Don't count on a guy for help!

[Christopher]

Usually I ride on my own, for various reasons. Over the years I've been stranded about six times, three times with sidewall blowouts and three times with broken pumps. Lessons learnt: don't buy cheap pumps, align brakeblocks so they don't rub on the tyre and, like, change the tyre when the innertube starts poking through...

Happily every time I was either able to walk home, to the nearest train station or beg the use of a pump from a passing cyclist. Current pump is a fat-barreled mini pump, think it's a Topeak something, it has been used so much all the decals have rubbed off but it will go to 90psi and has been very reliable so far...

[lph]

Even though I consider myself pretty handy, my dh is the one that's really mechanically inclined, and will happily spend hours disassembling his mtb just to see how it works.

So it was a sweet moment when the following occurred the other day: my dh asked to borrow my road bike to go ride with a roadie colleague, I was helping him get out of the door in a hurry and pump up the tires, and the front tube blew. He was already late and about to call off the whole thing when I just told him "CALL your friend! Tell him you'll be 5 minutes late. I'll fix it!" and his jaw literally dropped as he saw how fast I switched the tube

A little practice on road tires goes a long way!

[Crankin]

Even though I know how to change a flat, I live in fear of it. I barely ride by myself, so I don't worry. No lectures, please. I have the equipment and I *could* do it, but I don't want it to happen.
I have only had 2 flats on the road in 8 years. One was during a century (it was the tire, not the tube) and one was an actual blow out. My husband did both of those. The other two occurred in my driveway or in the house. I changed those, but painfully. My issue is putting the rear wheel back on. Yes, I have practiced and I know the "tricks," but it is really freakin' hard for me. I actually hurt my back when I was balancing the bike in one hand and trying to get the deurailleur /chain lined up. I am better at it now, but still.
I have not been able to deal with the V brakes on my Jamis. I can't get that little wire back in, no matter how much I try. So, if I have a flat, I'm dead there...

[Mr. Bloom]

Even though I know how to change a flat, I live in fear of it.

I don't fear it, I simply don't enjoy doing it.

That's partly why I'm fanatical about checking and maintaining my air pressure.

If we were on the road, I wouldn't think of changing a flat for Silver...she enjoys the challenge of seeing how fast she could do it - besides, I might get my hands dirty

[Pedal Wench]

My issue is putting the rear wheel back on. Yes, I have practiced and I know the "tricks," but it is really freakin' hard for me. I actually hurt my back when I was balancing the bike in one hand and trying to get the deurailleur /chain lined up. I am better at it now, but still.

I flip my bike upside down. It's easier for me to get the rear tire in and out, and it keep the frame and chain from lying on the ground.

[pinkbikes]

I must admit I am the tyre changer in most groups I ride with. At work people bring in their wheels and tyres to me and look sort of helplessly at me when they want them changed from MTB tyres to slicks (or vice versa). I figure I don't mind doing it because it keeps me quick and handy at it since I don't really seem to get that many myself (running out to find some wood to touch as I type this) and can use the practice. I have taught quite a few girlfriends how to change tyres/tubes although I am quite pedantic and like to use powder and take the time to check whether there is anything left in the tyre that might cause another puncture.

This is because every time I have had a puncture while out with DH (who is a big guy and has possibly the worst luck with punctures that I have EVER seen) he stands there and "helps" by saying things like... "you need to use tyre levers?" and "why check, whatever's caused it is probably long gone?" and "hang on - I've probably got a sundial/calendar to time you?" and generally pesters me until I don't check what caused the flat and then end up with another within minutes as the small bit of glass left in the tyre shreds my new tube!

But at least he has had plenty of practice changing flats himself (since he doesn't like to check the tyres if he gets a flat while he's out!!)

Possibly the worst case of male tyre changing incompetence I have seen though was on a metric century last year. The list to all riders clearly identified the need to have the wherewithal to change a flat and suggested that you know how to use it so you could be self-sufficient.

At the first drink stop some bloke came in all steamed up and ploughed past the entry gate, jumped on the brakes and slammed into the back of my bike as I as leaving the exit gate. With my rear derailleur hanger looking somewhat bent I had a bunch of no gears and went back into the drink station to visit with the bike mechanic who had a van there to see if my ride was over or there might be something they could do.

Entertainingly, I had to wait while the lovely female mechanic changed the flat for the bloke in front of me, providing the tube he hadn't brought and the know-how he didn't have, despite owning a VERY high-end bike! Obviously he has a small slave to run along behind him most of the time to carry tubes and change them for him? Perhaps he calls a cab and pays with his platinum Amex? All the gear but NO IDEA!

PS: Cheryl, the delightful mechanic had a hanger straightener and in less time than it took for her to say "what a gumby" she had it straight, adjusted and I was back on my way! FANTASTIC!

[redrhodie]

PS: Cheryl, the delightful mechanic had a hanger straightener and in less time than it took for her to say "what a gumby" she had it straight, adjusted and I was back on my way! FANTASTIC!

What a gumby!? I love that! I'll be saying that quite often, I'm sure.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

What a gumby!? I love that! I'll be saying that quite often, I'm sure.

Reminds me of my formica top banjo...
http://dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot...ome-banjo.html

[Crankin]

I agree with Mr. S. I do check my tire pressure obsessively before just about every ride and keep those tires pumped. I don't mind getting dirty, either. I just am mechanically challenged. One of my proudest moments was when I was riding with Denise G. and she had a flat on her Friday. She could not get the tire back on the rim, no way. I took the tire from her and had it on in a second...

I laughed at that image of a little guy running behind a rider, ready to change a flat. I don't think it sounds so bad... I once read about a sort of Triple A for bikes, but don't remember the details.
I did have to call a taxi once, but there were 4 of us and it was a case of torrential rain and thunder/lightning and being 30 miles from our cars.