preferred-google-button
log in
register

Overweight commuter – LOTS of flats

  • Creator
    Topic
  • July 29, 2015 at 8:38 pm #24520
    BigRich

    OK so I’m a very overweight guy at approx 130kg riding a Specialized AWOL with pannier bag – so tons of weight! I commute about 5 miles each way and I get ridiculous amounts of punctures – all from pinches against the rims; most are on the back but not all. At the moment I have Schwalbe Marathon and Delta cruiser on both 32c, I have ridden bigger sizes before (I think 35c) and the Specialized Trigger Sport 42c that came on the bike. Also I’ve tried various pressures but whichever tyre I have run I still get so many flats- most of the time this wouldn’t bother me so much but I work for a rather large supermarket company that gives no leeway as to reasons why you’re late to clock on! At this rate I’m going to be on the dole…….so I thought I’d put it out there and ask for any tips?
    I know the obvious ones are to lose a lot of weight and leave for work a lot earlier but with my motivation……not so easy.

  • Creator
    Topic
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 23 total)
1 2
  • Author
    Replies
  • August 4, 2015 at 8:48 am #855431
    0
    Sanderstorm

    Get some decent rims/tyres
    Get some decent rims/tyres and go TUBELESS. Will be cheaper than the dole in the long run.

    August 3, 2015 at 7:28 pm #855429
    0
    gazza_d

    5 golden rules for avoiding
    5 golden rules for avoiding punctures

    1. Decent tyres. I’d suggest Marathon Plus. Bombproof

    2. Decent rim tape – Velox is the stuff to use. Not electrical tape or plastic/rubber strips

    3. When fitting, check inside rims and wheels for debris. Wife’s bike had drilling swarf in the double skin of the rims. Be extra careful when fitting that you don’t nip the tube.

    4. Keep tyres inflated at or near the maximum.

    5. Respect your wheels and tyres. Avoid glass,debris and potholes as much as you can and bumping off undropped curbs as well.

    August 3, 2015 at 12:25 pm #855427
    0
    Big Engine

    Check your pressures before
    Check your pressures before every ride, that way you know you’ve got the pressure that you want.

    I used my Topeak Race Rocket for the first time yesterday and the pressure I put into the rear (probably 80-90 psi) got me the ten miles home.

    I’m about 100kg and I have 110 psi in the rear.

    As to your specific question, I’d get a MTB, then you can go as hardcore as you like with the tyres.

    August 3, 2015 at 9:20 am #855425
    0
    saintbob

    I carry a heavy child on the
    I carry a heavy child on the bike, every day, for 3 years, through a busy city, glass and debris, with not a puncture yet, marathon plus schwalbe are bulletproof, I used to ride a thick tire which had punctures all the time, but began to ride a 700c slim road tire on my Raleigh Tourer, and now a smaller schwalbe Apple on a tandem, follow a decent line, no bumping over pavements or cracks, good pressure checked regularly, check the tube is inserted right, should be able to use a repaired inner tube over and over but if the tube and tyre are pinched you will get flats, also make sure you’re tyres aren’t worn down too much and maybe minimise what you carry in the panniers.

    August 3, 2015 at 9:20 am #855423
    0
    saintbob

    I carry a heavy child on the
    I carry a heavy child on the bike, every day, for 3 years, through a busy city, glass and debris, with not a puncture yet, marathon plus schwalbe are bulletproof, I used to ride a thick tire which had punctures all the time, but began to ride a 700c slim road tire on my Raleigh Tourer, and now a smaller schwalbe Apple on a tandem, follow a decent line, no bumping over pavements or cracks, good pressure checked regularly, check the tube is inserted right, should be able to use a repaired inner tube over and over but if the tube and tyre are pinched you will get flats, also make sure you’re tyres aren’t worn down too much and maybe minimise what you carry in the panniers.

    August 2, 2015 at 7:37 pm #855421
    0
    exilegareth

    Route picking is everything –
    Route picking is everything – I’m currently about 105kg, and ride a Defy 1 and a Defy 4 on standard tyres. I ride across a mix of terrain – today’s route had green lanes, U roads in Northumberland and some nasty gravel wash.
    Staying off the potholes and gravel is most important, but so is preventive maintenance. Checking tyres, checking pressures, and nursing the bike through the bad stuff is vital…

    August 2, 2015 at 3:34 pm #855419
    0
    dottigirl

    I know loads of bigger
    I know loads of bigger riders.

    Some of them go through wheels, tyres & tubes like sweeties.
    Some of them don’t.

    What the latter category all have in common is they pick better lines when riding, and therefore don’t stress their set-up so much.

    That often means riding a little further out, avoiding cracks in the road, manhole covers, etc.

    They’re also conscientious about checking tyres regularly, usually before every ride. One minute in the warmth may save you being stranded and shivering.

    July 31, 2015 at 8:10 pm #855417
    0
    bbir

    first thing is you are not
    first thing is you are not overweight – you are the weight you are now which will come down as you exercise ?do you stand up on the pedals as you go over bumps / dents / potholes? take the weight / pressure of the tyres and there will be fewer problems. courage my friend and dont let the ba****ds in the supermarket get the better of you.

    July 31, 2015 at 11:46 am #855415
    0
    DaveE128

    As others have said, if you
    As others have said, if you don’t have one already, buy a track pump and regularly check your tyre pressure, at least once a week. I’d suggest going for the maximum pressure stated on the wall of the tyre. Make sure whatever pump you carry with you can get up to this pressure too (it will need to be a specifically high pressure pump.)

    Also, again as others have said, check your rim tape while switching over the tyres.

    The Marathon Plus tyres are good for avoiding penetration punctures, but the tyre pressure is what you need to fix for avoiding pinches.

    Do your best to avoid the potholes, kerb edges, etc!

    July 31, 2015 at 11:10 am #855413
    0
    BigRich

    Update: I’ve ordered 2
    Update: I’ve ordered 2 Schwalbe Marathon Plus 40c which have a 120kg rating and some Conti Tour 28 Inner Tubes 700 x 32 – 47

    July 31, 2015 at 9:57 am #855411
    0
    surly_by_name

    Like CXR94Di2 I recommend
    Like CXR94Di2 I recommend going tubeless. Unfortunately this isn’t cheap as you will need a rim strip (I used 26″ ones – not the 29″ ones, which just flopped around – when converting my 700C commuting wheels tubeless), some of that Stan’s yellow tape or equivalent (to replace your existing rim tape; I’ve used electrical tape before but it gave up after a while), some sealant but most importantly a tubeless ready tyre. It also helps to have a compressor to get tyre to seat properly – local shop should be able to help. The specialized tracer pro 2Bliss is a 38mm with a file tread that rolls pretty well on the road, seems pretty puncture resistant and sets up tubeless pretty easily with Stan’s rim strips. In my experience it can take a few days for tubeless sealant to get into all the tiny holes – i.e., for first day or so your tyres go flat and you have to keep pumping them back up/adding a bit more sealant.

    July 31, 2015 at 9:28 am #855409
    0
    Jeroen0110

    Judge dreadful wrote:A lot of

    Judge dreadful wrote:
    A lot of (road bike) type of tyres and tubes, are not built to take that sort of weight. I would suggest trying to get hold of a cheap (possibly second hand) mountain bike. If you keep at the cycle commuting, you will see your weight drop fairly soon. When your BMI drops into a more healthy zone, the road bike tyres and tubes will cope much better. I know that may sound a bit harsh, but it’s what I found, through personal experience. Keep at the riding, good luck.

    pah – hater – fattist! Safety margin built in with these things…

    July 31, 2015 at 8:41 am #855407
    0
    Judge dreadful

    A lot of (road bike) type of
    A lot of (road bike) type of tyres and tubes, are not built to take that sort of weight. I would suggest trying to get hold of a cheap (possibly second hand) mountain bike. If you keep at the cycle commuting, you will see your weight drop fairly soon. When your BMI drops into a more healthy zone, the road bike tyres and tubes will cope much better. I know that may sound a bit harsh, but it’s what I found, through personal experience. Keep at the riding, good luck.

    July 30, 2015 at 1:22 pm #855405
    0
    Jeroen0110

    As a fellow fatty I hear you
    As a fellow fatty I hear you loud and clear. I suffered many a puncture and nearly gave up the road biking to go back to MTB after a spell of punctures.

    My number 1 and 2advice for (against really) flats is:

    1. Buy slime inner tubes – normally a tenner each but Rutland cycling sell them for a fiver in the sale.
    2. 120psi. And CHECK YOUR PRESSURE on a weekly basis. Or whatever your max recommended is (check tyre wall).

    I cycle through the land that is paved with shards of glass and since I’ve found this miracle cure for punctures I’ve not had one.

    I weigh 105kg (down from 110) and I’ve been road biking for a year (6000km) with a 10 mile commute each way on Continental Ultra Sport IIs, which are apparently slated for being as thin as an A4 piece of paper. Trust me, trust in slime. Tyre choice is irrelevant. My winter bike has Specialized Armadillos (which are only marginally more comfortable than riding on Fred flintstone concrete wheels) so personally I would go with a cheap flimsy high TPI tyre for comfort, anything soft, racey and grippy. Just make sure they’re properly inflated.

    If you can’t be asked replacing the tube you can also buy the slime itself but it’s REALLY fiddly to get it into a presta valve tube, I speak from experience. Best to buy he ready made stuff. It’s less trouble. Replace tube once. I’ve had mine for 5900km and still going strong.

    Honestly it will change your life.

    July 30, 2015 at 1:16 pm #855403
    0
    PhillBrown

    Developed with the commuter
    Developed with the commuter in mind… Give these guys a try:

    http://www.tannus.co.uk/

    Solid rubber tyres created to a compound that has low rolling resistance a 100% guaranteed no punctures!

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 23 total)
1 2
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.