At last...

[anaphase]

Sweet! Did you master this just by doing it a bunch this week or did you take another class? I have to get better at it. I've only flatted once, in the front, and would really have trouble with the rear, I think.

[Geonz]

I'm going to be practicing over the weekend and try to do it in <10 minutes at the end of my presentation... but I am going to bring the box the tube comes in... and follow the directions!

(Otherwise I'm afraid I *still* forget the sequence of the steps... or to check for glass...)

Fortunately, I know this rim - that little tyre pops right off and on. (Alas, it is not long for this bike's hind parts - it's the one I'm getting replaced.)

THat and I have to *find* the directions for the blender...

[bikerchick68]

Good for you! It's such an important skill to have... I have become adept at it but it happened the hard way... I was out... alone and flatted. I had done it once in the garage but it had been a while.

It took me a looooooong time to change that tube, but I got 'er done! Of course, I flatted 8 more times during the next 3 weeks... which made me VERY proficient at changing flats. After the 9th one I went directly to the LBS and bought Gatorskins.

[Crankin]

Yea my son had to use gatorskins in Tucson. Actually, I have never had a flat out on the road; just 2 in the basement, of my own doing (don't ask!). I don't ride in the rain and the roads around here are fairly free of debris; I'm a fairly cautious rider, though not wimpy.

I just practiced all morning until I "got" it. I used the old wheel from the bike I used to have. I went back and practiced the back wheel removal; first time was a disaster, but my husband came home and gave me some pointers and I was able to do it the second time without totally mangling the chain.

I am going to an American League of Bicyclists class for Intermediate/Advanced cyclists in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, I will get more hands on practice there.

[Bike Goddess]

Robyn- Here's another trick for back wheel changes-

BEFORE you take the wheel off the bike get the chain wheel into the smallest chainring on the front and the smallest cog on the back. That way you get the most slack on your chain. Best to have someone around so you can have them hold up the back wheel while you do the shifting. Works like a charm and makes the wheel easier to get on afterwards!

[DebW]

Robyn- Here's another trick for back wheel changes-

BEFORE you take the wheel off the bike get the chain wheel into the smallest chainring on the front and the smallest cog on the back. That way you get the most slack on your chain. Best to have someone around so you can have them hold up the back wheel while you do the shifting. Works like a charm and makes the wheel easier to get on afterwards!

Actually, you don't need to hold the rear wheel up while you shift. Just throw your shifter repeatedly until you would be on the smallest cog, then lift the wheel and spin the crank. The chain will move across all the gears to the smallest cog in short order. Pullling back on the rear derailleur as you extract and reinsert the wheel is also helpful.

[Crankin]

Yes, Deb, I already know how to do that. The problem was when I went to put it back on, I didn't seat the chain correctly on the right cog and it twisted....
R