The Chainlink

It's flat time of year again.

Spring is almost here and the streets are litterd with debris and pot holes. I have patched a tube 3x in the last 2 weeks. How is everyone else holding up?

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 10, 2011 at 9:33am
I don't see how people avoid riding in alleys and the beat-up residential backstreets.   I do a lot of that in my own commuting and errand-running.  Perhaps I just don't like playing in traffic as much as other riders.  I prefer to stay off the major streets and take back ways as much as possible.  Not only do I feel safer but my routes are faster/shorter when cutting through these alleyways and back streets.
Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 10, 2011 at 9:37am
When I lived on the far North (Edgewater/Rogers park) I did my share of alley riding but those speed humps bug me.

James Baum said:
I don't see how people avoid riding in alleys and the beat-up residential backstreets.   I do a lot of that in my own commuting and errand-running.  Perhaps I just don't like playing in traffic as much as other riders.  I prefer to stay off the major streets and take back ways as much as possible.  Not only do I feel safer but my routes are faster/shorter when cutting through these alleyways and back streets.
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on March 10, 2011 at 9:55am

Much of the infrastructure that is installed in these residential neighborhoods to dissuade auto traffic from using them for cutting through instead of using the main arterials works against bicycle traffic to a much greater extent.  Speed humps, One-way street mazes, crazy intersection planters, and downright criminal lack of pavement repair all contribute to an unfun and unwelcome experience to many bicyclists who are forced by these unwise residential infrastructure decisions to go out and "play in traffic" on the busier main streets. rather than use them.  

 

This is why I'm a fan of the Idaho Stop, not having one-way streets apply to bicycles in residential neighborhoods, and the removal of, and a halt to building  dangerous roadway barriers such as humps and planter pinch-points at intersections that not only make riding a bike more dangerous when auto traffic is sharing these residential streets with us but make riding difficult and unpleasant like we can agree the speed humps do.  

 

The one-way roads are the most annoying things IMHO.  It's impossible to find your way through some of these residential neighborhoods without detouring block after block as the one-way maze is purposely created to keep traffic out and make it hard to navigate in a straight line.  This might be good when keeping cars out of residential streets but makes riding through on a bike a lengthy and tedious endeavor.  Rolling through residential stop signs where nobody is around but a few squirrels seems to infect some bicycle safety-nazis with the foaming at the mouth but stopping and starting every block after a complete stop when it doesn't do anything but make the magic-underpants crowd feel all clean and holy is counter-productive.

 

I understand why people would rather go out and play in busy traffic rather than take back roads if one follows the rules "like a car" but I say we are not cars and having us come to complete stops and not ride the wrong way down a block of residential roadway to cut out the obfuscation of through-fares is a good idea.

 

The speed humps should all be ripped out as far as I'm concerned. If auto speeds are such a big deal then set up radar traps for the cars and raise some revenue by it.  They don't do any good anyhow as people all all mosttly driving SUV's these days so they can jump them at 40MPH and not hardly feel them.  The faster you go the less a speed hump is felt.  Putting up these kinds of barriors just induces people go out and buy SUV's and trucks and punishes people who have small fuel-efficient cars.

Mike Zumwalt said:

When I lived on the far North (Edgewater/Rogers park) I did my share of alley riding but those speed humps bug me.


Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on March 10, 2011 at 4:48pm

Plus there is always all sorts of cool junk in alleys.

I like to take 'bum highways' as often as I can.

 


James Baum said:

I don't see how people avoid riding in alleys and the beat-up residential backstreets.   I do a lot of that in my own commuting and errand-running.  Perhaps I just don't like playing in traffic as much as other riders.  I prefer to stay off the major streets and take back ways as much as possible.  Not only do I feel safer but my routes are faster/shorter when cutting through these alleyways and back streets.
Permalink Reply by Liz on March 10, 2011 at 5:08pm

I have this problem on my faster road bike (700x23s) vs my commuter/touring bike (27x1-18" & 700x35s yeah weird I know)

I very rarely flat on the commuter, I flat a lot on the road bike.  I installed tougher tires last summer, but I've still been getting flats.  Part of the problem was that I accidentally bought some "ultra light" tubes this summer and those where pretty much useless.  Now that I've flatted all of those tubes, I should be back to 1-3 flats a year and not 3 flats in 1 ride (3 floyds winter run). If there was more tire clearance I would just go with a wider tire.  I might try a tire liner for that bike. 

 


notoriousDUG said:

Keep a close eye on your tire pressure, low pressure is the number one cause of pinch flats.

If pressure is not the issue and this is a chronic problem try switching to a larger tire; as a 'average sized man' I have had issues with pinch flats and now tend to set my bikes up with what many consider over sized tires to prevent pinch flats.  They also provide a much nicer ride.


Davo said:

2 of them were pinch type flats from hitting potholes that I didnt see untill too late. The larger problem is that sometimes I'm a little tipsey when I'm riding home so its a little harder to avoid these potholes. 

Permalink Reply by lauren sailor on March 10, 2011 at 5:32pm

it makes me cringe to see everyone bragging about how infrequently they get flats! trust me, guys, don't jinx it :)

i will also add that the #1 way to prevent flats is to carry a spare tube, as potential flats are discouraged by the rider's preparedness.

Permalink Reply by Gin on March 10, 2011 at 6:03pm

Two flats in a month after none all year. Cause? Tires worn down plus debris plus big puddles hiding debris?

Permalink Reply by Allen Wrench on March 10, 2011 at 8:12pm

here's a guy wearing out tires on bad roads all the time, and his tire recommendations: http://www.downtheroad.org/Equipment/Bike_Parts/Touring_Tires.htm

I didn't see much about potholes on beat up residential back streets, though. Maybe industrial tires? Is there a steel belted bike tire? What about that green goop they sell to put inside your car tire? Ride flat (bike) tires like the ones Humvees have?

I think I'll just keep trying to miss the bad spots, keep my regular old tires full of air, and carry a patch kit talisman to keep me safe.

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 10, 2011 at 9:39pm

Well some roads such as Western, Broadway past Uptown, Sheridan through Edgewater, North ave. before 94...all terrible and I will take side streets. As far as stops, ha! if no car is coming I keep rolling.

 

Dug said cool junk is in the alley and back when I had a car to pick it up in  I'd cruise on the bike looking for stuff but now I need to restrict myself as I have enough junk that I'm going to someday make something out of or find a use for.



James Baum said:

I understand why people would rather go out and play in busy traffic rather than take back roads if one follows the rules "like a car" but I say we are not cars and having us come to complete stops and not ride the wrong way down a block of residential roadway to cut out the obfuscation of through-fares is a good idea.



Mike Zumwalt said:

When I lived on the far North (Edgewater/Rogers park) I did my share of alley riding but those speed humps bug me.


Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on March 10, 2011 at 9:41pm
That green stuff just settles in one spot in your tire. I bought my used bike with a flat repair like that, un-rideable. though it did hold the air.

Allen Wrench said:

here's a guy wearing out tires on bad roads all the time, and his tire recommendations: http://www.downtheroad.org/Equipment/Bike_Parts/Touring_Tires.htm

I didn't see much about potholes on beat up residential back streets, though. Maybe industrial tires? Is there a steel belted bike tire? What about that green goop they sell to put inside your car tire? Ride flat (bike) tires like the ones Humvees have?

I think I'll just keep trying to miss the bad spots, keep my regular old tires full of air, and carry a patch kit talisman to keep me safe.

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