Distance commuting

Quoted message said:

I've been commuting 20kms each way for about a year and a half now. In
just over forty days time that'll be going up to 30kms each way minimum.

Anything I should prepare myself for, other than the extra time of
course? It's a pretty easy extra 10kms, basically Center Dandenong Road
from Dingley to Nepean.

Currently I'm using a Trek 1200, the CFO has given me clearance to get a
back up bike; I'm thinking of getting something a bit more heavy duty
with fatter tires. Any recommendation as to style of bike? I'm
thinking hybrid maybe?

Prepare? I'd say you're well and truly prepared now.

IMHO a 60+km daily commute _requires_ a road bike of some sort. It will
be faster, lighter and more comfortable than a hybrid. If you're
carrying panniers then a touring type frame is probably better. But
either way, I would recommend against a hybrid.

--
Nick

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> "NickZX6R" == NickZX6R <[email hidden]> writes:

NickZX6R> IMHO a 60+km daily commute _requires_ a road bike of some
NickZX6R> sort. It will be faster, lighter and more comfortable than
NickZX6R> a hybrid. If you're carrying panniers then a touring type
NickZX6R> frame is probably better. But either way, I would
NickZX6R> recommend against a hybrid.

I'm using panniers on the Trek, a pair of Ortleibs. I was wondering if
it'd be worth getting wider wheels, 700 x 23 are quite fast but not very
resilient, even with a pair of Gatorskins on. Would moving to an inch
wide tire have much effect on punctures?
--
Cheers
Euan

Quoted message said:

I've been commuting 20kms each way for about a year and a half now. In
just over forty days time that'll be going up to 30kms each way minimum.

Anything I should prepare myself for, other than the extra time of
course? It's a pretty easy extra 10kms, basically Center Dandenong Road
from Dingley to Nepean.

Pack an extra cookie for morning tea..? Double-shot of EPO in the bidon?

Quoted message said:

Currently I'm using a Trek 1200, the CFO has given me clearance to get a
back up bike; I'm thinking of getting something a bit more heavy duty
with fatter tires. Any recommendation as to style of bike? I'm
thinking hybrid maybe?

Singlespeed, steel, road or mtb doesn't matter.. with the slickest
slickety slick tyres you can find! 🙂

If it's just a backup bike get something cheap that does the job and
you're comfortable with. You'll know better than us what gearing you
need and what you like to carry. Maybe you need rack mounts, etc?
Maybe you want disc brakes? 🙂

hippy

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>>"NickZX6R" == NickZX6R <[email hidden]> writes:

NickZX6R> IMHO a 60+km daily commute _requires_ a road bike of some
NickZX6R> sort. It will be faster, lighter and more comfortable than
NickZX6R> a hybrid. If you're carrying panniers then a touring type
NickZX6R> frame is probably better. But either way, I would
NickZX6R> recommend against a hybrid.

I'm using panniers on the Trek, a pair of Ortleibs. I was wondering if
it'd be worth getting wider wheels, 700 x 23 are quite fast but not very
resilient, even with a pair of Gatorskins on. Would moving to an inch
wide tire have much effect on punctures?

What do you mean 'not resilient'? I commute on my race bike now and it
gets flogged. I had an issue with a single spoke coming loose, but that
only happened twice before being glued up and trued. If you ride smooth,
jumping minimum gutters, etc.. 700c x 23's are fine. You could always
fit 32mm tyres. I tried that but didn't like them and went back to fast
23's. If it really was a workhorse bike, then bigger "should" be better
(if built right), but it will be slower and physically harder to ride.
That could be an issue on a 60k round-trip commute? 25mm tyres could be
a nice compromise between speed and resilience?
Light-ish mtb with 1-1.5" slicks.. mmm..

hippy

A road bike or touring bike is the way to go. The main thing is that it is the correct size for you and that you are comfortable on it. Wider tires depend on what you weigh. If you are a skinny weed 23c might be fine for you. I'm more in the clydesdale class and skinny tires dont last long and I have to run the pressures high to avoid pinch flats. If you do weigh a bit more than the average mountain goat then being able to run larger tires that last longer is a great thing. The ride is more comfortable and the tires last a lot longer. Stopping to fix a flat tire on the way home from work in the rain is not a fun thing to do.
We are using Conti Gatorskins 28c x 700 on the tandem. Our commute is between 70 and 80 a day depending on which way we go. The tires are lasting well and no puntures so far. The only problem is that good 700c tandem or commuting tires are impossible to get in Aus. I ship mine in tfrom the US. Other good tires are Avocet Fasgrip and Conti grandprix in 25 or 28c

Tailwinds

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>>"NickZX6R" == NickZX6R <[email hidden]> writes:

NickZX6R> IMHO a 60+km daily commute _requires_ a road bike of some
NickZX6R> sort. It will be faster, lighter and more comfortable than
NickZX6R> a hybrid. If you're carrying panniers then a touring type
NickZX6R> frame is probably better. But either way, I would
NickZX6R> recommend against a hybrid.

I'm using panniers on the Trek, a pair of Ortleibs. I was wondering if
it'd be worth getting wider wheels, 700 x 23 are quite fast but not very
resilient, even with a pair of Gatorskins on. Would moving to an inch
wide tire have much effect on punctures?

Well I have zero evidence or scientific understanding 🙂 but I can't see
what difference it would make.

I've never noticed a difference in puncture resistance based on tyre
width. My strategy is to keep the recommended pressure and avoid riding
through road [censored]. So far it's working.

--
Nick

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> "hippy" == hippy <[email hidden]> writes:

hippy> What do you mean 'not resilient'? I commute on my race bike
hippy> now and it gets flogged. I had an issue with a single spoke
hippy> coming loose, but that only happened twice before being glued
hippy> up and trued. If you ride smooth, jumping minimum gutters,
hippy> etc.. 700c x 23's are fine. You could always fit 32mm
hippy> tyres. I tried that but didn't like them and went back to
hippy> fast 23's. If it really was a workhorse bike, then bigger
hippy> "should" be better (if built right), but it will be slower
hippy> and physically harder to ride. That could be an issue on a
hippy> 60k round-trip commute? 25mm tyres could be a nice
hippy> compromise between speed and resilience? Light-ish mtb with
hippy> 1-1.5" slicks.. mmm..

You're probably right, I average about 2 punctures a month, that's with
250km a week. I don't think that's too bad. Only spoke trouble I had
was when I first started out with the bike, ended up getting the wheel
re-built and that took care of that.
--
Cheers
Euan

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> "NickZX6R" == NickZX6R <[email hidden]> writes:

NickZX6R> Well I have zero evidence or scientific understanding 🙂
NickZX6R> but I can't see what difference it would make.

NickZX6R> I've never noticed a difference in puncture resistance
NickZX6R> based on tyre width. My strategy is to keep the
NickZX6R> recommended pressure and avoid riding through road
NickZX6R> [censored]. So far it's working.

Another reason I got prescription sunnies, at least I can see what's on
the road now :-)
--
Cheers
Euan

NickZX6R said:

I've never noticed a difference in puncture resistance based on tyre
width. My strategy is to keep the recommended pressure and avoid riding
through road [censored]. So far it's working.

Last week I had a thorn nail a prorace, and remember removing the same type of thorn that had fail to penetrate a conti travel contact. 23 vs 32 but I reckon the critical difference was that it was much thicker. Thicker possibly requires wider for proportion. Just wider means more target area.
Then again, what won't nail a prorace?

"NickZX6R" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>>>"NickZX6R" == NickZX6R <[email hidden]> writes:

NickZX6R> IMHO a 60+km daily commute _requires_ a road bike of some
NickZX6R> sort. It will be faster, lighter and more comfortable than
NickZX6R> a hybrid. If you're carrying panniers then a touring type
NickZX6R> frame is probably better. But either way, I would
NickZX6R> recommend against a hybrid.

I'm using panniers on the Trek, a pair of Ortleibs. I was wondering if
it'd be worth getting wider wheels, 700 x 23 are quite fast but not very
resilient, even with a pair of Gatorskins on. Would moving to an inch
wide tire have much effect on punctures?

Well I have zero evidence or scientific understanding 🙂 but I can't see
what difference it would make.

I've never noticed a difference in puncture resistance based on tyre
width. My strategy is to keep the recommended pressure and avoid riding
through road [censored]. So far it's working.

--
Nick

I'm definitely with you on that. I've not had a puncture in the three months
I've had the OCR3 and I've probably averaged about 150km/week at a guess. I
live in the hope that I'll actually WEAR OUT these tyres. 🙂 When that
happens, there's these nice looking Vittoria Rubinos with yellow stripes to
neatly match the bike down at Beasley Cycles...

Resound said:

"NickZX6R" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>>>"NickZX6R" == NickZX6R <[email hidden]> writes:

NickZX6R> IMHO a 60+km daily commute _requires_ a road bike of some
NickZX6R> sort. It will be faster, lighter and more comfortable than
NickZX6R> a hybrid. If you're carrying panniers then a touring type
NickZX6R> frame is probably better. But either way, I would
NickZX6R> recommend against a hybrid.

I'm using panniers on the Trek, a pair of Ortleibs. I was wondering if
it'd be worth getting wider wheels, 700 x 23 are quite fast but not very
resilient, even with a pair of Gatorskins on. Would moving to an inch
wide tire have much effect on punctures?

Well I have zero evidence or scientific understanding 🙂 but I can't see
what difference it would make.

I've never noticed a difference in puncture resistance based on tyre
width. My strategy is to keep the recommended pressure and avoid riding
through road [censored]. So far it's working.

--
Nick

I'm definitely with you on that. I've not had a puncture in the three months
I've had the OCR3 and I've probably averaged about 150km/week at a guess. I
live in the hope that I'll actually WEAR OUT these tyres. 🙂 When that
happens, there's these nice looking Vittoria Rubinos with yellow stripes to
neatly match the bike down at Beasley Cycles...

Here's what I think: greater tyre mass and treadwards material distribution in a larger casing size tyre either a): deflects nasty sharp tyre ouchies more effectively, or b): gives them a bigger target to aim at (I'm SURE they're sentient).

Commuting on ProRace? Are you OUT OF YOUR GODDAMNNED MIND? They're RACE tyres, as the little label on the side points out. Still, if you want to shell out $90 a go every time you meet a nasty bit of glass, the bike industry will thank you . . .

M "that's why they give corner marshals BROOMS" H

mfhor said:

Commuting on ProRace? Are you OUT OF YOUR GODDAMNNED MIND? They're RACE tyres, as the little label on the side points out. Still, if you want to shell out $90 a go every time you meet a nasty bit of glass, the bike industry will thank you . . .

M "that's why they give corner marshals BROOMS" H

I would be if I did.
Race tires on my race bike, commuter tires on my commuter.
Seemes logical, so that's what I do.
Yay marshal brooms!

mfhor said:

Commuting on ProRace? Are you OUT OF YOUR GODDAMNNED MIND?

Most would agree, yes. Next question.

Quoted message said:

They're RACE tyres, as the little label on the side points out. Still, if you want to
shell out $90 a go every time you meet a nasty bit of glass, the bike
industry will thank you . . .

They aren't that bad. For starters I get them much cheaper than $90 and
secondly I don't start puncturing until they've done ~4000 kays and are
quite thin.
I commute on my race bike now because of the training principal of
'specificity', i.e. I do most of my riding on the race bike so that the
position and muscle used in training and racing are the same. I don't
have two sets of wheels and I'm not going to swap tyres before and after
every race so I commute/train/race on ProRace.

Quoted message said:

M "that's why they give corner marshals BROOMS" H

Corner marshalls? At Glenvale? Brooms? I don't remember seeing a broom
at Glenvale.

hippy

quote='hippy'mfhor said:

Commuting on ProRace? Are you OUT OF YOUR GODDAMNNED MIND?

Most would agree, yes. Next question.

Quoted message said:

They're RACE tyres, as the little label on the side points out. Still, if you want to
shell out $90 a go every time you meet a nasty bit of glass, the bike
industry will thank you . . .

They aren't that bad. For starters I get them much cheaper than $90 and
secondly I don't start puncturing until they've done ~4000 kays and are
quite thin.
I commute on my race bike now because of the training principal of
'specificity', i.e. I do most of my riding on the race bike so that the
position and muscle used in training and racing are the same. I don't
have two sets of wheels and I'm not going to swap tyres before and after
every race so I commute/train/race on ProRace.

Quoted message said:

M "that's why they give corner marshals BROOMS" H

Corner marshalls? At Glenvale? Brooms? I don't remember seeing a broom
at Glenvale.

hippy[/QUOTE]
Well, vacuum cleaners then.

Where I used to race, there was always detritus. Tyre-sucking detritus which would scrap a Veloflex as soon as look at it.

Rocks, even. Small kids throwing rocks. Psychotic dogs. We had it tough in our day . . .

M "attempting to make a C-grade comeback in his dotage" H

Mfhor said:

Rocks, even. Small kids throwing rocks. Psychotic dogs.
We had it tough in our day . . .

One of the riders on Saturday's ride rode over a small dead animal on the side of the road. Despite its deceased state, it still managed to bite both tyres. He didn't get a lot of help fixing the punctures, either.

Regards,

Suzy