Another flat tire

[pegkerr]

It was so beautiful this morning that even though I was running a little late, I decided to bike all the way in, rather than hop on the light rail. Alas, I ended up being even later.

I was really enjoyign the ride until a shard of glass flattened my brand new rear tire. Instead of sucking it up and trying to figure out how to pull it off and fix it, working around the panniers and derailler, I weaseled out and called Rob to pick me up. He's going to drop the bike off to get the tire fixed at the Hub.

I've been shown how to change a flat several times, but have never attempted to do the rear tire myself. I am calling myself all sorts of hard names as a result. Rob is not always going to be there to rescue me. I really need to suck it up and learn to do it myself.

Comments

[katakanadian.livejournal.com]

I had a nightmare week last spring when I bought a new puncture resistant tire to replace one that was getting worn out. I had about 10 flats with that cursed new tire. Most of the time I didn't even have a chance to ride anywhere before the next flat occured. It was especially vexing because the tire was so tight in the rim that it was really hard work to get it off and on.

That said, changing a tire or tube usually isn't too tough and is definitely an important skill to have.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

That's almost certainly caused by pinching the tube with the tire levers, or having a bad rim strip. When you've got a tight tire, you've got to be really careful not to use too big a tube, and not to pinch the tube before inflation.

[katakanadian.livejournal.com]

The tire was so tight that I was unable to get it off without using a screwdriver which I know is risky but out of >100 flats in over 30 years (mostly changed using a screwdriver) I have only had 1-2 problems in the past. This time I did put a hole once (out of ~10 changes) in a tube. 1-2 of the first flats may have been due to bad rim tape so I replaced that. I had a bike shop person (over the phone) list off multiple things that I should be doing/should have done and I said 'yes' to all of them (except avoiding screwdrivers). Most of the flats seemed to be unrelated to each other (holes in different places, different patches used, failure to complete inflation sometimes, 2 days riding sometimes, tube appeared to be too small, etc, etc). I finally gave up and bought another new tire and have not had excessive problems since.

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

I had a small epidemic of flat tires last month on my old bike. I think the second flat was caused by a tiny piece of glass still embedded in the tire. I went over that tire several times and could NOT find it, but my eagle-eyed husband finally spotted and extracted it.

THEN.. I bought a nice new inner tube, which not only went flat almost immediately, but when I blew it up to patch it started springing new pinholes all over the place!! I've never seen anything like it. I threw it away and get another new tube, which has been fine.

So, even if no one else does, I believe you that you got a defective tube!

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

You should have had him take the bike home, so YOU would have to fix it tonight. Honestly, as with ANY skill that you're trying to learn, just watching someone else do it is practically useless. You should have already changed the tubes in both tires at home when you have time, BEFORE getting a flat out on the streets.

The only tricky part is to make sure to get the glass out; sometimes there are bits remaining after you pull out the obvious bit.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know. That's why I feel like such a weasel.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Guilt, on top of everything. Argh.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Don't feel guilty, just take some time to practice on a tire that you purposefully deflate rather than waiting for it to deflate spontaneously. :)

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Hey, not trying to make you feel bad (or worse) and there's no need to feel bad at all. Just learn the skill; make it sometime this week, it shouldn't take more than 30 minutes max including washing your hands afterwards.
I know people who swear they can change a rear tube and be re-inflated in 4 minutes. I'm not in a race, it usually takes me 12 to 15 minutes by the time I dig out all my tools from the bottom of the bag, do the work, and put everything back in the bag.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Can you give me that source again for buying the latex (or latex-equivalent) gloves, by the way? I had a spare intertube with me, and a tire pump, and a tire lever, but it was the thought of all the grease that put me off from trying it this morning, I'll admit.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

you want nitrile gloves. I get them from harbor freight (harborfreight.com) but I don't think I'd bother ordering them online; you can just go get some at a pharmacy or something. I only go through a few pair a year. In that quantity it's not worth paying the shipping. I get them at HF because there's a retail store that I visit occasionally anyway.

They're on sale 100 for $5.99 right now.

Here are twin cities stores:
MINNEAPOLIS,MN 725 45TH AVE NE 763-571-9390
ST PAUL, MN 9 SIGNAL HILLS 651-306-0555

It's a wonderous place if you like tools. They also have a limited range of gardening tools and landscaping pieces. Their stuff is cheap, but for many of us, it's entirely sufficient.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Should be able to pick some up at any pharmacy. Or this place will apparently ship you a free sample.

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

"I know people who swear they can change a rear tube and be re-inflated in 4 minutes."

And they can! When I was on a group bike trip in northern Minnesota everybody got lots of flats (due to riding on Hwy 169, which suffers from too many drunken Rangers tossing beer bottles out the windows of their pickup trucks). I repaired most of them myself, but every now and again one of those Spandex-clad super-bikers would stop to help, and they really DID have the whole thing done in less than 5 minutes. I was unable to get the tire on or off without tire levers, but these guys just peeled the tire off in seconds with their frighteningly muscular fingers.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

BTW, the ease and speed of changing depends a lot on your rims and tires. The rims that came with my bike, I can change the tire with no tools. The one I rebuilt my rear with, I can barely do with 2 levers, 3 makes it easier, and I have to be pretty careful to not pinch the tube.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

The real hassle with the rear tire is the chain. I'd recommend a trial run, just pulling the wheel off and putting it on, if you already have the flat fixed.

Do you have quick-release hubs?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I have a quick release on the front wheel only, alas.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

Oh...

Well, that adds a level of complication. You might consider one of those "instant fix" kits that seals punctures and inflates the flat. I've never used one, so this is an un-verified route.

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

"I have a quick release on the front wheel only, alas."

How exceedingly strange! The only reason not to have quick-release wheels that I know of is paranoia about having the wheel stolen. Why would somebody worry about having the back wheel stolen, but not the front?

If the bike is still at the bike shop, ask them if they can put a quick-release lever on the back wheel for you. Really, getting the wheel off is the hard part of fixing a flat.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Well, the bike is thirty-five years old. That's probably why! I believe that quick release wheels were quite new-fangled when I bought this bike, when I was in high school.