Dec 2008 Today's Commute - Pix of New Commuter

[pardes]

You may wonder why I'm awake at 2AM. An hour ago I went out to check the bike and make sure I had everything I needed for work in the panniers.

This time the FRONT tire was flat. I think the bike mechanic and I were so focused on the back tire problem, no one checked the front. It was still strapped to the car so I didn't run over anything new.

I tried pumping it up, several times, but I could hear a hissing sound at the stem. I'm not quite ready for this. I have a new tube but I don't have the doodads to take the tire and tube off the rim. (Forget to buy them).

So I'll be dragging the bike back in again for repairs, a lesson in changing tires, and buying the last of the tools I need. I'm not quite sure how to fit this in with going to work tomorrow but it will all work out.

[emily_in_nc]

I tried pumping it up, several times, but I could hear a hissing sound at the stem. I'm not quite ready for this. I have a new tube but I don't have the doodads to take the tire and tube off the rim. (Forget to buy them).

Is it possible the pump just wasn't seated correctly on the valve? You will hear hissing (and make no progress pumping) if you don't get a good seal. This happens to me fairly often. But, I agree with taking it in to make sure you know how to change a tire. If a tire is completely flat, the tube needs changing, and the tire needs to be checked to ensure there is nothing inside (glass, thorn, etc) that can continue to poke through tubes, and that there is not a large gash that goes all the way through. Unless it's just a routine topping off of the air, I never just pump up a flat tire and go -- it will go flat again since something caused that flat in the first place!

Good luck!