Look up Specialized Nimbus Armidillos, not run flat but they are very puncture proofy. I've had 1 puncture in over a year and I think it was a dodgy inner tube more than anything. I don't even think about punctures anymore.

 

These are the Specialized Nimbus Armidillos I have on my bike.....

www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk



£19 a pop, but if it saves you from even one puncture repair in the pi$$ing rain, it's worth it. As I said, I now average about 1 puncture per year with these tyres....

 

Imlach

Cheers for the advice re the Armadillos, turns out the Bike Co-op was up to it's old tricks ....... yes sir, we have plenty in stock in that exact size...... bollox

However, bought these chaps below:

www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk

and so far pretty impressed with the lack of rolling resistance considering the tread depth etc, won't mention the lack of punctures as that would just be tempting something

A bit pricey and an absolute nightmare to get seated perfectly on the rims (but hopefully now they are on, it'll be a while before they come off!!!)

Cheers

 

Good to hear. Yes, these tyres do tend to be harder to get on, but as you say, you take them off less (hopefully!).

There is a slight weight penalty, but have to live with it. Saving weight on rotating mass makes a huge difference to speed, but don't do what I did - I bought the lightest tyres & tubes you could get (barring tubulars) a few years back - think tyre & tube came to 250g....compare to a 'normal' tyre and tube combo which is probably nearer 1kg (your one is 835g with probably a 150g tube).

So, this was a weight saving of 1.5kg of rotating mass, which made the bike FLYYYYYYYYY......

However, first run, I took a run along the east coast via the 'pans and cockenzie etc....i only got past Musselburgh before "psssttttttttt.....pop".
2 days later, another puncture....3 days later, another one. They had to go, but boy, were they fast!!!

 

Imlach

Thanks for all your advice so far, very helpful for a newbie commuter

Now.....anything you can do about the pishing rain and prevailing winds ??

 

Just wondered who continued to cycle to work through the winter ...?

Some 'interesting' journeys home indeed up here

 

I commute 3.5 miles each way. 15 mins in, 20 mins back.

Just goit ANOTHER puncture so will go to bike shop today and look into these armadillos or suchlike (any others that are good?)

 

Dracoro

These have been puntcure free for me so far

www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk

SCHWALBE MARATHON PLUS REFLECTIVE TYRE 700C (£22.95)

 

Wife and I work from home but do a ten mile route every morning to set ourselves up for the day.

Nearly all very rural roads so get quite muddy. Three very steep hills, two fords to cross (great fun) and not too many angry commuters.

Only been run off my bike once and I caught the bugger two weeks later and extracted an extreme apology.

Feel groggy if I miss out on the cycle now.

 

15 minutes each way in Dublin city, rain or shine (but only started at Christmas ).

I also need tyres; current are very old and handling didn't feel too good....checking yesterday, sidewalls are disintegrating Never had a puncture since 1996 though (I used it for 3 years in Sydney for my 20 minute commute).

Slickasaurus for 13 quid/pair on eBay looking favourite for replacements at the moment.

Richard

 

Only recently started commuting on bike ( MTB ). 10.5 miles each way, and quicker than I ever did it in the car !

Cheated today though as the weather was nice(er) still on 2 wheels mind you, with the added advantage of a 600cc engine

 

First puncture today in three months.

And about 15 yards from my house - A drawing pin.

Dammit!

 

You must have said at some point today that you hadn't had a puncture in 3 months.......the law of sod presides strongly over bike punctures

 

I metioned it to wife (we cycle together) on Friday - How after having loads of them, it was nice to be puncture free for so long.
Dammit - Easy to fix but so damn messy (the bike, not the wife)

 

I got some Specialized Armadillo crossroads today. Seemed to be the best for what I need and far better than the old ones, lot's of thick rubber and good tread design for the water to flow through and look like they'd be ok in light mud or grass if/when need be.

Now if I get a puncture again soon, it'd better be something big and sharp else I'll be mightily pi$$ed of

 

Just wondering who stayed the course through the winter and are now enjoying the better commuting weather ??

 

Wife and I have been cycled to work (6 miles each way) for a year and now we work from home, we do a ten mile ride just before we start the day.

Can't wake up properly unless I've cycled now!

 

I want to commute by bike (12.5 miles each way) but there are no showers here so I would smell like a rancid onion all day with toadstools under my arms if I did
It would be a good ride too - mainly country lanes and cycle paths but alas I cant see how it can be done

 

Not sure about that, it's like a monsoon outside at the moment. And guess what muppet left all his waterproofs at home this morning

It's going to be a wet ride home this evening.....

 

PMSL

No way you could even get a decent wash at your work Abdabz... ?? That may suffice once your body is more used to the commute, you tend to sweat less and less as your body gets used to it....

or no chance that you can get exert a bit of 'environmental' pressure on your employer and campaign to get your work to install some sort of shower...?

Good luck anyway.....one of the best choices I ever made. Wish I'd done it years ago, especially as the benefit to my fitness is so noticeable when I go out mountain biking. I can stay up the hills all day now and seldom get knackered

Same here mate......

 

Yours has got a motor attached to it .... has it not Mogsi ????

 

Not today it's not, it's got 2 pedals and 27 gears......

 

10 miles each way on my London commute on a 42:16 singlespeed.

Bike is a Cotic Roadrat.
the Product of COTIC cycles : ROADRAT

40 mins in and 45mins home but it is more uphill and ALWAYS in a headwind no matter what the weather!

Great for fitness though as I also ride mountain bikes at the weekends

 

6.5 miles each way, totally flat and boring. Kona Fire Mountian with knobblies.
25-30 minutes each way, 22 really flying (and traffic lights permitting!)
30 mins by car, 35-50 on bus. No brainer!

I ought to put slicks on really, but I'm training for an enduro, so it's effort rather than speed that count.
Natually competitive though - there's only one guy I'll let get past without chasing, and he's a on trick carbon Trek racer. And very quick

No facilities at all, despite promoting cycling to work!

 

Absolutely. Rode my scooter most of last summer, then found it didn't work in the rain / cold (cheap Chinese crud!), so ended up bike on the bike over winter. Quite fun sometimes though, and the best option in the snow (in the pre-global warming days )

 

Ah, how I miss the daily commute. Now working out at glorious Livingston, and don't fancy the A71 in the mornings.

Glad to hear you're a committed commuter now thought SiPie.

 

Go along the A71 between West Calder and Currie as part of my wee road trip on my Cannondale R700. Not in the rush hour though, I must admit ! 1hr 25m over 26 miles of undulating hilly stuff. Fun !

Andy Mc

 

Great thread resurrection! I did it! Last week I trialled a 15 mile route to and from the office on my push iron.
I took my change of clothes in the ruck sack, along with a towel and some of them baby wipe things and it was fine. My knee was giving me a bit of jip as I havent fully recovered from the Liverpool - Chester - Liverpool charity ride a few weeks before where I picked up an injury.
I wouldnt do it every day, but when the weather is nice it can be a real pleasure

 

Coming up for a year on September 11th...with only 3 days missed in Jnauary because of the gales ... 20 miles every day Mon- Fri

Been a magic year and wish I'd done it 20 years ago when I started working....

Hope you are well Imlach and good to hear from you...not heard from you on here for ages, Saxo Boy was saying the same recently.

Cheers

 

I used to do the back roads of Currie & Kirknewton when younger, but not tried them for ages. I notice there is a "recognised" cycle route from Edinburgh to Livi now - think it probably goes (or is route I'd take) through Heriot Watt, along to Kirknewton on the back road, over the level crossing coming out of Kirknewton, across the A71, down into West Calder (?) and then onto some kind of cycle path into just north of yon large shopping centre/pregnant chav meeting area in Livi.

Could go direct on A71, and it does have the white line for the demarcation of cyclists/traffic, but just too vulnerable for me these days.

I used to be of the mindset of riding on major trunk roads, but as one gets older, one backs off. I'm all for separate cycle lanes set a few meters off the main road now on these routes.....if only

Do miss these summer mornings with the warm morning sunshine, the spring/autumnal mornings with the nip in the air, albeit quite refreshing. The winter mornings are harder, but worth it for the crispness & beauty of a winter sunrise. Then there's the relaxing summer evening ride home, smelling the BBQs as you ride home......and the autumn rides home for that bonfiry type aroma. Winter rides home are the hardest.......dark, and often miserable, but there's always that hot shower to look forward to.

My only fix right now is the odd jaunt up the Pentlands in the summery evenings for some peace & tranquility away from the hectic city & tourists.