First ride on new bike and ....

Actually, one of my first "real" rides on a bike at all. Before now, the only biking I did was for fun, with friends, etc. Never trained for a century before. Anyways.....

I was almost done...a mile away from home when I got a flat. Now, I was so excited to get my new bike home and to take a nice pleasant little ride (abt 9 miles to town, show off my bike to friends, then turn around), that I failed to practice or read up on how to change a tire. I had all the tools and tube in my saddle pack, but no idea on how to do it. I even had trouble finding my break release on my front tire earlier today.

I learned the hard way. The tools and nature of the tube were kind of self explanatory. I did change the tire with no help, and managed to get home with no other issues. Well, no other issues other than no one at home wondered what was taking me so long! Thanks guys for being so concerned, lol.

I'm off to a great start! I'd better get extra tubes tomorrow!

Good thing you knew to carry a tube to begin with. Glad you figured it out. I had to have my LBS show me how to change a tube, which I learned too late. My first flat happened out on the road, with no tubes or pump. Luckily, I was near a friend's house.

Remember, even "real rides" have to be fun!