Quote Originally Posted by inatree View Post
it turns out that i was using the pump wrong. well, if it had come with instructions, i think i would have figured it out since i always study the instructions forever before i do anything.

it turns out that i had to unscrew the pump and take some sort of part out and then put it back in another way. i went to a bike shop and asked someone to show me. i would have NEVER figured that out myself.

then today i got another flat. this time it was the rear tire. i got everything done and then couldn't get enough air into the tire with the pump, even tho it was working much better this time. i got as much as i could in, but i don't think it's enough. i flagged down another cyclist who told me i was doing it right, but those portable pumps aren't made to fully inflate the tire. he got enough in to finish my ride but now i need to go home. i am planning on stopping at an lbs along the way to have them fully inflate it with a real pump, if they are open.

i havent bought any of those co2 things because it sounds kind of pricey since they only work one time. isn't there an easier way to put air into a tire on the side of the road?
I recently had the same issue with a frame pump, so don't feel bad. I hadn't used it in years, and couldn't for the life of me figure it out. I also made a trip to the lbs, feeling stupid.

And, I also recently had a bad luck with co2 inflators! I went through both my cartridges, and still had the flat. I finally started walking, but a nice guy (with 2 little kids in the truck) pulled over and gave me a ride. So, it wasn't really bad luck in the end.

This is part of cycling. You can have a pump, cartridges, tubes, patches, and still not fix the flat. You then have to figure out how to get home. It's not always easy, you may have to walk, or count on the kindness of strangers, or call a cab. It can be frustrating, or it can give you new faith in yourself and humanity. It's part of the adventure, and at very least, good for a post here.

Oh, and the co2s are for emergencies. After you use one, your tire will lose most of the gas pretty quickly (in a couple of days). You'll have to let it out, and pump with air.