Official Road Cycling Thread

[wdb]

If you keep losing air you have a leak.

If you have to fill your tires every couple of days that's normal; for example to keep them at 100 or 110 you need to throw a couple of pumps into them every 3 or 4 days. Normal.

A lot of people fail to look for the source of the flat tire when they have one. It could, for example, be a sliver of metal or a small thorn embedded in the rubber, which repunctures the tube over and over. Or perhaps the tire has a slit large enough to allow gravel to reach in and puncture the tube. When you take the tube out, maintain orientation with the tire and rim to help locate where to look on the tire. Where ever the leak is in the tube, that's where the tire has an issue.

Another possible source of persistent leaks is defective or worn out rim strips that allow the heads of the spokes to wear holes in the tube.

[polychromatic]

Originally Posted by wdb

If you keep losing air you have a leak.

If you have to fill your tires every couple of days that's normal; for example to keep them at 100 or 110 you need to throw a couple of pumps into them every 3 or 4 days. Normal.

Another possible source of persistent leaks is defective or worn out rim strips that allow the heads of the spokes to wear holes in the tube.

I will add another insidious leak point is the valve stem seal (where it goes through the rim). I always dunk my wheels in a pan of water, or better yet just make up a sudsy solution in a spray bottle.

[UncleWede]

When I was in the shop and being lazy (I was having the guy replace the tube, for a grand total of $5) I ran my finger thru the tire and found the thorn still there. Guy said he had already checked. "Well, you must have rougher hands than mine, or just used to it" He gave me the thorn, so I know it was removed.

Bike was hung up for about 2 weeks after that repair, since weather/holidays didn't get me back on the rode. Was completely flat when I took it down. Went in circles instead of going very far, and looking down I wasn't flat. Went from 100 to 85 in under an hour.

Yesterday, I was at 60 when I took it down after a week, pumped to 100 again, and finished at about 90. I'm thinking now about something got pinched.

[M_Six]

I run tubeless on my gravel bike. Sweet ride and low maintenance. One tire took a bit to settle in and stop seeping air overnight, but once that was sorted they've been pretty bulletproof.

[Mandi90TT]

Originally Posted by turbo_joe

I went tubeless about 6 months ago and love it, if that's a viable option in the future I would go that route. I am 210lbs fwiw

My triiathlon bike is tubeless and I love it. Well worth it.

[UncleWede]

Like I was STANDING STILL

I was out on a ride, and came to an intersection where I saw another rider on a mountain bike not yet there. As I'm chugging along, low gear to keep the revolutions up, this guy just cruises by, even with a Hefty bag full of cans/bottles on his lap.

The struggle is real

[M_Six]

Maybe he was on an e-bike?


Or maybe you should be?

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Maybe he was on an e-bike?


Or maybe you should be?

He was in a way higher gear than I, I watched and counted his peddles (for the short time I could see them)

[UncleWede]

Yesterday, turn-about was fair play! I swapped to the upper gears, and when someone on a cruiser started to merge, at about the same place as last week, they just gave up and let me cruise on by

The whole ride I'm practicing my speech for City Council, about how the easiest way to help fight global warming is to CLEAN THE BIKE PATHS so people can actually ride safely in them. And synchronize the damn traffic signals.

[M_Six]

They've been promising to pave our bike path for years. This time of year it's a muddy mess. Last year they trimmed the trees and hedges along it and left branches and cuttings everywhere. Lots of lip service about the wonderful bike path, but it's mostly been a mess for a couple of years now.

[KingOfJericho]

Is tubeless really a major advantage? I run Gatorskins and my wheels are compatible but I've never really seen a major advantage. I can already run pretty low pressure, if desired.

[Maximus_850csi]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Is tubeless really a major advantage? I run Gatorskins and my wheels are compatible but I've never really seen a major advantage. I can already run pretty low pressure, if desired.

Besides the lower psi the only other advantage would be not getting pinch flats on the tubeless set up.

[Mandi90TT]

Originally Posted by Maximus_850csi

Besides the lower psi the only other advantage would be not getting pinch flats on the tubeless set up.

It's more than just not getting pinch flats. Tubeless are more resistant to flats in general, due to the sealant.

[KingOfJericho]

But when you do get a flat, isn't it back to the bike shop to have a new tire mounted with sealant? It just seems like a PITA.

[turbo_joe]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

But when you do get a flat, isn't it back to the bike shop to have a new tire mounted with sealant? It just seems like a PITA.

You can still mount your own tires and add sealant as needed

[leo95se]

im a roadie, but am looking for something that will take me on gravel trails and dirt roads. i dont want a mountain bike. any recommendations? so far ive looked into trek dual sport, cannondale CX, canyon trail lite.

[wdb]

Look at "29er" bikes. My son has one and loves it.

[Neuera09]

Originally Posted by leo95se

im a roadie, but am looking for something that will take me on gravel trails and dirt roads. i dont want a mountain bike. any recommendations? so far ive looked into trek dual sport, cannondale CX, canyon trail lite.

Have u considered a "gravel bike?". They have a relaxed geometry and plenty of wheel/tire clearance that would accommodate a 32-36 mm tire. Before I transitioned to a road bike (from hardtail mtb) I was looking for something in between and my LBS recommended a cervelo C3 which I ended up getting. It came with a 28mm tire but actually measured 32mm on a HED wheel. Good luck with your search man.

[leo95se]

Originally Posted by wdb

Look at "29er" bikes. My son has one and loves it.

Thx! Will do

[leo95se]

Originally Posted by Neuera09

Have u considered a "gravel bike?". They have a relaxed geometry and plenty of wheel/tire clearance that would accommodate a 32-36 mm tire. Before I transitioned to a road bike (from hardtail mtb) I was looking for something in between and my LBS recommended a cervelo C3 which I ended up getting. It came with a 28mm tire but actually measured 32mm on a HED wheel. Good luck with your search man.

Good question. One specific requirement - flat bars.. I want a reminder to not go fast lol.

Also leaning toward something in the 35-38mm range for added grip.

[Neuera09]

Originally Posted by leo95se

Good question. One specific requirement - flat bars.. I want a reminder to not go fast lol.

Also leaning toward something in the 35-38mm range for added grip.

Got it! Not sure about not going fast though. You'll always find yourself riding fast especially downhill (paved road or not). I road my neighbor's trail bike (Ibis brand) for an hour. It's pretty fancy for a full suspension bike. CF with a 1x SRAM components with 29er/3 inch wide tire, and weighs under 25 lbs. It rides great but it could easily get you in trouble riding downhill unless your familiar with the trail.

[M_Six]

Went by my LBS yesterday. Almost empty of bikes. The manager said it would be November before I'd see any bike I had to order. He has a couple of Trek Marlin 5's coming in later this month in my size that are not already sold. I told him to reserve one for me. Not the bike I'd order given a choice, but affordable enough and it will work for what I want, which is to just have a bike I can jump on for a short spin wearing shorts and sandals, or maybe ride the 3 miles to work on nice days. My other bikes are all dedicated road/gravel with clipless pedals. I need something simple to round out the stable. This will work until bikes are back in stock.