Changing tires

[MollyJ]

My new Madone has now had a front flat and a back flat. I've decided that I will try to change it the next time it happens. I've gotten the how to lesson from my LBS and have watched a few on line videos and read the how to here at TE.

Any other suggestions?

[MollyJ]

PS. I also had my LBS outfit me with the basics--new tube, tire wrenches, CO2 cannisters for emergency refill. I may purchase a pump but I am going to wait. You can junk your frame up fast.

[Owlie]

Practice, practice, practice. Practice getting the wheel off, getting the tire off, then (the fun bit), getting the tire and tube back on. Especially rear tires, because they're slightly trickier to change, but they're more likely to flat on you. (Your weight's over the back wheel, and you're quite likely to miss debris with your front wheel, but hit it with the back.)

Do it at home and get it to be second-nature, so that if you're out on the road and you get a flat, you can change it yourself quickly. I've been lucky thus far--all my flats have been due to the rubber around the valve separating, so they've happened when I've been putting air in my tires.

You'll probably want the pump, because CO2 has a nasty habit of failing. And here's a trick DBF taught me: Put the tube (with a little air in it so it's easier to work with) in the tire, then put the tire on the wheel. So much easier! Also, you might want to consider carrying two spare tubes. That way you're prepared if you get two in one ride, or you can help someone out who forgot theirs!