What a commute!!

What an interesting morning, I tell ya. I am learning a lot in such a short span of time, lol!

So I've been feeling...uh...how do I put this tactfully...icky these last couple of days. Woke up still feeling VERY icky....deciding whether or not to go in to work today. Decide what the heck, usually working out makes me feel better, so I'll go ahead.

I'd just done some maintenance on the Redline, so it was all spiffy and chomping at the bit to go for a ride. I was having the best commute ever; great speed, nice and cool. I actually had to stop and do a Goo for the first time ever since the ickiness has kept me from getting what I need in the way of food. My stomach was actually growling whereas I usually feel a bit nauseated in the mornings.

So I'm humming along at about 30mph on this lovely slight downhill about a mile from work when I hear this weird noise. I think it's a bushy branch stuck in my rear wheel, but just in case I stop very quickly. This part of the commute is a busy road w/no shoulder, no bike lane and construction traffic. By the time I stop (a few seconds), my rear tire is completely flat!! Oh no!! I've never changed a flat (I did get a lesson about 4 mos ago from the faithful BF, but you know..watching...doing...rear wheel...WHOLE different ball game).

I try to call work to say I will be late, can't get a soul. Call the BF to make sure I understand the first steps and then will call back and get a "walk through". I get all the way to getting the first little thingamabober under the tire, but can't get any further. Trying desperately to call the BF, but getting voice mail. I'm telling you, I never see anyone commuting my route, even when I'm driving. So I'm trying to call work to get the one other guy who commutes to see if he can come help me/teach me, but again can't get anyone.

Lo and behold, the sweetest young hottie stops and helps me! Keep in mind, another guy on the other side saw me and kept right on going. This guy was so nice, I wish I could thank him somehow. He works at the local REI in the bike shop, so he taught me as we went along. But even he had trouble getting the tire off and getting the CO2 canister to work. I think I might get more bike-friendly commuter tires that are easier to get on/off.

Anyway, he ended up using his C02 canister trying to figure out my little C02 dispenser thingy. I guess I should go to REI next week and give him a replacement and maybe a little bike something to thank him...I'd have literally been out there a lot longer if he'd not come along! I'd have been stuck waiting until after 8am and trying to dial out to someone at work (our voice mail won't work before 8am...whatever....)

Well, at least I have my first flat out of the way...rear tire, no shoulder and all!!

that is so awsome that the hottie came along and helped you. God totally helped you out, I mean he happened to work at a bikeshop. How awesome was that. I'm glad you got your bike fixed and made it to work safely

And THAT is what cycling is all about! It really is amazing how cycling etiquette works... and how friendly and helpful most people are! Definitely a word to his boss, perhaps in the form of a thank you letter for their amazing staff who are so helpful even OFF DUTY would be cool... something like that would go in his file.. perhaps even sent directly to the HR Dept (can ya tell I'm an HR Director??? ;) )...

Now, when ya get home tonite, take that wheel off and change the tube... on and off maybe 4-5 times until you're proficient at doing it on your own! Then next time you're out riding and get a flat you'll not have to panic wondering what the heck you're gonna do... before long, YOU'LL be the one stopping to help someone change their flat!! (here's a little tip in case you're not doing it... put your tube in a ziploc with some baby powder... makes it slip under the tire so much more easily!)

When I'm out and see someone stopped I ALWAYS, ALWAYS call out "You OK?"... you never know what I may have in my seatbag that can help them... I've even loaned someone my cell once who had a mechanical failure and forgot their phone...

oh yeah, and I NEVER let anyone pay me when I've helped them... (I'm always surprised when they offer!) that would just mess up my bike karma! :D

Lynne- Couple of suggestions here- changing flats gets easier with experience. Also, how old are your tires? I find the newer the tire, sometimes the harder to get the darned thing off!

You might practice at home in the kitchen or someplace where you have lots of light. I'm not the speediest when it comes to changing flats, but I can get it done. I'll bet BF will be happy to work with you as it's in his best interest that you learn how to do this with ease. The front tire is easier to take off so Id start with that one.The hardest part about the back tire is (for me) getting it back on with the chain in the right place! I have a rag in my seat bag which I use to get my hands clean after playing with the chain. Some people have handiwipes which are also convenient and easy to store. You'll be a champ soon, it just takes lots of practice!

Also, I highly recommend that you purchase a pump. I have a Topeak Road Morph pump- has a little foot on it and works like a floor pump. (Even has a little gauge!) You can get them at REI. I'm not strong enough to pump 100 lbs in my tire going sideways so this was a good alternative. Cannisters are fine, if you can figure them out, but you have to carry extra cartridges which can be heavy. Just my thoughts on that.

Lucky you- REI guys are great aren't they!!!!

Lynne,

We have an article on the website on how to fix a flat. Even if you already know how to do it, I think there's some good tips in it. The tip I've found most useful is how she describes creating "slack" in the tire to make it easier to get off. It DEFINTIELY works, and using this trick I can get most tires off without a lever (and I don't have great hand strength. Don't ask me to open a jar...).

http://www.teamestrogen.com/articles/asa_levers.asp

My last on-the-road flat was on a rainy morning. I think 3 cyclists passed without so much as a "hey, do you have everything you need?" Imagine my surprise when a *motorist* stopped and asked if I was OK. (I was fine).

Hope the article helps.

Susan

Thanks guys, I'm going to read that article. That was the big problem, getting the tire off to begin with (yes, it's fairly new).

And yep, first thing I said to BF is that I'm going to the LBS after work and getting like 8 or 9 cylinders and practicing from start to finish until I can do it with my eyes closed.

I guess I should have known it'd happen at the worst time in the worst place.

Ok, and the weird thing is, when I used to hike, I was SO independent!! I never needed help for anything. But I swear, with biking I almost always prefer to bike w/someone and always want help if anything goes wrong. What happened to my independent self??? LOL.... Maybe I also need to bring along a mini stuffed teddy bear to hug when I get frustrated :rolleyes:

Yes, I will have to write to the REI manager and let them know they have a great employee and that it was MY fault he was late! I'll keep that in mind about gifts, though. Also, maybe I should ask the BF to come with me when I drop off the letter. I wouldn't want the poor little hottie to think I'm trying to get a date and want him to know I'm really just trying to thank him for the desperately needed help!

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Originally Posted by Lynne

Yes, I will have to write to the REI manager and let them know they have a great employee and that it was MY fault he was late! I'll keep that in mind about gifts, though. Also, maybe I should ask the BF to come with me when I drop off the letter. I wouldn't want the poor little hottie to think I'm trying to get a date and want him to know I'm really just trying to thank him for the desperately needed help!

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And the very nicest thing you can do is stop and pass on your new-found expertise to the next cyclist you see with a flat!

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Originally Posted by nuthatch

And the very nicest thing you can do is stop and pass on your new-found expertise to the next cyclist you see with a flat!

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Whoa whoa whoa now! LOL...let's get me to where I can actually fix my OWN tire before I stop and harrass some poor unlikely citizen with my newfound fixed-a-flat-one-time-with-help-from-the-hottie skills!!! :eek:

Heck yes, give that guy a rave customer comment card (um, I also work for REI)! You have no idea how much it brightens our day to get a positive review- we post 'em up and even read the best ones aloud in the morning meetings. Plus, it can't hurt his job security for his supervisors to know how kind and helpful he was.