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

[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.