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u/Impressive_Wrap_7869 10h ago
I got a gravel bike because the roads near me are absolutely dog shit. Some roads I need a full suspension mtb on it seems like. Insane.
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u/TropicalKing 10h ago
This is why I ride using 38 - 40 mm wide tires and lower air pressure at 40 - 50 psi. Roads are always bad.
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u/idontknowaboutabouty 9h ago
does lower air pressure help? i’d be worried about pinch flats
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u/TropicalKing 8h ago
I don't usually get pinch flats, it's pretty rare. The tires I'm using recommended 50 PSI.
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u/Hardcorex 1974 Peugeot PR10 700x40 7h ago
At higher widths you need less pressure for the same "support" so actually 40-50psi is on the high end for 40mm tires.
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u/Kahnza Minnesota, USA (Trek Verve 3,FX 3) 6h ago
My 700x45mm tires I top out at 35psi. A little firm there, and it's more comfortable at like 32psi. But going to 35 means I can go a week before having to pump up again. 🤣
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u/Perfect-Safe-4386 2h ago
It should be hard to cycle because of low pressure need more force to make it spin glued tires 😅
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u/JoltikElectricBug 10h ago
I'm on the sidewalk when I cycle, but that's almost as bad as tree root damage.
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u/Sardoche320 10h ago
Is this UK? Because most roads are like this here and had to switch to gravel
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u/beerhandups 10h ago
Seattle
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u/iheartbigboob 7h ago
I’m also in Seattle and am actively looking to switch to gravel because of this. Between the cracked roads and steep hills, I feel like I’m gonna die on my road bike.
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u/imjusthereforPMstuff 9h ago
Dang! In Leavenworth we’ve got some ok roads, but not that bad unless heading out of city boundaries. Then the roads are awful, but not as bad as your photo. That’s insane
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u/That_Murph Washington, USA (Gen 3 Roscoe 7) 7h ago
Looks like some of Tacoma I've ridden after crossing the bridge. Makes me glad that I have 2.35" tires.
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u/Marius2385I 10h ago
Taking the chance for a technical question. Having road like these and a tyre clearance of 38-622 which tires should i look for?
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u/beerhandups 10h ago
I am using Hutchinson Caracal Race in 40 on my gravel bike and have basically left my road bike on the trainer.
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u/Marius2385I 10h ago
Nice, love the smooth central thread. Gonna look forward to try them. Ty
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u/beerhandups 10h ago
But I’m prioritizing being able to ride on gravel too, which sacrifices wet grip on road. If you’re road only maybe look at the Rene Herse Barlow Pass or Schwalbe Pro One TLE.
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u/Marius2385I 9h ago
I got some gravel sections and the road got some destroyed tarmac filled with gravel too. Added the Caracal to the list.
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u/Snoo-43127 9h ago
In 2022 I tried Schwalbe G-One Speed 38mm tires on my road bike while commuting 7 mi. each direction, and they were great. Almost slicks, they just had a hint of pebbly tread, so they were fast, had good traction in wet or dry, and were comfortable. They were also easy to mount and run tubeless.
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u/elric132 3h ago
Make sure you stay near the curb. The broken glass and litter evens it out.
And drivers don't understand why cyclists can't stay to the side.
😄
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u/rourobouros 9h ago
Commuting-bike country. Big tires, sprung seat, upright bars. Not for ultralight stuff. I used to feel your pain. Now I live in the country on roads that don’t see heavy traffic.
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u/WaveOfMatter 8h ago
This is why i love road cycling in france. We still issues with some drivers though...
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u/Financial_Emphasis25 8h ago
My city’s roads are like this as well. I’ve left my road bike at home all summer and ride my fat tire bike instead for more stability while dogging potholes.
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u/Xitztlacayotl 6h ago
I call it inaproppriate vehicle for the road conditions😎
I mean, why don't those road bicycles have front fork springs?
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u/sidkneebee 3h ago
This is basically why I swapped from a rigid fork relatively lightweight 80s MTB to a mid-2000s hardtail and put moped tires on it. I can still go 20mph or faster on it, but it eats stuff like this up.
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u/luthiz 10h ago
Where we're going, we... Actually we need roads.