Dreading flats!

[Spec&TrekGirl]

I had to chime in because I just got home from a ride where I had my first flat in years - I'm just getting back into riding. Oddly, I decided to stop and check my tires for no particular reason and found that the back tire was a little low and saw the offending thorn sticking out of it. I had a patch kit and remembered how to fix it...except that I apparently didn't wait long enough for the vulcanizing glue to dry before applying the patch because as soon as I got the tire put back together and pumped up - it started leaking again! Oh well, practice makes perfect, right.

I am interested in learning how to put the tire back on the rim without using the tools because I've pinched tubes before that way. I'm wondering if I don't have the hand strength to do it or if there is a technique I need to learn. I am signed up for a class coming up shortly.

I second (or third, or fourth) the practice in your living room before it happens to you approach.

I must say, there were several friendly cyclists who asked if I needed any help and if I had everything I need. Interestingly, some even said they didn't have anything to change a flat but offered their cell phone if I needed it.

[VeloVT]

I'm a fan of glueless patches (well, they're pre-glued/self-adhesive actually). Much easier than the old-fashioned kind and they work just fine. Plus the box is super teeny.

But any time we're riding more than 30 miles or so we bring 2 tubes each plus a patch kit. Rarely need it but better safe than sorry.

A few things to always do before fully remounting the tire and reinflating:
1. Check the inner surface of the tire for debris
2. When you're mounting the tire (getting the second bead on) it helps to actually push the valve up into the rim -- this helps ensure that section of the tube is seated well, it's an easy place to pinch for some reason.
3. Before you reinflate, but after you've fully seated both beads, go around the entire rim (starting and ending at the valve), pinching both sides of the tire away from the rim and making sure there aren't any areas where there is tube under the tire bead. This only takes a few seconds but it can save you from blowing out a tube.

There's a trick to getting the rear wheel back on easily and once you get the hang of it it's super quick. My first rear flat took me ages. I also used to be really slow at the actual tire-changing process... with plenty of er, practice , I've gotten pretty efficient -- and I can change a tire and hardly even get my hands dirty. The first few times I tried I was covered in black by the time I was finished . Hands, legs, face...

[OakLeaf]

That was going to be my next question, whether the "dry" patches will hold on a high-pressure road tube. I've got a couple of them on my hybrid's tubes already! The local "roadie" shop doesn't sell them, the cruiser-oriented shop does, so I wondered. But I take it they hold fine?

[VeloVT]

Oakleaf -- the glueless patches are fine. Frankly, when possible, we fix flats with "virgin" tubes and patch the punctured tubes at home, then put them in seatbags as spares. I have used glueless-patched spares for months with no problems, and I have also used glueless patches on the road (when I didn't have a spare tube) with no problems. I inflate my tires to 120 before every ride (on road bike -- on my commuter with cx tires I go for weeks without inflating!!!), so they can certainly handle high pressure just fine, I think...

[KnottedYet]

the box those glueless patches come in really is cute. My LBS has them, presta/shraeder adapters, and teeny keychain multitools at the checkout counter in big bowls like penny candy.

mmmm, better than candy!

[DebW]

How about those little stem lengthener adapters? If you need long stems, keep a stem adapter in your seat bag so you can use generic tubes if you ever have the wrong tube or have to borrow one.