How to stop punctures in daily commuting?

July 1st, 2009

I commute 2 hrs to work on road bike. Sometimes, those
shape neddle like dry bush plant punch my tires. How to
prevent it? is there a good tire? any tips?

Are you running over the little jewel we like to call a, "goat's head"? No amount of kevlar in the world will help you with those guys. They are a seed pod from a bush that is indeginous to the midwest, and desert southwest. The city of Denver uses them as a bicycle deterent, no kidding. Absolutely nothing you can do about them.

In fact, when I first started encountering them, I couldn't figure out where they were coming from. Then I found out that certain cities, especially the more redneck, anti-bike kind of cities, farm these things and spread them out to encourage cyclists to seek alternative routes.

This is no B.S. But only relevant if that is the little varmint that keeps flatting you. Find out. Because if it is a goat's head, bet your bottom dollar it is there on purpose.
First, ensure you are using the proper inflated pressure in your tires. It will be posted on the wheels and on the tires usually. Then, I would look at a strong bead on the tire, like kevlar. Your local bike shop will have tons of them. Finally, they make thorn resistant tubes for your wheelset also, or perhaps even slime to help seal a puncture. But I would opt for no punctures rather than fixed ones.
A green slime tire liner might do the trick.Costs about $10.
Wow, 2 hours 1 way – that's a heck of a commute!

1. Keep your tires fully inflated
2. Use heavy duty or puncture proof tubes.
3. Use heavier tires with puncture resistant belts and thicker treads like Armadillos, or Hard Case etc.
4. Try Slime in your tubes

Since you didn't say what you currently using hard to make specific recommendations.
Wow, that's a long commute .. 2 hours one way or 1 hour each way …. in any case …. if you are doing this every day you will be/must be in great shape. Good for you!

Continental makes a good tire. Try bikenashbar for tire deals.
Def. look into getting tires made specifically for puncture resistance, get extra thick tubes, and the liners for the tires. Proper inflation is also very important.
i ride bmx and i pop my tire alot until i got my new bike and do what they said by that slime crap it prevents shit from getting into yer tire and if it does it wont pop it