Changed my first *&^)_&&^%$ tire

[VeloVT]

Also, this really gets a lot easier. My first few rear tube changes I got grease EVERYWHERE. Hands, legs, clothes, even on my face. Now I can do it and pretty much not get grease on myself, although I always carry individually wrapped Wet Ones in my seatbag to clean up just in case. (Even if you don't get greasy your hands usually feel grimy afterwards).

[Crankin]

Well, we use the unthreaded valves and have never had an issue with the CO2 cartridges. I think it has to do with the adapter/pump thing you use for the cartridges.
I never leave the nut on any of my valves.

[parity]

I don't use the nut that comes with a threaded valve. For a number of reasons. The first being if you over tighten the nut it can cause a leak where the valve meets the tube. This is caused when you pump up the tire and the tube inflates with air but the nut can cause the valve to separate a bit from the tube. Secondly, if it becomes loose it or you don't tighten it enough can make a rattling noise against the rim. I hate to hear any noise while riding. I find the nut largely pointless and throw them away as I can install the tube and inflate it without the need of the nut. I also don't re-install the plastic screw cap either as its also useless once the tube is installed. So don't install the nut or plastic cap, and save some weight.

[Owlie]

I had to replace both tubes within two weeks of each other even though they had less than 30 miles on them. (I think I just got a set with bad valves when I bought the bike.) DBF was on hand to help. I pray I don't get a flat if I'm out by myself--it takes two people to get the wheels on and off the bike because the tires are almost as wide as the brakes.

[VeloVT]

Well, we use the unthreaded valves and have never had an issue with the CO2 cartridges. I think it has to do with the adapter/pump thing you use for the cartridges.
I never leave the nut on any of my valves.

maybe I'm just clumsy .

[staceysue]

I have got so many great tips from this thread. People on this forum are unusually friendly and helpful, don't you think?

[lph]

I had to replace both tubes within two weeks of each other even though they had less than 30 miles on them. (I think I just got a set with bad valves when I bought the bike.) DBF was on hand to help. I pray I don't get a flat if I'm out by myself--it takes two people to get the wheels on and off the bike because the tires are almost as wide as the brakes.

Owlie, I sometimes struggle getting my mtb wheels on and off because of the knobby tires being so wide, but that's just because I'm lazy and don't want to deflate them and have to inflate them again. Once they're deflated, or if I have a flat, I can just compress them a little with my hand and they come right off.

[Crankin]

Liza, you're not clumsy. My DH changed the little adapter/pump thing so it works better. But, we stopped using the threaded tubes because they caused more troubles. Which ones, I don't know, since it's been awhile.
We throw away the cap, too.

[OakLeaf]

Owlie, do your brakes have a quick-release? Shimano caliper brakes have a lever that makes it obvious, but other brakes usually have a quick-release that might not be so immediately apparent.

But yeah, even with my old bikes that IIRC I ran 700x28c or at the widest 700x32 tires, I like my brakes on the tight side, so they wouldn't necessarily go in with much air in the tires.

Also, leaving the tire mostly deflated makes it easier to install the rear wheel - it leaves you more room to maneuver inside the rear triangle while you're getting the chain on. Finish pumping it up after it's installed. Then once the tire's fully inflated, do a final alignment check on the wheel before you ride off.

(That's why I much prefer a trigger-actuated CO2 system, or a pump. The one-shot CO2 systems don't let you stop at partial inflation and then continue on with the rest of the gas.)

[redrhodie]

I had an epiphany yesterday. I had a flat, and I was a little nervous using my CO2s since I recently had a flat and couldn't get the gas in the tires. Used my 2 cartridges, then took a ride from a kind stranger (which I really try to avoid).

Well, yesterday the CO2 gods shined upon me, and all the gas went in without trouble. I then went to the lbs for a new tube, and I always ask for short stem, which work best with my floor pump. They happened to be out, and the lbs guy said I like the longer stems anyway. The short ones are about 2 mms short for my cartridge adapter. Doh! That was my issue!

Oakleaf, I like the advice for the partial inflate before wheel install. I'm going to do that next time. My bike has horizontal dropouts, and it's a really tight fit. I often get jammed during the install when the tire hits the seat tube. I bet that will give a little extra room that I need.

[Owlie]

Owlie, do your brakes have a quick-release? Shimano caliper brakes have a lever that makes it obvious, but other brakes usually have a quick-release that might not be so immediately apparent.

Yes, they do. Even with the lever open, the width of the brake is only slightly wider than the tire, to the point where if there's any air in it at all, you have to force the wheel back on to the bike. (Why did Giant think that those particular tires were a good idea??)