At last...

[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

[salsabike]

Don't know if you'll want to do this or not, but I wrote down the steps and carried them in my trunk bag till I was sure I had them.

[Quillfred]

Great for you Robyn. I am very much looking forward to learning more skills too. The local bike club offers classes that I will catch in May.

[Aint Doody]

The more you do it, the easier it becomes. Our Tues pm group ride was only about 9 people this week, and the group pretty quickly split into the boys and the girls. I had a flat--no problem--I was fixing it and two other ladies were helping and visiting w/me. Another of the guys who was late for the ride went blasting by and didn't even look at us! He most certainly saw us. What has happened to chivalry? You'd think he'd have at least asked if we needed help. We'd have declined his offer, but I at least wanted the offer! I hope I see him with a flat one day soon......

[RoadRaven]

Don't know if you'll want to do this or not, but I wrote down the steps and carried them in my trunk bag till I was sure I had them.

I really like this idea... I haven't had to change many tyres - 3 to be precise, and each time with my partner... I'm really paranoid about doing it on my own - and given that most of my training I do on my own, this is a matter of when, not if...

Thanks Salsa

[SpinSis]

That's great Robyn! I learned the hard way...on the road. But thankfully a short distance from home so got a lift home. I actually looked up Team Estrogen's link on changing a flat that day, and it helped a ton! Have had a few flats since--all on the back tire.

Like you, I experience spatial reasoning issues at times, though...I figured out the small cogs trick, but for the life of me cannot figure out where to use a rag to lift the chain (to keep my hands clean(er)) Maybe it's because my flats are 50/50 between on a bike stand and upside down on the roadside...so I'd get it all backwards if I could remember!!

Have fun at that class? Who are you a ride leader for? A local club?