Puncture Advice Please

[darth vadar]

Recently, I have suffered two punctures in my rear wheel.

I currently have a flat bar road bike with ordinary inner tube and Continental Gatorskin tyre 700 x 23.

Can I do anything else to minimise my chances of getting a puncture particularly in the back tyre?

I have seen slime filled inner tubes, and a puncture resistant strip thing that fits inside the tyre, or is there a better more puncture resistant tyre I could use?

I am only a social cyclist, so I am not too bothered about reduced performance etc.

I just want to give myself the best chance of avoiding a puncture in the future.

There is a reason for asking this question by the way.

Thanks.

 

[TissoT]

Keep your tyre presure inflated to 110 psi/8 bar .... if the tubes will take it

 

[vickster]

Is the tyre pumped up to the correct psi? Marathon + are about as puncture proof as it comes! not quick though and a pig to fit by all accounts (luckily not needed to myself!)

 

[darth vadar]

I think my bike man fitted a Marathon + previous but had to change it to the Conti Gatorkskin because it kept popping off the rim. The last time blowing up the inner tube (and leaving me stranded!) in the process.

Thats what he told me anyway!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Ensure that you find the pointy culprit after each puncture. This is made easier if you draw a little arrow on the inner tube and ensure that always points in the direction of rotation of the wheel, and also ensure that the manufacturer's logo on the tyre is always over the valve hole. This means it will be easy to match up the position of the hole in the inner tube with the position on the tyre where you have to search.

Also, try to avoid using tyre levers when replacing the tyre, or if you do use them be very careful and make sure there is a couple of spoonfuls of air in the tubes, to avoid damaging the tube when putting the tyre back on. There are videos about showing tyre replacing technique - basically if you pinch the tyre so the bead wires sit inside the rim, and not up on the shoulders, then you should be able to put it back on by hand. Sorry if that's not very clear.

Periodically do a tyre check, especially before any rides when you really don't want a puncture (eg timed rides, night rides, group rides etc). Remove the wheel, deflate the tyre, and sit somewhere with good lighting. Go round the wheel and look for flints and shards of glass and dig them out with a pointy thing.

I'm not expert on tyre choice. I find Schwalbe Durano Plus (for my slightly less unsporty bike) and Marathon Plus (for my really unsporty bike) are good. But the Marathons can be bit of a swine to fit. (Edit: Sorry, missed your post about you having problems with M+)

Oh, and if changing a tube in the comfort of home, use tons of talcum powder on the tyre, tube and rim. This not only acts as a lubricant to help getting the tyre on, but also gives you a pleasant whiff of perfume when you get a puncture by the roadside, coated with cow poo and oily mud.