Sam, I'm sure you have more flats than me, a religeous tire wiper. Though not riding tubulars like I used to, I regularly wear out tires without any flats until that last week or so when I get two or three, the sign the tire is finally gone. Dusting the tires after going through road crud and riding somewhat out in the traffic lane where the road has been regularly cleaned gives much better tire performance than ignoring them. Its one of the reasons I really don't believe in fenders as a rule.
Dan Artley spinning along in Parkton, Maryland
>>> Sam Alison sssamcz@yahoo.co.uk> 07/14/05 12:05 PM >>
I was interested to read Ted's comments below on tyre wiping or 'gloving'
as he refers to it. My understanding was that should a shard of glass hit
your tyre (or vice versa) the initial impact is what would force it in far
enough to your tyre to puncture the tube. If it doesn't cause a puncture
on first impact, it's not going to. Therefore putting your hand near
whirring spokes, flying shard of glass, and narrow gaps was a foolhardy
thing to do with no perceivable benefit - other than perhaps making you
appear a "real bike rider" or even, if your style is smooth enough, a
"cogniscenti di gruppo".My very much ad hoc and admittedly not statisticall
y rigorous survey conducted during riding with wipers and non-wipers over
the years seems to show very little difference in puncture rate between
the two.
Sam Alison
London, England