How do you change a tube/tire?

[pooks]

When I first started surfing sites, I found a tube- or tire-changing kit (I could have sworn it was here on TE but evidently not) that was aimed at women. It was a water bottle (maybe even pink, or trimmed in pink?) so it fit in a holder, and inside were all the things you'd need to fix your flat or change your tube or whatever, including a plasticized illustrated folded diagram that supposedly was a kind of dummies' guide.

I didn't buy it -- thought it was a gimmick/gadget -- but I've never forgotten it. That dummies' guide thing might be worth the price to somebody like me.

Has anybody seen that somewhere? Or something similar?

If not, where do you learn? Do they offer classes at the LBS or something?

[mimitabby]

true confessions time.
I can change a car tire. I have done it.
But last year when i got so many flats on my raleigh bike, i got very skillful in networking men who work here who have bike savvy. My very kind and patient hubby taught me how to change a flat and patch the tube... so i did all that, with friendly guys all round watching me. Then the patch did not stick EVEN THOUGH i did exactly what i was supposed to do.
So.. back to my guy network. Pretty pathetic. At my company we have security guards, and one of them is a biker.. and we have mechanics with shop air and
an attachment to the shop air to inflate bike tires....
anyway, i am still striving for independence and yesterday i noticed one of my tires was low on air and i took the dumb miniature pump that my DH lovingly placed in my pack and deflated the tire almost completely.
Fortunately a 24 year old young engineer who used to race bikes in college was in the next room, so I got him to show me what i did wrong, and in less than a minute he'd gotten the tube re-inflated.

[Grog]

Everything I need to change a flat fits in my saddle bag. It includes:

- spare tube (I just change the tube and fix the flat with a patch once at home)
- patch kit (in case of a second flat)
- tire levers (which I seldom use, but just in case)
- C02 carts (2) and adapter (not really necessary for your big tires, you'll be better with just a pump)

plus
- frame pump (in case of CO2 failure or if I'm not in a hurry and don't want to waste CO2)

If you don't have quick release skewers on your wheels you'll also need a box wrench to take your wheels off.

If you're concerned about your hands, you can always carry a pair of nitrile gloves but I don't bother.

I wouldn't want to use one of my two water-bottle cages to carry this kit.

As for learning how to do it: I strongly recommend taking a beginner's bike mechanics class, which will be a half-day or full-day put to very good use. It's really empowering to learn the basics about your bike. In some cities you can even find women-only mechanics classes. If these are unavailable near you, you can always go to your LBS and ask your favorite mechanics to go over it with you at some point. Most of them will be happy to teach you, with or without a fee.

[Denise223]

You might want to check out Sheldon Brown's sites for EVERYTHING related to bicycles.

I found this link for you:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/flats.html

You lbs might be able to show you how to change a tire -- just ask them.

Have a great day!!

Denise

[betagirl]

Personally I learned by trial and error. The more you do it, the faster you get at it. So if you have some time, try it at home before you get a flat :)

All you need is a pair of tire levers, though you can get the tire off without them. Though that can be difficult, depending on how tight your tire sits on the rim.

This is the most thorough guide I've seen:

http://sheldonbrown.com/flats.html

But you can read it all day, until you actually do it it'll take you a while. I think the first time I changed a tube it took me like half an hour. I couldn't get my tire back on :D The last flat I got (a rear of course), I changed it in like 8 minutes. I was also in a bad part of town, so I was highly motivated.

Good luck!

[tulip]

Prevention is a good thing. Keep your tires properly inflated and flats will be less likely to occur. I pump my tires up every week. They may feel fine to the squeeze, but actually be down 20-30 lbs. of pressure (mine take 100 psi). Get a good floor pump with a guage for filling up at home regularly.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Prevention is a good thing. Keep your tires properly inflated and flats will be less likely to occur. I pump my tires up every week.
Every week? I pump my tires every day (that is, every day that I ride)! I'd rather be sure that they have the appropriate pressure, and if you have a good floor pump (with a gauge) it doesn't take any time at all.

And when I'm on the road on a tour, I have a Topeak RoadMorph with me, so pumping the tires is easy then too.

--- Denise

[Pedal Wench]

Every week? I pump my tires every day (that is, every day that I ride)! I'd rather be sure that they have the appropriate pressure, and if you have a good floor pump (with a gauge) it doesn't take any time at all.

And when I'm on the road on a tour, I have a Topeak RoadMorph with me, so pumping the tires is easy then too.

--- Denise
+1 EVERY ride. It also gives me a chance to see if I've got a slow leak, and I take a moment to check the tire for cuts.

[tulip]

I pump mine up before every ride, but I though I was being neurotic and didn't want to make pooks feel intimidated...once a week is probably sufficient for most people.

I'm glad I'm not the only neurotic tire pressure person out there. I went four years without a flat...til this summer when I had a bum tire on my road bike and the sidewall burst miles from anywhere. And of course, as you know, flats come in threes, so I had two more. Now I'm safe, for the time being.

[Kathi]

Betty Bike Gear

http://bettybikegear.com/products_flattirekit.aspx

[MomOnBike]

You know, right here on TE there is a pretty darn good article on changing tires (and other things). Go to Home page -> Community -> Ariticles. It's under the articles by Asa Sales. Good stuff there.

[Grog]

I pump mine up before every ride, but I though I was being neurotic and didn't want to make pooks feel intimidated...once a week is probably sufficient for most people.

Pooks has a hybrid with lower-pressure tires, she doesn't need to reinflate them at every ride. Once a week would be a good idea though.

If you have a road bike, pumping your tires at every ride is not being neurotic, it's being safe (less flats). Every three days should be a minimum. Tires don't deflate when we ride, they deflate with time, that's all.

[SalsaMTB]

Did you get your bike from a lbs? If so, what about going to your lbs and just asking. I know we've had people do that. They purcahsed a bike, we ask if they know how to change a tire, and if they said no, we'll show them how to do it and the tools they need. Or they'll just come in and ask how to do it and we'll gladly show them. It works out well for both people, the lbs might get an additional sale (tube, pump, levers) and the new rider knows one of the fundamental repairs all riders should know. Even if they don't purchase anything, I guess it's just something we feel all riders should know how to do so it isn't a big deal to show them.

I honestly think if you just go in and ask, they'll show you!! Just try to go in when they're slow :)

[emily_in_nc]

Pooks has a hybrid with lower-pressure tires, she doesn't need to reinflate them at every ride. Once a week would be a good idea though.

I agree. I used to pump up my skinny road bike tires every couple of rides, but I only pump my knobby mtb tires up every week or two.

I also read something interesting lately in Bicycling magazine. I never knew this, but the lighter a rider you are, the less pressure you should use in your tires. You should never go below the minimum pressure recommended for the tire, of course, but if you're light, you're not as likely to get pinch flats, and you'll have a harsher ride with tires inflated to the maximum recommended level or thereabouts.

Who knew!? Sheesh, I'd been pumping my road tires up to 110 PSI forever, and I only weigh 105! I could have probably been a lot comfier keeping them at 90 PSI. I will say that in several years of riding, I had only one pinch flat, and that was when I hit a sharp stone with my front tire just right.

So, with that in mind, I am now keeping my mtb tires more towards the lower end of their recommended range, and it really does make for a comfier ride even on a hardtail.

Emily

[pooks]

Kathi -- that's it! Although how in the world I stumbled across that site, I have no idea. Maybe I found it sold on another site. I wouldn't buy the whole kit (don't need it anyway) but those instructions look sweet.

Salsa, we ordered our bikes from dynamicbicycles.com, but I could check at the LBS and at REI about classes!

[Kathi]

My LBS had them and I saw the link for the site on womenspecific.com.

Before I was comfortable changing tires I carried directions from a cycling magazine in my bike bag. I wrapped them in a plastic bag to keep them dry.

I think its a very good idea to carry the directions with you. until you are comfortable with changing tires.

[Geonz]

I keep the tube in its box and I read the box. Otherwise I am extremely prone to forgetting a step - you know, like "check the tire for swords and spikes," or when to have the tire half off and when to take it all the way off. I prefer having somebody else change it, and I'll supply the running commentary ("pump harder, I think it's getting stiff now!") - but alas, I've ridden enough so people expect me to do it. (The ones who know me know it's a lot faster if somebody else does. I bring the snacks and the humor. THey can bring the motor skills.)