Walking the walk - MY first rear flat on a 65 mile ride.

Howdy,

So, after reading the posts on here about rear flats, I was almost delighted (but also a little scared, being far away from home) when my rear tire flatted on today's ride. My DH was already far ahead. The mom in me, or the survivalist, or whomever, said, "Okay, well, here it is, now's as good a time as any to learn to do this." I had memorized the little trek magazine, so, I was happy that I knew what to do first. Disengage the brake. Well, with my brakes, for some reason, this is a near impossible feat (WILL BE CORRECTED TO BE SURE.) I squeezed, I tugged, I pulled, and I could not get that little fekker undone. DH comes back up the hill after awhile, looking for me. He looks at it. "W T F" he says. Apparently, this particular bike has a very peculiar brake setup (good to know, huh?) and to get it undone, at least as far as we could see, was to take it apart. So we did, and got that undone, and then he sat in the grass and watched me do my tire. I didn't want him to help me, but I am glad he was there.

So I did it just like the trek girl showed us, and was very proud of myself, and it wasn't very hard at all, just kind of flustering with the remembering part mixed with the actual doing of it. I unwrapped the new tire and we realized it was the fat kind of valve, not the presta. So it is good I had the pump cuz I did not have the right kind of thing for my cartridge that would work with a fat valve. So I pumped, and then he pumped, and got the tire back up. I later visited a gas station to top off the air.

The ride was really good, but, I have to say, after mile 50, my tailbone and seatbone thing happened again. It just hurt. And my shoulders. And everything else. It's so frustrating! I feel like I could go all day - really, I would, if it were not for PAIN. I had like, this little episode where I got all snivelly (and this is not like me) and I think it was more out of frustration than anything. I mean, I have been lifting weights and doing stretching with my shoulders and arms and neck, so what's up with that? Plus, my helmet has a visor that you just want to rip off the helmet because it obscures your vision, and you have to cock your head up higher to get a good view ahead, further frustrating the neck pain thing. How in the heck am I gonna ride a century in 2 weeks???? Yikes!!! I wanted to take the bike and throw it into a ravine. Ditto the helmet. And the gd shorts that weren't doing what I bought them to do, and that's to keep my arse bone from making contact with anything hard. Right into the ravine. The jersey? Too hot. The bag where I keep everything? Too annoying. The shoes? Too black. And to boot, the road was a mess. Nothing was making me happy. We even had a really cute female bull terrier run alongside us. Ugly dog. BAD DOG! I was on a mean streak. Gawd. I told DH, GO AHEAD AND PLEASE JUST GO HOME. Leave me here. Well.

He didn't leave me, we just kept peddling.
I'm glad I didn't get another flat, cuz that was my only tube.
I'm glad I got a flat though. It was a good learning experience.
According to century training, another 65-70 miler is called for next Saturday.
I did this today and I can do it again, but I must find a solution to my pain issue. I did 57 miles last Saturday and the WTB saddle was fine (about mile 50, I started to become tired.) Maybe that's what it is. Maybe my body knows what the last mileage I did is, and it starts to complain afterwards.

Maybe.

Anyhow, the point of the story is, don't be afraid of a flat tire. Memorize how to do it, and then you'll be fine. It's not very hard if you have the steps laid out in your head.

Anj

Congrats on changing your tire! :D How frustrating about the brakes- would've tested my patience A LOT! Glad you got that one out of the way.

I get snivelly sometimes like that, too. It's usually when I'm "bonking" and in dire need of nutrition. That's frustrating, too! And to add on top of that your pain in the neck and arse and shoulders. It was just the straw that broke the cyclists back and you'd had enough. Chock it up to a rough ride. Your century will be much more fun because there will be lots of other riders around, the rest stops will be stocked with yummy foods to keep you going (free cookies- that's the only reason I ride), and it won't seem nearly as lonesome as a 65 miler on your own.

You're almost there- just hang in there a while longer.

Hope the rest of your day is a good one!!! :D

Most helmet visors are removable without damaging the helmet, so if you feel like ripping off the visor, check it first, but I'd say do it!

My visor is removable too, but the sales guy said if I wanted to keep it on, not to take it on and off too much because it will eventually get loose.

Yours may be removable too.

I'm sorry to hear about the flat, but if you are glad, I'm glad too! :) Sounds like you did great!

You're riding a Trek? What year/model?

i think I know how you felt because I felt like just hurling my bike onto someones lawn today and I don't want to feel that way about my bike.

last night cleaning the chain I noticed the tire wasn't seated. I also noticed a huge gouge in the tire so I zoomed in to town to have it replace.
Then
as I was pulling out of a lot packed with the cars of about 1000 other riders the man behind me says "you have a flat". The other tire. The valve is bad. So the mechanic replaces the tube but absolutely cannot get the tire seated even after pumping it to 140psi and bouncing it on the ground like a basketball.

In the time it took to decide it was simply a combination of that tire and that wheel it was hot and riders were already beginning to return :mad:
At this point I was just mentally beat down and didn't even ride. The bike is going to the shop.

I don't ride a trek, but I took advantage of one of their free workshops from the WSD tour. Jill Valliere taught it. She was very efficient. Then we got the little magazine. Which is basically like, a big ad, but tucked between are these handy little hints. I put mine in the catalog basket in my bathroom, and of course, got the thing memorized in no time.
My Dad always said, if you want to memorize something, put it on index cards in a stack in the bathroom, or take the stack with you when you go running.
It works!

p.s. long rides must be like childbirth. I came in and it was comical, I was hot, bothered, bent over, exhausted, suffering, snivelling, and blubbering. Six hours, a shower and a meal and I'm like, feh, it wasn't that bad.

That's why some women keep having babies. They forget.

I guess it's the same with cyclists.

was it a little book with a CD-ROM?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by indigoiis

p.s. long rides must be like childbirth. I came in and it was comical, I was hot, bothered, bent over, exhausted, suffering, snivelling, and blubbering. Six hours, a shower and a meal and I'm like, feh, it wasn't that bad.

That's why some women keep having babies. They forget.

I guess it's the same with cyclists.

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I haven't had a baby, but that's exactly how I feel about cycling. No matter how bad my ride has gone, once I get cooled off and relaxed, I'm always ready to go do it again! We must be nuts... :D

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Originally Posted by zencentury

was it a little book with a CD-ROM?

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I went on the trek website just now and, lo and behold, they have the whole thing right there. Here is the link:

http://www.trekbikes.com/women_cycli...?questionid=31

That ride sounds fun :eek: ! Glad you felt better once it was over. You'll get through the century. You strong like ox :p . I'm sure since you were with DH (and not me), you were flying, which probably contributed to the sniveling after mile 50. Pace yourself and you'll be fine.

I think your shorts are too big for you, hence the wedgy. You've lost more weight since you bought them. Time for a smaller size.

Still no new bike for me :mad: !

Hey, that's possible, but, they're a size small! What's smaller than small? Is there Extra Small? Eeentsie?
You haven't gotten your new bike yet? Whassup with that? I was hoping you'd do next Saturday's 65 miler with me.
Are you happy I know how to change a flat, now? I think you were worried, riding with me before. Like, oh st, what if this girl gets a flat and I have to change it for her?
Well. Now ya don't. :D

Yes, most cycling shorts come in extra smalls.
The Trek article is good, but it doesn't say how to put the rear wheel back ON the bike, which is very difficult for me.

I looked at the trek site posted and am curious why the instructions specifically state *not* to turn the bike upside down? I've changed flats both ways and find the upside down method easier.

Any thoughts?

Wow, Anj, you're an eensy! Good going!

Next weekend, I will do 40+ of your 65 with you if I'm still on my Dolce. We'll see how far I want to go if I'm on my NEW BIKE! (I'm getting an Eddy Merckx thanks to the kindness and generosity of my totally awesome BF.) :D :D :D The LBS is still waiting for a part. I can be patient. I can. It's not killing me. It just feels that way!

I wasn't worried that you couldn't change a flat, but I guess I should have been! Your bike may indeed have ended up in the ravine if I were there to help! Dern brake release sounds annoying!

So tonight I go out to get my ride to ride, and the back tire was flat again.
Huh.
Go figure.
I ain't perfect.
Neither is the bike, apparently.
So I took the old mountain bike. Averaged, I think, 11 miles an hour. Good times.

*SIGH.*

Maybe I will try to change it AGAIN, this time in the livingroom.

About the flippy over thingy - I don't know why they don't have you flip it over, except, if you do it their way, you don't have to remove bike bags, or get your saddle and handlebars all dirty. I actually prefer not having to flip the bike over (having done that many times as a kid with my old Huffy Strider.) Putting the back wheel on was pretty easy for me. I just went back in where it had come out, and pushed the frame down onto the wheel, and then put the chain on the smallest cog, and then tried to make sure I didn't forget anything.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by indigoiis

So tonight I go out to get my ride to ride, and the back tire was flat again.

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Did you check the tire, while it was off the rim, to find out what caused the initial flat? If the thorn, glass, whatever was still in it, it would puncture a new tube.

V.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by maryellen

I looked at the trek site posted and am curious why the instructions specifically state *not* to turn the bike upside down? I've changed flats both ways and find the upside down method easier.

Any thoughts?

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Have you changed the rear upside down? Seems like the chain and derailleur falling in would make it harder.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Veronica

Did you check the tire, while it was off the rim, to find out what caused the initial flat? If the thorn, glass, whatever was still in it, it would puncture a new tube.

V.

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I did. I ran my fingers inside and out, and found the offending wire/pin while I changed it the first time. I then checked it again to make sure that was the only one. It's a mystery. I still haven't changed it the 2nd time yet. Maybe tonight.

When you change this one, try putting the tube in some water. The air bubbles will show you if there is more than one puncture and will give you an idea of where to look on your tire.

Good luck!

V.

When you put the tube back in, put the logo of the tire where the stem hole is. This way, you have a reference point for the tube and the tire. In the future, when you get another flat, you will know where to look in the tire for an object by where the hole is in the tube. Or, if you know where the object is in the tire, you know where to look on the tube for the puncture.

This came in handy this last week for me. I had a thorn in the tire but could not find it and I did not feel anything on the inside of the tire. I found the hole in the tube and patched it then went back to the tire and looked in the area where the tube had been punctured. The thorn was slight and not very long. I had to push down on the tire to feel it. Had that same problem with a sliver of glass once too.

Changed the 2nd tire last night - the one I put on on the road - and found the leak. Up at the nozzle, there was a crack. DH tells me it is likely from my using the small hand pump and having nothing to support it as I pumped. I guess I need to put a hand behind it or a knee or something. Mystery solved.

When I read your first post I laughed out loud so hard. I did a 150 mile ride over 2 days and by the end, you would have thought I was a witch! Everything pissed me off! Yet I long to get out and do another long ride this weekend.
As for the tire changing thing, my bike shop guy told me to carry a cell phone instead of a tube. Guess I must look to stupid to be able to change a tire. Maybe I should have told him I change a lot more than that on my car, so I might be able to handle a bike tire! Ohwell, I had to laugh. Then I went to another bike store and got what I needed. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by indigoiis

I went on the trek website just now and, lo and behold, they have the whole thing right there. Here is the link:

http://www.trekbikes.com/women_cycli...?questionid=31

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Sorry about all the rear flats! You guys scared me enough that I went to a tire changing clinic at my LBS tonight. After I got home, I went to the Trek site indigoiis recommended to refresh my memory. The Trek site was really great .... until it stopped dead after filling the tire. I can't imagine why they didn't continue the steps showing how to get the rear tire back on properly. I guess they figure we're all mechanically-inclined enough to reverse what we just did. Obviously, they have never met me! Perhaps I'll practice more tomorrow -- it's supposed to rain tomorrow night anyway. Thanks for the link, indigoiis!! And may your flat times be past.