Dreading flats!

[Veronica]

The worst I've had is a pinch flat on the front while captaining a tandem. Fortunately my stoker was a very experienced rider who didn't panic. We carefully slowed from about 23 mph to change it. It was a club ride so I just let the guys take over. I've changed enough tubes on my own that it does not hurt my pride to let them do it if they want!

Plus it gave me time to let my heart stop racing. Stopping 280 pounds is hard work!

On my single I think the worst was a front puncture that I got just before descending a hill. The bike felt a little squirrelly and the handling was off, but not dangerously so.

Practice changing your tubes at home, both front and rear, with the tools you carry on your bike. You'll feel more confident when you have to do it for real.

V.

[DebW]

I've experienced probably 1 to 3 flats on the road every year for 30 years and never been anywhere near losing control because of it. Typically I just notice a "thunk thunk" sound and maybe a "thunk thunk" feel as the valve area of the flat tire hits the road repeatedly. If you have a blowout, a noise like a gunshot may make you jump, but once you recover from the noise, it's no different than any other flat. Just put on the brakes and slow down, stop and change the tire. The majority of my flats have been on sew-ups, so that's a little different feel, and also safer to ride on when flat. The major concerns with flatting are that if you are cornering with a strong lean and a tire suddenly goes flat, you may have rim in contact with the road rather than rubber and the wheel would slide out from under you. If it's a rear tire, you go down and take some road rash. A front flat under those conditions could be worse. At high speed, you need to be careful how you use the brakes with a flat tire. Try to use the brake on the non-flat wheel only, because a flat clincher tire can slide around the rim when the brake is put on.

[Jolt]

In my experience (I had three or four flats last summer while out running errands) it's a pain but not all that bad. I ride a hybrid with 38s though; maybe a road bike is different. If it's the front, the handling will feel a little funny and the wheel will sound funny; if it's the rear it will sound funny and feel a little different under you (that's the best way I can describe it). Then it's just a matter of pulling off to the side of the road or into a parking lot etc. and fixing it. Make sure you have a spare tube and patch kit, as well as tire levers. And don't forget to disconnect the brake before taking off the wheel, as well as reconnect it once the wheel is back on!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

A flat on the back felt to me like the asphalt was soft and sinking in while I was riding.
Practice changing a tire in your living room where it's a lot easier. Then you won't be so afraid in the real world when it happens.