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Overweight commuter – LOTS of flats

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  • 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.

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Viewing 8 replies - 16 through 23 (of 23 total)
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  • July 30, 2015 at 12:58 pm #855401
    0
    FatAndFurious

    Check that the tube diameter
    Check that the tube diameter is the right size for the tyre – if you’ve gone from 42 to 32 with the same tubes, the tube may be too big and folded onto itself.

    Also, not saying you’re doing this, but, if you are… don’t hop on and off kerbs. That’s a classic way to put a big deforming load into the tyre, making a pinch flat more likely.

    Stick with it!

    July 30, 2015 at 10:03 am #855399
    0
    teaboy

    Leave earlier to give
    Leave earlier to give yourself the extra time ‘just in case’. Change your rim tape. Inflate your tyres to that recommended on the tyre. It almost certainly isn’t the weight. Try not to hit potholes/kerbs though.

    July 30, 2015 at 9:50 am #855397
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    Toro Toro

    CXR94Di2 wrote:Check if your

    CXR94Di2 wrote:
    Check if your rims are compatible for tubeless, most can be made compatible with two layers of rim tape sealant.

    Whatever about high-pressure skinnies, 32c-42c tires run at comparatively low pressure cannot. They absolutely require a ridged bed to hold the bead, and so at a minimum will need a proper conversion kit with ridged rim tape.

    July 30, 2015 at 8:09 am #855395
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    CXR94Di2

    You might want to consider
    You might want to consider tubeless tyres. No more pinch flats and greatly improved puncture resistance.

    Check if your rims are compatible for tubeless, most can be made compatible with two layers of rim tape sealant.

    July 30, 2015 at 12:39 am #855393
    0
    Toro Toro

    Keep it up is the key thing –
    Keep it up is the key thing – that’s a decent oul’ commute, so the more you do this, the less you’ll weigh, and the less you’ll puncture!

    For current purposes, I’d ignore the Bike Quarterly thing; the variables it’s looking at are comfort and speed, it excludes propensity to pinch-flat. In general, particularly at a high weight, high pressures are your friend. Those tires should be wide enough, but after checking out the rims, tape etc. as dunnoh says I’d try inflating them towards the upper end of the tire’s and rim’s rating.

    To eliminate pinch-flats pretty much altogether, I’d suggest going tubeless, but a proper conversion/new set of wheels is an unnecessary expense. Unless there’s a rim issue, or you’re riding across a thumb-tack farm every morning, sufficient pressure should at least significantly reduce the incidence.

    (unless you’re riding at good pressure already. you mention different pressures, but no specifics – do you have a track pump with a pressure gauge?)

    July 29, 2015 at 9:58 pm #855391
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    rjfrussell

    Are you trying to repair the
    Are you trying to repair the punctured tube, or just fit a new one in? You should be able to fit a new inner tube in well under 10 mins, so you don’t have to leave all that much earlier.

    Keep it up!

    July 29, 2015 at 9:43 pm #855389
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    dunnoh

    I bet its your rims. Have a
    I bet its your rims. Have a look at the rim tape and mark the spot where the wheel keeps popping. Or try different inner tubes. If it is the tyres then try Specialized Armadillos work pretty well. Failing that you may be putting the tyres back on incorrectly. Use plenty of talc and don’t use levers

    July 29, 2015 at 9:35 pm #855387
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    Goyt

    What pressures have you
    What pressures have you actually been using and how much are you carrying in the pannier?

    Bicycle Quarterly’s advice might be a good starting point – http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/TireDrop.pdf

    Am guessing wider tyres & more pressure might be the solution…

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