Am I ready for these tires??

[betagirl]

I have 1 bike with 700x25 and 1 with 700x23's. As others have said, flats are a fact of life with cycling. I recommend practicing at home so in case you do get a flat, you're prepared. When I first changed a tube, it took me FOREVER. Now I can change a rear flat in under 10 minutes. Part of that reason is I got a lot of practice this year commuting. Lots of glass on the road. I use kevlar tires now, which has helped. I've noticed that performance bike's tubes aren't that great. I think some of my flats were from a failed valve stem versus a hole. I haven't taken the time to look them all over though. I have a continental gatorskin on my front tire and michelin erilium kevlar tire on the rear of my Trek 1200. Both are 25's. On my Lemond I have vredestein fortezza SE's, which are 23's. Those are higher peformance. I use the Trek to commute. Other than tubes, having a good frame pump is key also. Topeak makes good ones.

Hope that helps.

[FloridaGal]

Thanks Everyone. I will discuss your tips with the LBS. I feel more confident now!

[Grog]

I ride on 700X23 and my last flat was about 4000 km ago in the rainy months when the street shoulders are not cleaned very often and all the grit accumulates there.

However, you HAVE to learn to fix a flat. It makes you more autonomous and much less vulnerable. As soon as you get your new bike (lucky you) practice in your garage. Go to an introductory mechanics class. Ask your bike mechanics at the shop where you buy it to show you how, talking you through the steps.

Most road bikes will take X23 and X25 without a problem anyway... (Although you might want to check if it's really important for you.) If you like the bike with X23 better but would like X25 tires, just ask the bike shop to change them.

[SadieKate]

I ride on 700X23 and my last flat was about 4000 km ago in the rainy months when the street shoulders are not cleaned very often and all the grit accumulates there.

OMG! You said this out loud???? You may need to go perform some kind of sacrificial rite.

[Dogmama]

OMG! You said this out loud???? You may need to go perform some kind of sacrificial rite.

I agree. Immediately send $20 to everybody who posted on this forum and your karma will improve dramatically.

[fatbottomedgurl]

If for some crazy reason you actually get a tear in the sidewall of the tire and the tube blows out, you can use a protein bar wrapper or dollar bill folded up on the inside of the tire between the sidewall and the tube. You may not want to fill the tire to maximum pressure but at least you can limp home on it. This is also why you always carry a spare tube.