wickedwords

I got my first flat today on the ride home, and thus learned how to decouple the brake quick release, the tire quick release, and get it out of the derailer. A very nice gentleman walking along the trail stopped and helped me out after the 'pop' echoed down the valley, and talked me through some of it. Plus he inflated my tire with my very anemic pump.

I got going again, and realized the tire was making a strange sound; more investigation revealed that my sidewall had blown, which is what led to the flat. I could have done the tire replacement all again and temporarily patched the sidewall with a dollar bill to keep the tire from being pinched, but the guy thought if we decoupled the rear brakes, it should be okay until I hit civilization; he kindly offer the use of his garage as he lived in the condo just off the trail, but I said 'no thanks, complete stranger-good samaratin-guy. I will call my husband from the city campus (right by the police station) and he'll be happy to pick me up.'

So it all worked out, and tomorrow, I will have to go guy new tires for the bike. I'm kinda looking forward to it. I also feel weirdly competent that hey! I changed a flat on the rear tire of my bike.