Month: December 2024

We are all susceptible, but you can reduce the probability. Tech stuff; Foreign object through the tyre, ‘pinch’ from the inner tube being squeezed against the rim, rubbing and wearing a hole in the tube (normally from running low pressure or getting grit inside the tyre), rust from water getting into the tyre and reacting with the valve or spoke ends and rim tape damage. They never happen at a convenient time so be prepared; taxi home or carry a repair kit and tools and most importantly knowledge to repair.  Or just forget most of the above and apply a few rules: 1. Run at correct tyre pressure and check condition regularly. 2. Clean tyres & remove embedded foreign objects. 3. Avoid holes, locking up rear wheel, and broken glass – town centres on Sunday mornings!  Myth – you still get punctures with slime or sealant filled tyres/tubes – just you might not know about them.  So if running a tubeless setup, know how to fix a hole that doesn’t seal and apologise to the rider behind you covered in your sealant!  So for the innertube setup I would suggest; pump, spare tube, repair kit including patches, tyre boot and levers and whatever you need to remove your wheel and probably best advice – a pair of gloves. Identify what caused the puncture is a must or you will spend 20 minutes fitting a new tube only for it to puncture again with the same thorn, 5 minute down the road – been there!  Until next time; #handlebars_haynes

Is it ‘to see or be seen’?  I guess both and it’s easy to do both.  I’d add into this the reflective bits you wear or put on your bike.  Boring.  But try driving a car on a rainy night and see how hard it is to see a cyclist – even with lights on.  At 16 you probably don’t care and it’s only your parents nagging you.  Maybe when you have some responsibility or sense, you realise the risk you take.  I’ve done it and sure everyone else has too.  To be honest, I don’t go over the top, I cycle mainly in urban and well lite areas, so I have decent flashing front and back lights. I try to think of a reflective or bright jacket too and I think my tyres have those reflective bits on the side walls (but probably covered in dirt).  I think the idea of flashing lights works best as anything flashing/moving catches the eye more than a solid light.  I’ve noticed a lot of cyclists now have a rear light on during daytime too – maybe a good idea as it can make you more visible? What was the saying? ‘Be safe, be seen’.  I was going to mention traffic lights and stopping at red! But not up for this big debate, today. Until next time; #handlebars_haynes

The one you have – probably.  I commute on a single speed or occasionally a Brompton, but I have a relatively short journey that’s flat.  And I tend to rotate my bikes on the weather.  Full length mudguards if it looks wet – I’m bored of getting wet from the road as well as the sky.  I have spent many years commuting over 100 miles a week on a 26” wheeled bike with no mudguards, rubbish waterproofs (or non) and a backpack. I only had one bike then and it did everything. So unless you are riding 30 km to work on a full suspension MTB, along urban cycle lanes or along a forest trail, on a 7 kg road bike with 23mm slick tyres, I reckon, what you feel comfortable on, does the job.  If buying new, I would go towards something upright, big enough tyres to avoid ‘pinch punctures’, and fewer gears.  If the bike can carry your luggage, so much better for your back/shoulders and neck but it’s not a game changer – although once you have tried paniers….  I guess another thing to consider is where you leave it at work?  It needs to be where you left it, and intact for the ride home!  So maybe nothing too flash or even looks flash/new and consider security skewers!  If you are concerned about punctures or fixing them, go for tyres that offer protection and even some liners or ‘slime’.  But all this said, I know lots of riders that commute on their ‘weekend ride’ bike and love it – enjoying the challenge! Until next time, #handlebars_haynes