Commuting home was an adventure

[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.

Comments

[kimberlite.livejournal.com]

Sorry you had to deal with a flat, but go you for tackling it. :)

[gattagrigia.livejournal.com]

Now I'm amazed that with all the miles you've biked in the last year or so that this is your first flat - and go you for changing it!

So for the curious, how many miles have you ridden flatless? inquiring minds and all that...

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

My bike computer says I've gone 1670 miles outdoors, but a lot of my millage this year has been indoors on the cycling trainer. I'm guessing that tire had at least 2500 miles on it.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It was kind-of fun, but very messy. I kept opening new baby wipes and washing off my hands. I felt very girly doing it.

[mmmchelle.livejournal.com]

You should feel competent!

And it is so cool that you're biking to work.

[barkley.livejournal.com]

You changed a flat! I am good with getting my tire in and out of the derailer these days since I transport my bike via the trunk of my car. But I live in fear of a flat and actually having to get the tire in and out of the rim! I tried once when I was putting new tires on my bike and I gave up.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

The biking is cool, at least until the rainy season starts. I don't think that I'll be binking then.

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

It was some work to lever the stuff off, but I managed. I think I'll be faster with some practice. I have a comfort bike/mountain bike hybrid so the tires don't puncture so easily; hopefully that practice won't come too quickly.

[spykeraven.livejournal.com]

Yay, you bike tire changer you!

Now say that quickly several times and ponder on whether it sounds vaguely dirty. :)

I got a similar sense of accomplishment when I fixed the faulty flush of my toilet.

(Say that several times slowly and it still sounds vaguely dirty ;))

[wickedwords.livejournal.com]

LOL! Yes, you're right. In the right frame of mind, it all sounds dirty.