I just started riding single speed and have been plagued with flats. 5 in the last month alone. I am running 700X23 tires and I keep them at 90-95 pounds of pressure.
What's with all the flats? Should I upgrade to 700X25 tires for a little more durabilty?
langston
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 9:46 am
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 5547Location: Columbia City
two things:
buy new tires. Heavier/more rubber tires = less flats. I swear by the Armadillos, even if they are noticably slower than the bontrager race-lites I ran over the winter.
Keep your tubes up to 120 in the back, 100 in the front. Most flats are caused by low pressure.
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jeff
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 9:49 am
SOC pussyJoined: 05 May 2006Posts: 4501
New tires is key, and that is a given. But, 100 and 120 pounds of pressure seems pretty high. Maybe I am running too low of pressure at 90?
Thanks for the advice, I'll check out the armadillos, but what about the size? 700X23 vs. 700X25?
I think the 25s will give me a smoother ride.
derrickito
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 9:53 am
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i get crazy weird blowouts sometimes and can never explain them. last night i was trying to bring a friend along on a bike he was borrowing from me. got two blowouts (big bang ones) after inflation. i cant see anything poking into the tire, no nipples pushing in. all i can think of was the tube might have been pinched in the tire/rim connection.
i try and top off my tires before every ride. right up to the recommended pressure. usually does me well.
langston
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 9:56 am
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 5547Location: Columbia City
The way the tire manufacturers decide the max/min pressure for your tires is half the minimum is when the tire won't hold to the rim and double the max is when the _tire_ will explode. Run the rear to the maximum listed pressure so you get the least resistance against torque and a little lighter on the front to absorb some of the shock of bumps and shit.
23cm = faster with the sacrifice of control/smoothness, 25cm is visa vie.
Cutter wrote:
New tires is key, and that is a given. But, 100 and 120 pounds of pressure seems pretty high. Maybe I am running too low of pressure at 90?
Thanks for the advice, I'll check out the armadillos, but what about the size? 700X23 vs. 700X25?
I think the 25s will give me a smoother ride.
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SeditiousCanary
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 11:05 am
sorry, can't make it!Joined: 26 Jan 2006Posts: 2315Location: Fremont Troll
I just replaced the over 10 year old tyres on my fixed wth 700x23mm tyres. Previously, I had 700x28mm. While the new tyres are nice, fast, great deal, not dry rotted, etc., they are super harsh compaired to my old 28s. I would advising going up to 25 for sure and even 28s for a smoother ride. Besides, the larger the air chamber, the less likely you are pinch flat at 95 PSI. Hell, I never rode mine 28s over 80-85 PSI all the time. I had three maybe four flats in the entire time I had them.
martin
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 11:17 am
Joined: 30 Jan 2006Posts: 712
90psi is too low for the roads around here (steel plates, potholes, curb hopping, etc). For a fixed, you can't "unweight" your wheels as easy as you can on a freewheel bike so you're apt to get more pinch flats (usually 2 or 4 holes). If you're talking glass/debri flats (1 hole), then you must be running shitty rubber (e.g. $9 special kendas).
jeff
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 11:24 am
SOC pussyJoined: 05 May 2006Posts: 4501
Thanks for all the advice. I think my problem was running at such a low pressure. I just realized that the new tires I bought are rated at 120. So I'm gonna pump those mofos up and go for broke.
I really like the 23s. Sure they're a bit stiff, but so, so fast.
Aaron
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 1:12 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 4645
Cutter wrote:
Thanks for all the advice. I think my problem was running at such a low pressure. I just realized that the new tires I bought are rated at 120. So I'm gonna pump those mofos up and go for broke.
I really like the 23s. Sure they're a bit stiff, but so, so fast.
Speed comes from your legs man!
It is a myth that wider tires are slower. Tire PRESSURE has more to do with tire "speed" than width. Rolling resistance is neglegible. Wind resistance is what really slows a bicycle down.
jeff
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 2:49 pm
SOC pussyJoined: 05 May 2006Posts: 4501
Aaron wrote:
Speed comes from your legs man!
It is a myth that wider tires are slower. Tire PRESSURE has more to do with tire "speed" than width. Rolling resistance is neglegible. Wind resistance is what really slows a bicycle down.
Sure thang, I'll slap on some mtn bike tires to test this theory.
Aaron
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 2:57 pm
Joined: 25 Jul 2005Posts: 4645
Cutter wrote:
Sure thang, I'll slap on some mtn bike tires to test this theory.
I am talking all things being equal in tread design. Street tires = street tires.
My friend Val uses 26 x 2.35 Schwalbe Big Apples and it doesn't slow him down a bit. I ride 32C tires and keep up fine.
Its not a theory. 23C being faster is just marketing.
martin
Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 3:03 pm
Joined: 30 Jan 2006Posts: 712
Aaron wrote:
Cutter wrote:
Sure thang, I'll slap on some mtn bike tires to test this theory.
I am talking all things being equal in tread design. Street tires = street tires.
My friend Val uses 26 x 2.35 Schwalbe Big Apples and it doesn't slow him down a bit. I ride 32C tires and keep up fine.
Its not a theory. 23C being faster is just marketing.
Well...it's relative. 32mm isn't going to slow you down remarkably, but due to the fact that rolling resistance is related to contact patch size, then yes, bigger tires are "slower" (but not by much). That said, Aaron is right that wind resistance far out-weights the effects of Rolling Resistance. So, if you go to 25 or 28 will you notice it...maybe, but not a lot.
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