How long does it take you to fix a flat?

[IGGY]

Today it took me...30 minutes!!!

That seems like a long time to me. I wasn't hurrying...I was taking my time...but still, 30 minutes?!?!? Is this because I'm still a tire newbie? Do I lack basic skills? Why does it take so long?!?!?!

Walking to a picnic table in the shade added a few minutes. And of course, digging multiple goathead thorns out of my tire with my Leatherman was kind of time consuming. As was cleaning the blood off of everything because my finger was bleeding (not sure what I cut it on). And then there's the dreaded "am I ever going to get the last 4 inches of tire back on this bleeping wheel?!?!" and the ever-popular "I am never going to get enough pressure in this thing with this bleeping frame pump!"

Heavy sigh.


Did I mention I hate goathead thorns?

Well, first of all. YOU are changing YOUR OWN tires. Which, let's face it, until I started riding, I had no idea what was involved. My husband did the first while I watched, I did the second while he watched, and I did the third by myself and it took me 30 minutes in my driveway. (Luckily all were slow deflates, so I could do it at home.)
The guy at my LBS is so fast, I called him the "flat wrangler". He almost fell over and said, "man, I"m gonna use that one!"
I signed up for a bike maintenance course, and I"m hoping to improve. Until then, just changing my own is good enough for me! Seriously.

[RolliePollie]

Well, first of all. YOU are changing YOUR OWN tires. Which, let's face it, until I started riding, I had no idea what was involved. My husband did the first while I watched, I did the second while he watched, and I did the third by myself and it took me 30 minutes in my driveway. (Luckily all were slow deflates, so I could do it at home.)
The guy at my LBS is so fast, I called him the "flat wrangler". He almost fell over and said, "man, I"m gonna use that one!"
I signed up for a bike maintenance course, and I"m hoping to improve. Until then, just changing my own is good enough for me! Seriously.

Thanks Iggy...this makes me feel better. I am proud of myself for being able to fix a flat on the road by myself. It's not like the process is hard...the concept is pretty basic...but I have teeny tiny weak little hands and it's just SO HARD to get the tire off, back on, pumped up, etc.

I bet if I really hurried and tried really hard, I could do it in 10-15 minutes. But I don't want to get a flat just so I can try to get faster.

[gingerale]

I can do one in about 20 mins, assuming I don't have any major problems with it. I really hate, though, when I get one on my back tire vs. my front. It's a mental thing for me, I know, just because I know I have to mess with my chain/derailer, etc. And, of course, every 2 out of 3 flats seem to be on my back.