Five tips to help avoid bicycle punctures

This article discusses five simple tips that will help you avoid bicycle punctures.

Riding along beach road on the weekend I pass by a great number of riders repairing their bicycle punctures. While you can’t avoid punctures, here are five tips that will help you greatly reduce your chances.

Tip #1 – Try to avoid riding over glass on the road:
Probably the number one tip. When you see glass on the road try to go around it not through it. When riding in bunches it’s up to the front rider to point out, call and ride around glass. When you are riding in a bunch avoid serving around when avoiding glass or you’ll cause an accident.  If you do ride through glass rub your hand over the tyre while still riding to remove any glass that might have got stuck in your tire. WARNING: When you do this make sure that you place your hand in such a way that it will not get caught up in your bike if it catches. Last thing you want is to lose your finger!   

Tip #2 – Replace your tyres when worn or badly cut:
See it all the time. Worn out tyres due for replacement months ago giving people a series of multiple punctures. If your tyres are worn out you greatly increase you chance of a puncture. That also goes for tyres that have bad cuts in them. Any cut that has gone right through the tyre to the inside is a cause for concern. It will certainly give you grief at the worst possible time. Sometimes you’ll have a tyre on for a week and then get a really bad cut in it.. Don’t waste your time with it, just replace it.       

Tip #3 – Check for glass in your tyres:
Another very common cause of punctures. Before you go out for your ride in the morning and especially before races and major event check your tyre for glass imbedded in it. Remove all glass that you see. To make it easer you sometimes have to deflate your tyre to pop the glass out or use a small jeweller’s screw driver. These fragments of glass imbedded in your tyres are ticking time bombs waiting to work their way through to your inner tube and ultimately cause a puncture.    

Tip #4 – Replace your inner tubes yearly:
Inner tubes have a limited life. When you service your bike annually replace your inner tubes with fresh ones.

Tip #5 – Ensure you have your tyres correctly inflated:
If you underinflated your tyres you run the risk of pinching your inner tube when you go over a pothole causing a puncher. Alternatively, over inflation will cause a massive blowout failure. 
See this article for some insight on correct inflation: What is the best tire pressure for bicycle tyres?

Bonus tip… The Five dollar bill….
When you get a really bad cut in your tyre the replacement inner tube can sometimes become exposed through the tyre when you pump it up after the repair. If this happened there is a very good chance that you’ll puncture with the replacement inner tube before you get home. With really bad cuts in your tyres place a five dollar bill between the tire and the inner tube. This will stop the inner tube from protruding through and causing you another puncture. Remember, this is a temporary measure only. Replace your tyre with a new one before your next ride. 

Final Note: Riding in the rain.
For some reason and I'm sure someone can tell me why.... Riding in the rain increases your chance of getting a puncture. If you do ride in the rain make extra special care to ensure you are carrying a spare inner tube and a good bicycle pump. 

Comment from Dave: "Just thought that the advice for punctures might need clarification on running your hand on the tyre to remove glass…a  heavy gloved hand is cool but no gloves or light gloves could end up with the rider being cut…same goes for running your fingers inside the tyre".