Tire kharma

Last night I was out doing an easy ride on the nearby rail-trail when I passed a guy walking his bike. I asked if he needed anything, and he asked if I knew how to change a tire. He had all the stuff you need, just didn't know what to do with it. So I helped him.

He took it well - I know some guys would have trouble getting help like that from a female, but he was just very appreciative. He bought the bike in June, and took it to the shop to get a previous flat fixed, so I told him he should go back and ask them to go over basic maintenance with him. I kinda wonder about the shop though, since they never recommended that he buy any tire-change supplies when he bought the bike.

Anyway, I haven't had a flat in about a year, so I'm hoping that I've appeased the tire gods and they will allow me to continue my flat-free spell.

In the meantime, I've been wondering, do you ever replace a tube just because it's getting kinda old, and if so, what do you consider old? Since I've been riding the same tubes for a year, I don't know if at some point I should worry about "rubber fatigue" causing a blowout.


Thanks

Good for you!

I never replace the tube just to replace the tube - only if it has a puncture.

I had to replace a tube recently for a reason I've never heard of. I was swapping out my tires and put just a bit of air into the tube to insert it into the tire. The darned thing would not fit into the tire without kinking up. I laid it out on the floor next to both the tire and a brand new partially inflated tube, and it appeared that the older tube had somehow stretched. So I ended up using the new tube.

Very weird.

Cool that the guy didn't have an issue with you helping him. You definitely earned some good tire karma.

If I replace a worn or old tire, I always replace the tube also. I don't get many flats so my tubes get old and cranky just like my tires. Last week, one had a thin spot from wear inside a well-used tire.

Also, I'm lucky enough to have several bikes so I don't put a lot of mileage on just one bike. The tires can get brittle and the sidewalls crack from age, the dry heat or the ozone in the garage produced by the furnace, water heater, etc. It just isn't worth it to do one without the other.

So, it just depends on your riding and bike storage situation.

I just like NY biker's topic title. :D Wishing you lots of tire kharma after your good deed.

If you store your tubes with baby powder (in a baggy), they are alot easier to deal with when you have to change them out.

I went for 4 years without a flat--all commuting in DC. Keep your tire pressure up. Amazing!

Yes, I think you have earned many brownie points and so did the man for willing to accept your offer. Why can't more men be like that? He must be a very nice man.

Helpful tip: Tulip beat me to it. :p

Okay, so this morning I'm standing in front of the bathroom mirror getting ready for work, when I hear pssssssssssss coming from the other room. What the...? Turns out it was my rear tire, giving up the ghost.

Now, on the one hand, I think I made this happen because I said out loud to the guy on the trail: I haven't done this in a while because I haven't had a flat all year, oops I hope I didn't just jinx myself by saying that.

But on the other hand, I've been kinda worried for a month or so now that one of the tubes would just give out from old age, and that it would happen in the middle of the steepest climb on the Livestrong ride. So really I am thrilled that it happened in my living room.

Therefore I conclude that my good deed caused the flat to happen in a safe, convenient way instead of during an important ride.

Bonus points: this means I have an excuse to go to the bike shop near my office, because they take tubes and tires for recycling. Any guesses as to how much I'll wind up spending while I'm there?

You know, the fact that you heard your tire going flat in the other room and not on the Livestrong ride itself I think was the Tire God saying, "Yes, change your tubes before the big ride." TG just saved you a lot of grief there, I'll bet.

Roxy

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ny biker

Therefore I conclude that my good deed caused the flat to happen in a safe, convenient way instead of during an important ride.

---

I like your thinking :D

I love your thinking too!

Although I will say I had a flat on the Livestrong ride - it was at mile 80 after I hit a pot hole hidden in the shade pretty hard and SAG was there the second I hopped off my bike and it was like an Indy 500 pitstop - I was on my way waving a fond fairwell before I know what had happened. Good support, those rides. Of course, it did not happen on the steepest part of the ride - that would have sucked. :rolleyes:

Of course this also means I have used up my good kharma, so I need to go out and earn some more... ;)

Recycling your old tube should get you some. I need to check whether any of my LBS's do that.

I take mine to Conte's in Ballston. Maybe their Bethesda location does it too?

http://contesbikestores.com/page.cfm?pageID=677

They're not too far from the subway, I could probably stop on the way home from work. Thanks for the tip.

DH and I have given away 2 tubes and 2 CO2 bottles this season. One guy, we found walking his bike down the road, carrying his shoes (he didn't have cleat covers) in his bare feet. His feet were raw from walking on hot asphalt. When we gave him the tube and CO2, I thought he was going to cry with relief.

I definitely believe that this is guaranteed good tire karma! We are always well prepared, but never have flats on our bikes. Still, we've been able to help some other riders and that feels good.