When I started riding seriously, I learned to wipe my tires off as soon as I saw a patch of glass or other road debris I couldn’t avoid. I don’t remember who taught me to do it but I think is was one of the experienced riders I rode with. Not everyone agrees though that it helps prevent flats.
Jobst Brandt, a mechanical engineer and wrote the book “The Bicycle Wheel“, says wiping a bike tire while riding doesn’t do any good. In fact in a bike list exchange he says, “Tire wiping is akin to throwing salt over ones shoulder except that it has more ill effects.” Besides being dangerous he says those that wipe their tires have dirty hands and then get the dirt on their faces.
Bike mechanic legend, Sheldon Brown, disagreed with Brandt over tire wiping. He said in practice there were a lot more variables than in Brandt’s theory and that in fact tire wiping does help prevent flats. From my experience, I also think that it helps. Popular blogger, Cyclelicious, admits to being a tire wiper.
Everyone does agree though that you need to be careful if you do wipe your tire while riding. I would never do it with knobby tires. The knobs will grab your hand and bad things will happen.
Even with fairly smooth road tires you need to be careful. If you put too much pressure on the front tire it could grab your hand and you’ll risk a face plant. The rear tire is even trickier. You need to keep looking ahead, stay balanced and not stick your hand in the spokes. If the tire grabs your hand, you could get your hand stuck between the tire and the frame.
One time I was riding in a group of 6 or 7 other riders. We were going down a hill at about 35 mph when we hit a patch of broken glass. I couldn’t swerve without possibly bumping another rider.
I quickly brushed off the front tire and reached around to the rear tire. I hooked my thumb around the seat stays like I’d been taught to help prevent having my hand pulled too far by the tire.
I was wearing a new pair of winter gloves. The rear tire caught on a seam that went across the palm. Before I could react my hand was firmly wedged between the tire and the frame tight enough that the rear wheel locked up.
There I was going 35 mph with one hand on the bars and one hand stuck behind me. I was fish tailing and trying to stay upright. I was also trying to hold as straight of a line as I could so I wouldn’t crash the other riders.
It was very terrifying! After what seemed like a long time my rear tire blew out. The tire had worn all the way through and into the tube. My hand came free and I was able to bring the bike to a stop.
– UltraRob
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Tags: cycling
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I'm a wiper (on the road, of course), but I stay away from doing it on the rear tire. I tried that once on a long ride to Horesetooth from Berthoud and cut my thumb big-time. I had to ride home with 1.5 hands, but I had a great story!
Wow…what a thrill that must have been. I have wiped my tires in the past when I used to ride a lot in CA. It seems there is not much debris on the roads here in Colorado so I don't feel the need to wipe them off as much or at all on most of my rides.