Puncture protection on bikes

SteveJW

I seem to get a puncture around every 500 miles, 8,000 mile a year
Mostly thorns from bushes the councils seems to plant at the side of cycle tracks. Ride a lot on the old railway lines, chalk and flint never have much problem there
Tried some sealer we had at work called Ultraseal, designed for ride on mowing machine tyres, coloured purple and had short fibres in it, worked a treat, when a piece of glass cut the tyre and tube and it wouldn't seal it, took the tube out and it had around 20 punctures that it had sealed.
30 minutes appears along time to mend a puncture, even a rear should only take around 5 minutes, always carry a spare tube.
I could never get patches to stick, an old timer told me always carry a piece of broken hacksaw blade use that to rough up the tube, they stick every time now.
One essential always find what caused the original puncture, sometimes spend more time on this than it takes to repair
What pressures is the OP using, underinflated and could be suffering from "snakebite" punctures
Steve

libertysurf

Sorry for the day in replying but I wanted to check out our new tyres before writing. We have the best tyres now! MARATHON PLUS MTB. We have not had a single puncture and we used to get one every 15 miles – ridiculous. We also got a new bike and took that out and got a puncture in the first 10 miles.
I hope I have not jinxed it all by saying this.

asbokid

libertysurf wrote: »

sequence wrote: »

I haven't had a puncture in a year (approx 4000 miles) !

Wow! What is your secret please!

red_eye

downhill innertubes and tires will keep you fit too
I had these last me years although they are heavy and i got my set for £20
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=402

red_eye

or you could to getto and use a tyre with bead cut off under your regular tyre

worbikeman

Always avoid twigs

Marco_Panettone

Also, practice changing your inner tubes - it should be a 10 minute job if that. Wheel off - tyre off - tube out - check INSIDE of tyre for thorns/glass/stones and remove if appropriate - new inner tube in - tyre on - re-inflate.

Fix the puncture at home in the light and dry!

santer_2

I had slime once, the tyre deflated in an instant and the slime sprayed the bike, good tyres and a good liner will help but have never managed to stop punctures in woodland