| I explicitly stated that I do ride with lights, reflectors and high visibility clothing. The lights aren't on midday unless there is an eclipse. I explicitly stated that my experience is from UK roads, not American. Our roads go back to Roman times, yours date back to Henry Ford, give or take a century or two, kind of brand new, when compared. Let me describe the last 'puncture'. Car: Toyota Yaris, three occupants. Road: narrow not-even-B road. Pothole hit at roughly 30 mph. No air in tyre shortly after that. You could witter on about whether this was a puncture or not, all I know is that I was the one crawling in the mud, swapping to the emergency spare tyre in falling light conditions, with one of those stupid scissor jacks that just wants to buckle and bend. In the UK run-flat tyres are rare on new vehicles and even rarer on second hand vehicles. Winter tyres are also rare in the UK. Maybe we are just cheap in the UK, not needing to haul untold un-metric tonnes as Americans spend their time doing, and not needing to go at 155mph plus as Germans spend their time doing. As for bicycle tyres, I am not riding for 'conspicuous leisure', which is the American way. Normal tyres with some puncture prevention layer in the carcass works for me, until I get that first puncture. When I get that second puncture, I take that as my cue to replace them, since it is the carcass that has gone, with the puncture prevention going too. The fashion in 'conspicuous leisure cycling' is for lightweight 'tubeless' tyres filled with sealant that has to be replaced every few months. The idea is to have lower pressure, wider tyres for better rolling resistance. Allegedly these miracle tyres solve punctures, yet people with these tyres go to the local bike shop on the regular, which is not an option for me, since I need my bicycle. Hence I use normal tyres and tubes, with a track pump by the door. I keep them inflated to the value written on the sidewall, which means relatively high pressure and minimal carcass flex, thereby keeping them good for longer. My goal is to get places with safety and ease, so it isn't about 'conspicuous leisure' or keeping up with the latest trends. Weight also comes into it, and force = mass * acceleration. As a 'stick-man', envious of those with visceral fat, never in a race to get anywhere, always on rock-hard tyres, I don't get 'pinch flats'. Anyway, I am off to do some plant buying, to see what fits in the panniers. Hopefully I will be back with some lovely new house plants, riding back with a mini-forest, which will be 'conspicuous leisure cycling' of sorts. Keep on riding, your own way, and come to the UK some time to enjoy the wonders of our National Cycling Network, taking trains as needed. I am sure you will also enjoy studying the automotive curiosities that the car dependent have over here too. American car culture is far more interesting, nobody modifies their cars over here, it is always 'bone stock' in boring colours of white or grey. |
Sorry I was vague, by "without lights" I meant "without lights turned on and pointing in the direction where they can be seen by other vehicles".
> Allegedly these miracle tyres solve punctures, yet people with these tyres go to the local bike shop on the regular, which is not an option for me, since I need my bicycle.
Yes, tubeless bike tires are pretty good wrt of punctures and ride quality, you can maintain them at home but I imagine many people indeed don't bother. Same as many people go to bike shops to replace tubes.