How do you commute on bikes in rougher areas?

[sabrina92]

I am talking about places where the road has potholes and stuff like that.

[Jesper]

(08-26-2024, 02:20 AM)sabrina92 Wrote:  I am talking about places where the road has potholes and stuff like that.

Depending on road condition and bike type and tire size you need to ride slower and improve your cycling skills (weaving and hopping) should you wish to ride faster. Having intimate knowledge of the road and being able to avoid or prepare for the worst spots is a big advantage. Suspension might help in many cases, but it might also be overkill, especially depending on use of the bike in a different setting that has "good" sufaces compared to those you encounter at present. Wider tires and/or lower tire pressure can help also; but again, you need to consider how else the bike might be used.

[GirishH]

Welcome, @sabrina92. I commuted from the suburbs of Boston into the city for work for over 10 years. My road bike and hybrid would all get flats. There were lots of potholes and junk on the roads. For my long-distance road bike, I switched to Gatorskin tires, and that helped a bit. Eventually, I switched to a fat tire bike, and I must admit I didn't get many flats. Wider tires helped. So, should you try hybrid or mountain bike tires for commuting? Yes, they have more friction, and your speed is compromised, but how fast can you go in the city during commuting hours? I would hit a lot of traffic and traffic signals, and getting to work without smelling like a sweaty animal was my goal. :-)

Where do you commute?

[froze]

I used to commute (before retiring) and still ride in Fort Wayne Indiana where the freeze and thaw cycle tears up roads, from potholes to large cracks, to broken pieces of concrete, out in the country I ride on chip and seal, and with those road conditions I ride on 700x25 tires never had a problem.

When I was commuting, I did ride on reinforced tires and used a Rhinodillo tire liner on the rear tire, but now I ride just on 320tpi cotton tires on the front and cotton tires with a light flat resistance belt in the casing on the rear, and no tire liner, with that much weaker setup I get at the most a flat a year, and the tires last about 2 seasons.

After every ride I check the tread for cuts and holes, if I find any, I fill them with Super Glue, let it dry and refill if the glue sunk in a bit when it dried.

Of course, if you are commuting you need to be really good and fast at doing flat repairs, and I mean patching on the side of the road as well just in case you throw in your spare tube and that one flats for some reason, you need to know how to patch on the side of the road. This should go without saying, but you need to allow yourself a bit more time than just ride time to work in case of a flat. Most flats occur on the rear, so you need to know how to handle the mechanicals quickly as well. Most employers will not be pleased if you come in late due to a flat, so plan for flats.

[Flowrider]

Focus on the terrain in front of you like you do when driving a car. You will naturally avoid anything dangerous. Be aware of distractions and maintain focus, again, just like when you're driving your car

[GirishH]

@sabrina92, I recently finished a month-long bikepacking trip covering around 2,000 km (1,200 miles), traveling with just the bare essentials to survive. Due to limited space, I couldn’t even pack a spare tube, pump, tire levers, or patch kit.
Over the entire month—riding everything from national and state highways to rugged backroads—I got remarkably lucky and only had a single flat tire, which I managed to fix at a motorcycle garage. Maybe dialing in the exact right tire pressure made all the difference, but I definitely caught a lucky break.

Since it was a borrowed cycle where the tires were stock, Hartex 60 TPI..
   

[Jasleen]

(08-26-2024, 02:20 AM)sabrina92 Wrote:  I am talking about places where the road has potholes and stuff like that.

I usually slow down a bit and try to keep a little more distance from traffic so I have room to avoid the worst potholes. Slightly wider tires at a sensible pressure also make rough roads much more manageable. I’ve learned not to grip the bars too tightly either — staying relaxed seems to help a lot when the surface gets uneven.

[Sidewinder]

We have HUGE potholes in Silver City... you could fill 'em with Volkswagens, lol.

Best solution: eyes on the road and dodging those holes, same way you'd avoid tweekin' crackerheads!

Now, did anyone catch that road rage clip on TV? Where the woman broke the rear windshield of a pickup truck, and the pickup driver then bashed the rear end of the woman's car?

You wanna avoid that sort of action too, lol... no future in it!

[Flowrider]

@GirishH that's incredible! Did you have phone reception if you needed urgent assistance?

[GirishH]

@Flowrider, on this trip, cell reception, lodges and puncture (flat) repair shops were everywhere—whether I was in a city, a small town, or the most remote village. Taking risks felt manageable, but I still made sure to get off the road before sunset. Any emergency feels amplified once it gets dark..

My current trip, however, demands a lot more caution. I just got here yesterday in the Western Himalayas of India, wedged between China and Pakistan. There won't be much civilian traffic, lodges or garages though I'm told to expect plenty of military convoys and motorcyclists.

Since this is another last-minute plan, I'll likely buy a basic MTB locally. I can grab a spare inner tube, but I won't have access to a portable pump, so I'll need to be exceptionally careful to avoid getting stranded. The highest point on the route is Khardung La at over 5,350 meters.

Let's see. This terrain is far more remote, unforgiving and cell service is space if at all existing..

I will start a separate discussion thread on this trip.. because a lot of learning for me as I navigate this one..

(08-21-2026, 11:35 PM)Flowrider Wrote:  @GirishH that's incredible! Did you have phone reception if you needed urgent assistance?