When to change slick tires?

Thanks, I'll try this method.

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
(Remove XSPAM)


wrote in message
...
Zilla who? writes:

I road and MTB. Now it's obvious to me when I need to change my MTB
tires. But how do I know when to change my slick road tires? Keep
track of the mileage? Even then I assume different tires will have
different mileage. Right?

That's why the best method is to watch when the tire casing cords
begins to show. When the first sign of that, a diagonal line that
looks like fine thread, appears you have about 100 miles left on the
tire. That's when you move the front tire to the rear and put on a
new front tire.

Jobst Brandt

On 14 Aug 2005 23:25:27 -0700, wrote:

Apparently they are NOT more puncture-prone as they wear. At least the
experts say they're not.

I've never found that to be the case, either. Since the outer rubber isn't
providing much of the puncture resistance, it makes sense. In fact,
it provides a nice grippy place for sharp things to lodge and work their
way in. If grip didn't matter, a kevlar outer would be ideal IMHO.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

wrote:

I ride many rough unpaved roads and never had a flat from "debris" out
there, only an occasional pinch flat

From what I've observed, experienced, and read about here, the
frequency and causes of flats seems to vary tremendously where
conditions (roads and equipment) for different riders appear to be
pretty similar. My own experience, (30 + years of riding in NYC and
environs on roads full of potholes, glass, and debris) is exactly the
opposite of this. I've never had a pinch flat in my life. I've had
one (very memorable) blow-off flat caused by brake heating on a long
steep downhill, and countless punctures caused by bits of glass, sharp
stone, nails, etc. Three or four years ago I switched to kevlar-belted
tires and have not had a single flat since, by far the longest
flat-free period I've enjoyed. Could be the belts, could be the tread
compound, could be the tire width, could be nothing more than a run of
good luck.

Someone writes:

I ride many rough unpaved roads and never had a flat from "debris"
out there, only an occasional pinch flat

From what I've observed, experienced, and read about here, the
frequency and causes of flats seems to vary tremendously where
conditions (roads and equipment) for different riders appear to be
pretty similar. My own experience, (30 + years of riding in NYC and
environs on roads full of potholes, glass, and debris) is exactly the
opposite of this. I've never had a pinch flat in my life.

Then you never rode into the sharp edge of one of those many potholes
of which you report. I assure you that, for instance riding up a 3"
high curb without lifting the bicycle WILL cause a pinch flat at
speeds above 10mph. That you haven't had any tells me that you don't
ride on rocky trails or cobbles as in Paris Roubaix.

I've had one (very memorable) blow-off flat caused by brake heating
on a long steep downhill, and countless punctures caused by bits of
glass, sharp stone, nails, etc. Three or four years ago I switched
to kevlar-belted tires and have not had a single flat since, by far
the longest flat-free period I've enjoyed. Could be the belts,
could be the tread compound, could be the tire width, could be
nothing more than a run of good luck.

I think it must be low mileage. Kevlar belts have no effect on pinch
flats. I know of no active riders who have not had a flat in four
years. When I say active riders, I mean ones who do more than ride
from their house to the bus stop and back, something like taking a
bike tour on weekends.

http://tinyurl.com/cdhdj

Jobst Brandt

wrote:

Then you never rode into the sharp edge of one of those many potholes
of which you report.

Not so. I do this frequently. It's very hard not to where I ride.

I assure you that, for instance riding up a 3"
high curb without lifting the bicycle WILL cause a pinch flat at
speeds above 10mph. That you haven't had any tells me that you don't
ride on rocky trails or cobbles as in Paris Roubaix.

I try not to take curbs aggressively, but I can't always avoid doing
so. Never had a flat as a result. I ride the cobbles of Tribeca and
the West Village (which are square edged and ill-maintained) on a
regular basis. I haven't been to Roubaix, but I have been to Paris.
The cobbles there are like a billiard table compared to what we've got
here.


I've had one (very memorable) blow-off flat caused by brake heating
on a long steep downhill, and countless punctures caused by bits of
glass, sharp stone, nails, etc. Three or four years ago I switched
to kevlar-belted tires and have not had a single flat since, by far
the longest flat-free period I've enjoyed. Could be the belts,
could be the tread compound, could be the tire width, could be
nothing more than a run of good luck.

I think it must be low mileage. Kevlar belts have no effect on pinch
flats. I know of no active riders who have not had a flat in four
years. When I say active riders, I mean ones who do more than ride
from their house to the bus stop and back, something like taking a
bike tour on weekends.


I think you don't know me or my riding habits well enough to make this
kind of assertion. I commute (current round trip 23 miles) 2-3 days a
week, frequently take longer rides on weekends/vacations, and used to
do a bit of loaded touring. While nowhere near the mileage of many
others, it's pretty active, and it's certainly enough to put myself in
the way of plenty of puncture causing objects. For most of my riding
life, I got my share of flats. I don't recall *ever* not being able to
find a puncturing object, nor do I ever recall seeing the tell-tale
snakebite, despite lots of agressive riding on very bad roads. This
led me to state that I don't think I've ever had a pinch flat.

Since switching to kevlar-belted tires(follwing a spate of
glass-related flats), I have not gotten a single flat. I didn't say
kevlar prevented pinch flats, and I understand why they wouldn't. I
just said that since installing said tires, I haven't had a flat caused
by puncturing object. Just noting the correlation, not asserting
causality.

John

John,
What size tires do you use?

bfd wrote:
John,
What size tires do you use?

Specialized Armadillos, 700C x 26 (per what's written on the sidewall;
I haven't actually measured them)

John

wrote in message
...
Someone writes:

I ride many rough unpaved roads and never had a flat from
"debris"
out there, only an occasional pinch flat

From what I've observed, experienced, and read about here,
the
frequency and causes of flats seems to vary tremendously
where
conditions (roads and equipment) for different riders appear
to be
pretty similar. My own experience, (30 + years of riding in
NYC and
environs on roads full of potholes, glass, and debris) is
exactly the
opposite of this. I've never had a pinch flat in my life.

Then you never rode into the sharp edge of one of those many
potholes
of which you report. I assure you that, for instance riding up
a 3"
high curb without lifting the bicycle WILL cause a pinch flat
at
speeds above 10mph. That you haven't had any tells me that you
don't
ride on rocky trails or cobbles as in Paris Roubaix.

I've had one (very memorable) blow-off flat caused by brake
heating
on a long steep downhill, and countless punctures caused by
bits of
glass, sharp stone, nails, etc. Three or four years ago I
switched
to kevlar-belted tires and have not had a single flat since,
by far
the longest flat-free period I've enjoyed. Could be the
belts,
could be the tread compound, could be the tire width, could
be
nothing more than a run of good luck.

I think it must be low mileage. Kevlar belts have no effect on
pinch
flats. I know of no active riders who have not had a flat in
four
years. When I say active riders, I mean ones who do more than
ride
from their house to the bus stop and back, something like
taking a
bike tour on weekends.

http://tinyurl.com/cdhdj

How do you remember all those details for your ride report? Do
you take notes -- dictate while you are riding: "I am now riding
up a gentle grade on modestly rough pavement . . ." I do wish
there had been more mention of tree species. And what, no
red-winged black birds?

My ride reports are like "Chris (my riding buddy) kicked my ass
on Larch Mountain." http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecrh.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgemul.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgelar.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecro.htm. -- Jay Beattie.

Jay Beattie writes:

I think it must be low mileage. Kevlar belts have no effect on
pinch flats. I know of no active riders who have not had a flat in
four years. When I say active riders, I mean ones who do more than
ride from their house to the bus stop and back, something like
taking a bike tour on weekends.

http://tinyurl.com/cdhdj

How do you remember all those details for your ride report? Do
you take notes -- dictate while you are riding: "I am now riding
up a gentle grade on modestly rough pavement . . ." I do wish
there had been more mention of tree species. And what, no
red-winged black birds?

I take pictures and remember most of the scenes as vividly as though
they were the present. I think it is also what one consciously sees
and investigates on a ride. As you see, there is a map and when I
review what occurred here and there it all comes back to me vividly.

My ride reports are like "Chris (my riding buddy) kicked my ass
on Larch Mountain."

http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecrh.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgemul.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgelar.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecro.htm

I didn't see that tone expressed in your report with excellent vistas
and no shots of guys posing behind dark glasses in front of a motel
holding their carbon bicycles. Those are inspiring scenes and great
camera angles. How did I miss that report? You must have posted it.
On the other hand, it may have gone by while I was away touring.

Jobst Brandt

wrote in message
...
Jay Beattie writes:

I think it must be low mileage. Kevlar belts have no effect
on
pinch flats. I know of no active riders who have not had a
flat in
four years. When I say active riders, I mean ones who do
more than
ride from their house to the bus stop and back, something
like
taking a bike tour on weekends.

http://tinyurl.com/cdhdj

How do you remember all those details for your ride report?
Do
you take notes -- dictate while you are riding: "I am now
riding
up a gentle grade on modestly rough pavement . . ." I do
wish
there had been more mention of tree species. And what, no
red-winged black birds?

I take pictures and remember most of the scenes as vividly as
though
they were the present. I think it is also what one consciously
sees
and investigates on a ride. As you see, there is a map and
when I
review what occurred here and there it all comes back to me
vividly.

My ride reports are like "Chris (my riding buddy) kicked my
ass
on Larch Mountain."

http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecrh.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgemul.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgelar.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecro.htm

I didn't see that tone expressed in your report with excellent
vistas
and no shots of guys posing behind dark glasses in front of a
motel
holding their carbon bicycles. Those are inspiring scenes and
great
camera angles. How did I miss that report? You must have
posted it.
On the other hand, it may have gone by while I was away
touring.

My ride reports are not posted but are given orally to my wife
when I return home. She knows most of the routes, so a short
summary usually suffices for her. The URLs I posted are
web-pages created by a fan of the Columbia Gorge, which is where
I do most of my longer rides. It's not California or the Alps,
but it's a pretty nice place to ride -- and no plane or car is
needed to get there. I must say, though, that I still miss the
smell of riding in California with all the bay, eucalyptus and
annual grasses. Douglass fir just does not have that much of a
smell. -- Jay Beattie.