Road Demons
Pothole season is in full swing here.
Drivers are concerned about potholes because of potential damage to their cars. But I see potholes differently.
Gravel or road debris may not even register with drivers except for the outside chance of a cracked windshield. But all I see is:
Sometimes I report issues to the city.
And they are generally quick to close the case.
But sometimes I still hear the demons taunting me…
It is not impossible, or even all that hard, so systematically eliminate potholes. They do in The Netherlands. I always get rather jealous when I see “before and after” photographs when the “before” is a huge step up from what we put up with every day. For example, see:
https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2014/05/15/denbosch-before-and-after/
@dr2chase:if everyone had “good” tires like the Schwalbe Big Apples then this whole thing would be a non-issue, but I think that the spirit of Somervilkebikes’s comment was to just underinflate what’s currently on your bike. You have to consider the wide range of bike tires out there. Not all of them are as capable as the Big Apples. In that light, saying “just underinflate your tires” as means of coping with potholes is ill advice. Also, consider what happens if you do ride around on one of those lower-quality tires at low pressures: will you remember to re-inflate them? Let’s say that you deflate down to 40 PSI or so, then ride around for a month at that level without re-checking the pressure: what do you think happens to the tire pressure? Air will leak out, slowly, and eventually, you’ll be rolling around on dangerously under-inflated tires.
No, I don’t have any data on punctures. The prevailing thought on punctures and PSI level seems to be that higher = lower risk of flats. Inflating the tube to it’s max rating (90 PSI on my summer tires) seems to make it harder for road debris to pierce the tire, and it also makes the tube more resistant to pinch flats.
I know that there are many streets out there that have too many potholes to dodge them. I’ve ridden down my fair share. For the ones that I can’t avoid, I lift out of the saddle briefly, or just “grin and bear it”. For all other roads, I avoid them because, you know, I’m watching the road ahead, and NOT just for traffic.
morlamweb – I have been lifting out of the saddle for years when I ride over the trolley car tracks., instinctively. I think it must be from something I heard long ago. So is that better for the bike or is it done because it is more comfortable for the rider?
Rebecca, I lift out of the saddle mainly because it’s more comfortable for me. My legs act as suspension when going over bumps rather than having the bumps go my spine. It makes going over bumps tolerable with my rigid-frame bike. I think of it as “on-demand” suspension. I have no idea if it’s better for the bike. I think that as long as the bike is well-built, mechanically sound, and has no cracks in the frame, then lifting out of the saddle vs. sitting probably makes no difference.
Sounds like Beacon St. in Somerville. I ride fat tires (50mm Schwalbe Marathons) but it makes no difference. That road is like a moguls course, you have to pick a line and try not to get bounced off your seat.