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

[Zen]

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
At this point I was just mentally beat down and didn't even ride. The bike is going to the shop.

[indigoiis]

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!

[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.

[Zen]

was it a little book with a CD-ROM?

[indigoiis]

was it a little book with a CD-ROM?

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

[redrhodie]

That ride sounds fun ! Glad you felt better once it was over. You'll get through the century. You strong like ox . 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 !

[indigoiis]

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.

[PinkPilot]

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

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.

[rij73]

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.

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...