Tire changing/Wheel removal

[tulip]

Excellent! Now do it 10 more times.

[OakLeaf]

Personally I really don't advocate turning the bike upside down. Even nowadays when modern cable routing means the housings won't get bent or broken, it's still a lot of hassle, scuffage and extra dirt - and strength, too, if it's a heavier bike - for no real advantage.

Gravity is a big help when you're getting the wheel back in and aligned. You may as well learn to work with it when you're getting the wheel out, too. You don't have to have the rear wheel off the ground for it to come out of the dropouts or the rear triangle. And if you find you need to give it a little nudge while you pull the stays apart, as you did today, you can use your foot.

Anyway, great job getting it done. As Tulip said, each time you do it you can refine your technique.

[maillotpois]

Personally I really don't advocate turning the bike upside down. Even nowadays when modern cable routing means the housings won't get bent or broken, it's still a lot of hassle, scuffage and extra dirt - and strength, too, if it's a heavier bike - for no real advantage.

+1

Computer, saddle, etc. all can get scuffed up this way.

[Catrin]

+1

Computer, saddle, etc. all can get scuffed up this way.

Not on the carpet or grass - and the computer doesn't touch the ground at all. It just works better for me - I simply cannot hold up this 35 pound bike and do what needs to be done with it. I CAN get the front wheel off without turning it over, but not the rear. It is very easy to turn over and back again.

[indigoiis]

I was taught to do it once by a Trek representative making the rounds at the bike shop. She released the rear brake, loosened the quick release, put one arm over the frame and gripped the frame, the right hand on the tire, and lifted the bike up and pressed down with the right hand. Comes out no problem every time.

[OakLeaf]

Indigo, I'm not picturing that at all! Which way are you facing, is the top tube under your right armpit, where's your left hand????

[Catrin]

This bike is so heavy that with my arthritic hands, I simply can't hold it up and do all of that at the same time (moving the RD and so forth).

Now I can't seem to get the brake cable back in place, suspect the tire isn't quite aligned properly...

[OakLeaf]

This bike is so heavy that with my arthritic hands, I simply can't hold it up and do all of that at the same time (moving the RD and so forth).

Now I can't seem to get the brake cable back in place, suspect the tire isn't quite aligned properly...

You only need to hold the RD when you're putting the wheel back on, not when you're taking it off. And as you're finding, you pretty much need the help of gravity to have a hope getting the rear wheel on straight.

It takes a lot of strength to turn a heavy bike upside down! Much more than it takes to partially support it while you pull the wheel back and out.

[Catrin]

I am trying this, without turning it over, and am not having any success

It is good I am practicing all of this at home where I am safe and dry - though I am going to be really mad at myself if I have to wind up taking the bike to my LBS when it opens tomorrow morning...

[OakLeaf]

Everything's in place, just not lined up?

Fully inflate the tire.

Support the bike upright with a hand on the seatpost or the seatstays, whichever's more accessible. Very little strength required, gravity's holding the weight of everything, you're just giving it a hand against tipping over.

Grab the rim directly behind the dropouts and give it a gentle pull straight backward (while using your other hand to prevent the frame from moving back with it).

If your chainstays are symmetrical you can eyeball the alignment fairly closely at the tire, near the BB (but if they're asymmetrical, they're obviously no help).

That might help.