are a good tyre.

Cee-Jay-Cee

So you never check your tyre pressure? my tyres havent lost air in the last 6 months but i still check them every few weeks by attaching my track pump as its very difficult to tell the difference in say 80 and 110psi by merely squeezing the tyre.

WD40 will eventually dry out too, coat the threaded spindle and nut in Vaseline or thick engine grease.

justo

CJC999 wrote: »

So you never check your tyre pressure? my tyres havent lost air in the last 6 months but i still check them every few weeks by attaching my track pump as its very difficult to tell the difference in say 80 and 110psi by merely squeezing the tyre.

WD40 will eventually dry out too, coat the threaded spindle and nut in Vaseline or thick engine grease.

I check the pressure frequently and top up but I don't take the valve out of the wheel to do it!

BeepBeep67

justo wrote: »

Here's the clincher (excuse the pun): the screw that holds the value tight to the wheel had become utterly stuck due to non-use, due to non-changing of the tyre since October 2011!

I tried to loosen it but after about 5 minutes my hand froze and fingers could not budge the screw. I'm a pretty hardy cyclist I think, but with hypothermia setting in I did what any rugged, out-doorsey kind would do: I called my wife to come pick me up.

I never use those!

Cond0r

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

I never use those!

Same. Just throw them in the bin instead, problem solved!

seamus

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

I never use those!

I used to use them for neatness's sake, but then after having to change tubes about 4 times in one week with gloves and cold hands I realised that they're just a feckin nuisance.

Kav0777

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

I never use those!

Neither do I since one of the more experienced members of the club watched me struggle to undo one with numb fingers when I punctured on a club ride as a newbie, advised me to "F**k that (Valve screw) and that (the dust cap) away".

piston

Some would say that never removing the wheels will cause the bearing cones to wear all to one side as the position is never moved.

Craig06

When I started riding with a club the experienced members told me to take them off and throw them away for exactly that reason.

godtabh

With my first club puncture I was told to do the same. They said that the screw can hold you up and if you are holding up a group of lads on a cold winters day you may not be very popular!