Canal Cycling Route Punctures

maverick_21

Anyone else having problems with punctures along the Canal?I just picked up my 4th flat in 2 weeks which seems quiet crazy!

Its happened to 3 different tires on 2 bikes so its not something stuck in the tire thats causing it to repuncture.

beauf

Which Canal? Are you on the tow path? Or the road alongside?

What bike, wheels and tyres?

maverick_21

I'm using the cycle lane on the road from Islandbridge to Ranelagh.
Ive a giant defy and not sure of the tires. I bought it second hand and the bike came with stronger looking tires than my new road bike but they do look a bit worn.
Should I be buying a new set of ties?
Is there some brand of tire to be used to avoid punctures?

R1_Pete

Is this the canal path along the grand canal way?
I use it most mornings and noticed a lot of broken glass on the paths, especially along clondalkin stretch and near parkwest..

I have gatorskins on my bike, no punctures so far.

P

R1_Pete

maverick_21 wrote: »

I'm using the cycle lane on the road from Islandbridge to Ranelagh.
Ive a giant defy and not sure of the tires. I bought it second hand and the bike came with stronger looking tires than my new road bike but they do look a bit worn.
Should I be buying a new set of ties?
Is there some brand of tire to be used to avoid punctures?

Yip. Same route I use. Lots of glass.
A pair of Gatorskins wont see you wrong. I have been commuting two years on a Defy with Gatorskins and had no punctures bar one where i hit a pothole!!

jon1981

If you bought it second hand, the tyres could be worn or just sh*t tyres. I'd invest in a solid pair of tyres for commuting. At least you'd have more confidence then.

beauf

maverick_21 wrote: »

I'm using the cycle lane on the road from Islandbridge to Ranelagh.
Ive a giant defy and not sure of the tires. I bought it second hand and the bike came with stronger looking tires than my new road bike but they do look a bit worn.
Should I be buying a new set of ties?
Is there some brand of tire to be used to avoid punctures?

I used to use that route. I never noticed that much glass on it. Maybe its got worse. Never got that many punctures. But I have puncture resistant tyres on mine.

http://www.betterbybicycle.com/2014/01/puncture-proof-tyres-are-key-to.html

http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/community/round-ups/round-up-puncture-resistant-tyres

I would also say that tyres with a lots of tread (grip) pattern tend to lodge bits of glass, sharp stones. So that when you hit a bump, they get punched through the tyre. So I would avoid something with a deep tread.

Also make sure you have the tyres pumped to max pressure. Higher PSI punctures less. Mine are at 80psi. I use a track pump to get the right pressure. Makes a Huge difference having a decent pump.

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/tools/cycling-tools/floor-pump/product/review-topeak-joe-blow-sport-ii-floor-pump-13-47036/

Its also worth picking out glass, stones or debris stuck in the tyre on a regular basis.

rubadub

I still got punctures on my gatorskins, zero punctures on my marathon plus in a about 3 years. I was very careless about where I cycled.

The marathon plus have a much longer lifespan than normal tyres so not too expensive when you take it into account.

jon1981

+1 on the marathon plus, had them on a hybrid i sold, bullet proof. I'd use them if I didn't also use my commuting road bike for weekend cycling. I'm on the Conti gp4000s, 2000-2500km in and so far so good (touch wood).

mr spuckler

rubadub wrote: »

I still got punctures on my gatorskins, zero punctures on my marathon plus in a about 3 years. I was very careless about where I cycled.

The marathon plus have a much longer lifespan than normal tyres so not too expensive when you take it into account.

can't agree with this enough tbf, i've been commuting on the same pair of marathon plus on my single speed for over 6 years with no punctures. i run them at a high pressure too (typically 110 psi for 25s) and pump them every month or so.

i also have marathon plus (25s again) on my cyclocross bike which has become my main commuting bike in the last couple of months doing about 24km per day with a pannier and also no punctures. and finally mrs spuckler had had them on her bike for about 5 yrs with none of the dreaded 'p' word!

if you get them just make sure you also get good tyre levers as they can be harder than other tyres to get on, luckily you shouldn't need to take them off again anytime soon

kevin7

Punctuyres are a pian alright. Bad enough on a Saturday morning but on a commute to work.... :mad:

I agree with the advice of other posters here. Keep tyre pressure very high and that will help a lot. My experience is that since starting to use a good track pump which is easily able to put somewhere close to the max pressure on the tyre (you'll see this on the tyre's side) that punctures have virtually disappeared for me. Before that they were pretty regular.

Obviously do your best to avoid the glass too!

Inspect tyres and pick out debris regularly. A small bit of glass lodged in there may not cause a puncture today but might get further tomorrow!

In general don't cycle too close to the gutter - thats where most of the puncture causing crap is. Safer too, IMO.

MB Lacey

Be aware that the marathon plus tyres although bullet proof will be 1.6kg in weight for the pair (800g each - 25), compared to 500g for a pair of Conti 4000s II (25).
For me I just wouldn't enjoy cycling with that tyre weight.

I cycle the canal most days and got my first puncture yesterday in fact after 3000km on the tyre (Conti 4000s).

rubadub

MB Lacey wrote: »

For me I just wouldn't enjoy cycling with that tyre weight.

I was on a hybrid so didn't notice much. I know the weight difference is not equivalent but I no longer had to bring a pump and repair kit and spare tube(s), I was that confident with the marathon+.

Some people might get in trouble if late for work, if I had important meetings I used to have to leave early in case I did get a puncture.

-for some reason I thought the OP was commuting, perhaps not though.

A Jeffers

I've noticed alot of glass on that route, I have solid tyres, so I don't really give a toss about it, but I still notice it. If you don't already, look further ahead of you than say 6 or 7 feet. you might spot a piece of glass and you'll then have time to avoid it.