Progress so far...

June 30th 2009 - 22 stone 4Ibs. Current weight - 17 stone 1Ib. Weight loss - 5 stone 3Ibs. Commuting miles - 3389.
Non commuting miles - 359. Mileage this week - 101 miles. Total mileage - 3748 miles.


Monday 5 July 2010

Fighting the Puncture Fairy.

As you'll know if you're a regular reader, that me and the Puncture Fairy butt heads quite often. Too often in fact.

To avoid her regular visitations I have trolled the various bike forums, asked your goodselves on here and trolled my local bike shops for advice.

It became very clear that Slime produce wasn't worth the effort, be it tubes or the gunky stuff. I especially got short shrift in Red Kite Cycles when I mentioned the stuff.They operate road and MTB racing teams, so I guess they'd know what works and what doesn't!

In the end I settled on Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres and some heavy duty Bontrager inner tubes. These are now sitting resplendant on my Ridgeback Commuter.



Hopefully this will put off the Puncture Fairy for a while. I'm looking forward to taking her for a spin down the cut into work on Thursday.

I'm already missing pedalling. This is a good thing. Only 3 sleeps to go before I'm back!

The upper body work outs are carrying on. The only thing I've noticed so far is that I've rediscovered that I've got stomach muscles. The crunches and planks are definately starting to do something! Ouch...
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11 comments:

  1. John Berry5 July 2010 at 08:09

    Ahhh you wont regret the Marathon's...although they are a touch on the heavy side :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Christie5 July 2010 at 10:18

    Your bike is indeed looking resplendent in its new tyres! Hope they keep the punctures at bay!

    I don't know how you can do planks - I used to HATE those things, even worse than squats - but well done - it's about time I started doing some stomach exercises meself at some point soon!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Red Bike5 July 2010 at 12:41

    M+ tyres stop puntures but they do add a bit of additional resistance.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Former 550 Pound Cyclist5 July 2010 at 13:45

    Clive, what are the wheels you fitted to your road bike mate >

    ReplyDelete
  5. Clive Chapman5 July 2010 at 13:49

    @ Red, noted, ta mate.

    @ Gaz, Shimano RS20 after a bit of drama, documented here:

    http://massivemtber.blogspot.com/2010/05/love-your-local-bike-shop.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Former 550 Pound Cyclist5 July 2010 at 13:53

    Cheers mate, are they strong, the ones on my new bike are made of hot, soft, cheese.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Clive Chapman5 July 2010 at 13:54

    They seem to be doing ok for me, the Mavics my Giant came fitted with just kept pinging spokes. Touch wood, these are ok.

    ReplyDelete
  8. MrDaveyGie5 July 2010 at 14:39

    Nothing ruins a good bike ride then a flat. I actually change my tires when they are only half worn out to reduce flats. Trail riding finds things to puncture the tubes. I too use a Schwalbe, their Racing Ralphs on my cycle cross bike. I do use a slime tube, I still get flats but maybe a lesser amounts, not sure because sooner or later the slimes give me a flat.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Joby5 July 2010 at 14:53

    I had Schwalbes on my Boardman - lovely tyres until I went over a grid in the wet ;)

    Good choice and glad you stayed away from the slime.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Les Beales5 July 2010 at 15:43

    Oi oi I used slime on my cheapo £56 ebay mountain bike I got a punture after 7 miles done another 16 miles on them not a prob, but I will defo bow to ure superior knowledge

    ReplyDelete
  11. Clive Chapman6 July 2010 at 06:25

    LTMWB, my superior knowledge? Don't 'fink so me old China, I just took advice off t'interweb and at bike shops!

    ReplyDelete

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