the dreaded sound we all know...

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10-23-2006, 08:44 AM
bikerchick68

the dreaded sound we all know...

POW! pffffffffffff......

Saturday my friends and I take off for a nice ride... we make it not even a 1/2 mile and there was the dreaded sound... yup. Flat tire. :rolleyes: not just an air leak flat either, but a dreaded "explosion" flat... the kind with the loud POW that startle you outta your wits! :eek: :D

I pull the wheel off, get my gear out and get to changing it... and as I run my fingers inside to make sure it's OK for the new tube... my finger goes THRU the sidewall :eek: yeah, guess who walked back home... :o hey, at least it was close! The good news was that I had a spare tire so I changed it and we were able to ride still... I'd forgotten my coffee covers too, so I took off my shoes... and as I peeled my socks off my friend asked if I was really gonna go barefoot? Heck yeah, those socks were $10! I'm not ruining them! :p

as we got going again, THIS time I paid attention and avoided the broken bottle in the road... sigh...

time for new tires! :D
10-23-2006, 08:57 AM
mimitabby

what's a coffee cover?
10-23-2006, 09:19 AM
bikerchick68

mimi... coffee covers are the covers that snap onto and protect your cleats when/if you're walking on them...the link shows a picture of them...they're road shoe specific since mtn bike cleats CAN be walked in...

cleats are expensive and if you walk on them too much, you can wear them down and damage them...

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...0&srccode=2047
10-23-2006, 09:23 AM
SadieKate

Huh, never heard cleat covers called coffee covers. Makes sense. Like cafe racers.
10-23-2006, 09:25 AM
bikerchick68

I wonder if that's a local expression then? :confused: That's ALL I've ever heard 'em called!

anyone else out there use the term "coffee covers"

(we mostly use them at the coffee shop... LOL!)
10-23-2006, 09:37 AM
fixedgeargirl

I've heard them called cafe' covers.
10-23-2006, 12:29 PM
emily_in_nc

I call them coffee shop caps. I think the jist is that you can snap 'em on to run into a coffee shop for a cuppa during a ride! I use them on my Speedplay X-2 cleats; can't live without them!

Emily
10-23-2006, 02:10 PM
liberty

Gosh, one more thing to get... I didn't know you needed covers for the cleats. Learn a new thing every day...
10-23-2006, 05:58 PM
hsmpcycle

Wow, I didn't know that either. If I think about it, I have always walked on my cleats without those. Who knew.

Thanks for the info.
10-23-2006, 07:13 PM
tprevost

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerchick68

POW! pffffffffffff......

Saturday my friends and I take off for a nice ride... we make it not even a 1/2 mile and there was the dreaded sound... yup. Flat tire. :rolleyes: not just an air leak flat either, but a dreaded "explosion" flat... the kind with the loud POW that startle you outta your wits! :eek: :D

I pull the wheel off, get my gear out and get to changing it... and as I run my fingers inside to make sure it's OK for the new tube... my finger goes THRU the sidewall :eek: yeah, guess who walked back home... :o hey, at least it was close! The good news was that I had a spare tire so I changed it and we were able to ride still... I'd forgotten my coffee covers too, so I took off my shoes... and as I peeled my socks off my friend asked if I was really gonna go barefoot? Heck yeah, those socks were $10! I'm not ruining them! :p

as we got going again, THIS time I paid attention and avoided the broken bottle in the road... sigh...

time for new tires! :D

but the good news in this is... you're back on the bike!!!!! YEAH!!!!! :D
10-23-2006, 08:26 PM
bikerchick68

liberty and hmsp... you're welcome! Hey, you need help spending money on bike stuff, you just let me know ;) :D

tprevost... it is SO good to be back on the bike... hoping to get myself built back up fairly quickly... guess I need to go get those new tires asap huh? :D
10-24-2006, 05:18 AM
hsmpcycle

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikerchick68

liberty and hmsp... you're welcome! Hey, you need help spending money on bike stuff, you just let me know ;) :D

Hey, no problem!! Though I have been riding for many years, I am one of those who doesn't keep updated on equipment.
10-24-2006, 10:35 AM
telegirl

Little trick

Not sure how big of a hole was in your tire, but I learned a trick that should keep things together to at least get you home. Use a folded up dollar bill (I always keep a little money on me when I ride - in my bike bag) and place it inside the tire (I usually just fold it in half, then in half again, so it is flat enough to mold to the tire). Money is made of paper tough enough to keep the tube from bulging and will let you at least get home-