Guess what I did today?

[Veronica]

Finally, a WOMAN changing a flat tire!

Ha!!!! My fingers are sore - I've done SIX tires this week. None out on the road though. All in the comfort of my garage. I even did two of them in my jammies.

I've been lucky. I haven't had a flat in about a year. That experience was a disaster! I was in an iffy part of town - I had picked up Thom's new glasses at the eye doctor. It was getting dark. I hurried the change and ruined the tube. I couldn't get the CO2 to work on the second tube. I called a friend to pick me up. She got lost. My bike wouldn't fit in her car -a Z3. We sat in a bar and chatted until Thom could get me. Well it was nice to talk over drinks, I hope all this practice pays off next time I have to do for it real.

V.

[CorsairMac]

isn't it a Great feeling?? oh yeah - makes ya feel so empowered!!!!

[Bike Goddess]

Gee Veronica- Should have called me and my Z3! I would have come to the rescue- I have a bike rack! That's what Bike Goddesses are for- taking care their sisters!

(I think you know that, yes?!)

[Veronica]

Now I have LOTS of numbers of folks to call in my cell phone. It was really nice to sit and talk with my friend though. But I could probably walk home before a lot of them could come to my rescue.

V.

[Barb]

I put two new tires on my mountain bike this weekend and fixed the direction on my son's tire. Does anyone use those speed changers? I will not ride without one now! They make changing soo much easier.

BTW I am now riding on Kenda Kross tires. Slicks with tread on the edges. They are awesome. I am doing alot of road work and rail to trail stuff to get ready for my rail to trail tour this summer. These tires rock!

[Asphaltgirl]

Must have been a weekend for flats! DH and I started out and 3 miles into the ride, his tire went out....with luck a friend was driving by and picked him up and drove back to the car....I was a good girl and biked back to the car. Went off to the LBS for a new tube--they installed and we tried again-this time got 5 miles into the ride and, yup, his tire again. Unfortunately nobody to drive him back to the car so back I went, on the bike, get the car, pick up the DH. My life as a SAG car! Finally found a piece of glass inbedded in the tire-little upset that the LBS didn't check for it, but it gave us practice on patching the tubes!

AG

[bikerchick68]

way to go Techno! I've become quite proficient at changing flats,,, had 9 in a 3 week period! And 4 of those were AFTER buying a new tire to replace the one that I had 5 of the flats on... AAAACK! I finally gave up and put gatorskins on... I have stopped and helped so many other riders tho, that I feel like roving sag support... I figure what comes around goes around, and someday I'll be helped when I need it!

[SJCzar]

Last weekend I had my first flat on my new bike. It had been many years...20 at least... since I'd changed a flat. I had kept saying that I needed to practice before I got one, but of course I hadn't gotten around to it yet. I had my cell phone and had prewarned my husband that he'd have to come get me if I broke down. I was 12 miles from our cottage and he had just gotten his boat to a favorite fishing spot when he got my call.

I got a nice lesson the next morning from my daughter's LBS mechanic boyfriend (in exchange for help on his college math assignment....he definitely got the bad end of that deal). I took notes and he had me practice each step a few times. I was glad it was on the rear so I know how to mess with the derailler as well. Next rainy Sunday I think I'll go over it all some more so I'm confident I can do it by myself when I need to.