"Where is this story going you ask?......she was wearing the Hawaii Ironman Jersey and said she had just competed in the qualifier last week in Hawaii. (and she didn't know how to change a tire! hmmmmmmmmm)"

Well you know what they say about triathletes C-mac... Jack of all trades but master of NONE!!!

Yes, I can change a tire. Have I gone through the same frustration Lise did? Oh HELL yeah!! In fact the last time I changed a flat on the tires that came stock with my QR it was ugly. SO many saucy words were flying out of my mouth!! I think I managed to break a record on how many swear words I could string together in one sentence. It was UGLY!! And come to think about it I think they were the same tires Lise has!
I have to admit though, I live in FEAR of getting a flat in a race! I may be able to do it, but not with any speed. It's getting that last 6 or so inches of tire seeded back on the rim!
At IMAZ I said a little prayer everytime I passed someone w/ a flat. I kept saying "oh please lord. No flat today. I don't have time. And please help that sould change theirs quick"... I think the power of prayer worked , that and my conti GP4000 tires. Those puppies are bomb proof. Well, all tires will flat eventually, but I like the less supple tires as I find they don't pick up as much debris. My all time fave tires are Vredsteins because they are so easy to get on and off, but they pick up EVERYTHING! I had THREE flats in one ride!!
But yeah, we should all know how to change a flat. You don't want something like that to ruin a perfectly good ride.
And back to that lady c-mac ran into at that ride... I had one of those at IMAZ as well.
I came upon a girl off her bike staring at her tire. I slowed down and asked if she had everything she needed. She said "I have a flat" and so I said "well do you have everything you need?" and she goes "I have never changed a tire"... "WTF" I thought to myself. Then told her I would look for a bike support van for her. I'm not sure if the rules would have let me help her, and part of me feels guilty for not stopping, but then I was a bit miffed that she went into a race like that without learning the basics.

Anyhoo, I've heard that certain rims and tires clash. SOunds like you may have that problem Lise. But man that stinks if that's the case. I would love to have ANYTHING campy, but now I'm thinking "but not their wheels"...