I will chime in because I keep seeing mention of tire choice making a big impact on the flats people are reporting. Tires definitely make a big difference in flat prevention - my commuter bikes have heavy, slow rolling, uncomfortable tires that are damn near impossible to flat. I never carry patches or tubes on my commuters.
On my road bike I ride typical training tires: 23c, narrow, light tires. Why? They are noticeably faster and more comfortable than heavily armored tires. In the last four years I have had a total of two flats in the Madison area on these tires (and one was because I let the tire visibly wear too thin). This summer my wife and I have had at least 6 flats! Nothing has changed on the equipment side of things, so I have to think it is something on the road that is causing more flats. Every time I have have examined the tires, there are more and more little cuts, usually filled with very small chips of what looks like glass. After all of these messages, and taking a closer look at what is out on the road, I am now convinced that it is the coal slag being used as chip-seal aggregate. While I like that a practical use is being found for what is otherwise a waste product, this may not be the best use for it. And Larry, you mentioned that this is "less expensive" than pea gravel - shouldn't coal plants be paying municipalities to take it off their hands or at least giving it away for free? Otherwise they'd have to pay to dump it. Seems like the munis are getting screwed! Kevin -- *Kevin Luecke** *Lead Planner, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin www.bfw.org | 608-251-4456
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