Montgomery County MD

[Selkie]

Hi Jen - I'm in Arlington County (Va). You should check out Potomac Pedalers. I belong but haven't been on one of their rides yet---they offer a lot of different group rides (vary by skill level, distance, terrain, etc). I think the website is www.pptc.org or .com.

[tulip]

Learn to change a flat, or you will be sorry. Potomac Pedalers is the big groups around here, but there are others. Check at a few bike shops. Do you ride your bike to work? That's a great way to get in some miles in the time you would otherwise be crammed into a Metro or cursing the traffic in your car.

[Jen]

I belong to ppc also. Haven't been on a ride yet. Need to become more comfortable and sure of myself on the bike first. Come on Spring. And yes, I should practice fixing a flat. I have a pump an and co2 cartridges and packed directions in my saddle bag. I should take off the wheel and try myself.

[Jen]

I am mainly worried about getting a flat on the back wheel. Is it tricky to remove the back wheel, taking the chain off and all?

[tulip]

I am mainly worried about getting a flat on the back wheel. Is it tricky to remove the back wheel, taking the chain off and all?

The key is to practice. When I got my driver's license, my father would not let me drive by myself until I had driven 1,000 miles with him AND had successfully completed changing each tire on the car.

The same should be required for everyone who rides a bike. Practice changing a tube until you are comfortable doing it. Winter is a great time to practice.

You do not take the chain off. The chain stays on the bike, but does come off of the cassette.

Check local bike shops for basic maintenance and repair classes. I have access to a bike repair stand and can give you a few lessons if you would like sometime. Just send me a PM.

[Jen]

I'll give it a try. Soo, for the back wheel, you lift the lever to open the brake pads then release the quick release lever, take the chain off the back cassette and remove the wheel. Then, in my case for practice, remove the air from the tire and slip in a tire iron to start removing the tire, hook it to the spoke??? then remove the tire from the front of the rim by hand till you can get the tube out. Replace with new tube, put back on rim, inflate ( now or later) and put it back on the bike, hook up the chain to the cassette and go. Sounds easy, but can I do it? Not sure how to use the co2 cartridges.

[tulip]

I'll give it a try. Soo, for the back wheel, you lift the lever to open the brake pads then release the quick release lever, take the chain off the back cassette and remove the wheel. Then, in my case for practice, remove the air from the tire and slip in a tire iron to start removing the tire, hook it to the spoke??? then remove the tire from the front of the rim by hand till you can get the tube out. Replace with new tube, put back on rim, inflate ( now or later) and put it back on the bike, hook up the chain to the cassette and go. Sounds easy, but can I do it? Not sure how to use the co2 cartridges.

You are almost there! To get the chain off the cassette, push the derailleur pulley forward toward the front of the bike and fiddle the chain off the cassette while pulling the wheel backwards. Confused now? It's a whole lot easier on a bike stand, but you can turn the bike upside down.

For the tire iron part, hook one tire iron like you described opposite the valve, and hook a second one a few spokes away. With the third iron, remove the tire from one side of the rim. Then you can take the tube off but the tire stays on the rim (one side).

I am not a fan of C02 cartriges. Always carry a small pump as a backup because no matter how well you know how to change a tire, if your CO2 cartridge fails, you won't be able to pump up your tire like a balloon.

Make sure your wheel is centered when you put it back on. Practice with someone around who can help if you need it at first. Your hands will get dirty.