I'm officially a cycling nerd

[ATL Laura]

This is how I know I’m officially a cycling nerd...on my ride today I started to hear a hissing noise coming from my front tire. I thought it might be a leaky tire, and instead of feeling mad/scared/nervous about having a flat, I was really excited! I had practiced fixing a flat at home, but this was going to be my first one in “the field” , and I was going to do it like a pro! As I was looking for a safe place to pull over I went through my flat fixing checklist in my mind...extra tube, check! Patch kit, check!, tire iron, check!, pump, check! So I pulled off the road, jumped off the bike, and started looking for the problem with the tire...only to find a leaf stuck between my brake pad and the tire. The hissing noise was a leaf, and not a damaged tire. On one had I was relieved, but on the other hand I was disappointed, I really wanted to try out my flat fixing skills :-). I’m sure my time will come soon enough...

[DDH]

Well, I'm sorry you didn't get to fix your flat, but glad that you didn't have one.

That is something that I need to pratice more. I ride by myself most of the time and I haven't tried to change a flat on this new bike. I have had dh show me how to do it, and I went through and have done it at the house but not for some time, so I'm not sure I would remember how.
He goes through it so fast, it would probably take me an hour. LOL

[Jiffer]

You crack me up! But I guess it's a "good thing" to be excited about a flat. Much better than getting all irritated. I haven't changed a flat yet, either and, like DDH, also had a lesson with Dh. My lesson was just a week ago, so it's fresh in my mind for now. He went through every step with me and I actually did everything from beginning to end. I can't say I'm excited to ever actually do it "in the field", though! But it would certainly make me feel so empowered if I ever changed my own tire with success.

I'm not sure if I should say, "Sorry you didn't get to change a flat." ... or, "Yay! You didn't have a flat!"

Just a bonus piece of info, Dh used to get flats quite often until he found out that pumping them every time he rode made a big difference. A soft and mushy tire is more likely to suck in a nail or glass than a firm one. Tires lose air just from sitting there for several hours, so we do it every time we ride. (Just learning how to use the stupid tire pump was empowering for me!)

[Kalidurga]

I can't say I've ever been excited about having a flat, but I have been relieved to know that I know how to change one. I started out getting flats in my living room, of all places, so had a comfortable spot in which to practice. Ever since my first on-bike flat, though, every time I hear any sort of hissing-type noise, my first thought is that I've sprung a leak!