No! No! It cannot be!

[Lise]

You will not believe this one.

I went downstairs to the basement this morning, all psyched to ride the Green Hornet to work. I pulled out the pink pump, topped off the new tube in front, and filled the back tire. I do this every time I ride. I pulled off the pump, mindful to pull straight back so as not to bend that little bit that broke off the other valve....and...

WOOSH! TIRE EMPTIED OF AIR!!!

Yes! Horrible but true! The little valve thingy had broken off the BACK tube as well, and when I attached the pump, it just drained the tire. ARGH! And this is the back tire, which I've never changed. Good grief.

So. There I am, dressed to ride, with my work clothes in my Timbuk2, already going to be late for work. To heck with it, I said, and rode the Marin to work. Came home, took the rear wheel off the Bianchi, and brought it upstairs with the pump, new levers, and new tube (me putting the chain back on should be interesting). Now I'm going to eat some food, and get to work on the tire. Let's see how much I've really learned, eh?!? L.

[Pedal Wench]

Patience, young grasshopper, patience....

[Lise]

Lise vs. Tire: Lise Wins!

10 minutes from start to finish. Not hard at all. Well, compared with Monday night. Incredible. What was different?

1. I now understand the shape of the tire and the wheel. Now that I can picture the bead, I can work with it. I went around and pushed it away from the rim on both sides before attempting to lift it. That must be what John meant by "break the bead".

2. Tube ENTIRELY emptied of air before starting. That wasn't hard, since the danged valve was useless.

3. Park Tool Blue Levers. Much, much better. John just handed me three of them. I think I love him.

4. Knowing that I'd done it before, and I could do it again.

Thanks for all your help, ladies. Take home lesson? Don't ride without the valves covered. Always attach and detach the pump carefully, straight back.

Fortunately I have to put the chain back on in the basement, where I can't reach over to the computer and whine, "I caaaan't do it!" L.

[dachshund]

I'm impressed I can't wait to do this the first time and spend an hour on it...

[Grog]

Lise vs. Tire: Lise Wins!

GOOD JOB!

Thanks for all your help, ladies. Take home lesson? Don't ride without the valves covered. Always attach and detach the pump carefully, straight back.

I am not sure I understand the link with the valve covers... The tiny black valve thingie has always been off my own tires on the road bike and I've never had valve issues... Did the guys at the bike store say anything about this?

Fortunately I have to put the chain back on in the basement, where I can't reach over to the computer and whine, "I caaaan't do it!" L.

I'm thinking very hard about you but I know that by now you're already done with that. Easy trick in case you forgot, for next time: putting the chain on the smallest (or biggest - I personally perfer the biggest) cog before you take the wheel off, and put it back at the same place when you put the wheel back on...

But I'm sure you're out and riding already!

[Lise]

Hi, Grog,

These Presta valves have a little bit at the end which can get bent and snap off. John at the LBS was reluctant to say it was my fault; "it happens" was the most I'd get out of him. Neither valve had a cover when I got the bike. I can imagine that a combination of my pulling the pump head off the valve at an angle plus wear and tear from the road could cause them to snap off.

I knew that about the chain. Oddly enough, I couldn't figure out how to shift it to get it onto the smallest cog, so I got it as low as I could, and counted. It'll go back onto the 4th smallest cog. That will be the trick for next time, shifting it onto the right cog. I've asked my family for a bike stand for my birthday, which is next month. If they don't give me one, I'll just buy it. Would've made the wheel removal much easier. I really want to clean and lube both chains, and really don't relish doing it without a stand.

Dachshund, do we have the same bike? I can't remember. I'm telling you, break the bead, man! At least I've gone through it ahead of you, so however it goes for you, you're not alone! L.

PS: The Bontrager tube box has a great illustration of the tire bead fitting into the wheel, and complete instructions for changing it. Seeing that picture confirmed my understanding and helped me wrangle the tire off and on.

[Aggie_Ama]

Oddly, my local wrench always discards my valve covers. I wonder if he just doesn't see what happened to your often? My husband has blown a few valves on mountain bike tires, never the road ones though.

[DrBee]

Great job on the tire change! Good luck with the chain!

[bike4ever]

Lise -

Congratulations on your tire effort. If you don't have a stand, just flip your bike upside down. I find it considerably easier to drop the rear wheel into the correct position. I do use the smallest cog, and that is how I teach my fix a flat classes.

[kiwi girl]

Don't ride without the valves covered. .

last time I took my bike in for a service the lbs removed (and presumably threw away) the valve covers. I was kind of annoyed but not surprised since I had been to a 'learn to change a tyre' session at that same shop and knew that the guy considers valve covers ultra uncool

[Grog]

last time I took my bike in for a service the lbs removed (and presumably threw away) the valve covers. I was kind of annoyed but not surprised since I had been to a 'learn to change a tyre' session at that same shop and knew that the guy considers valve covers ultra uncool

Hey, they're about 16 grams... Makes a huge difference on hills!!!

Because I always end up loosing them anyway and am too lazy to take them off every time I pump my tires (i.e. every day), I probably will not put them back on! (As if I knew where they are...)

A bike stand would be nice, especially for any transmission work (cleaning, lubing, adjusting...). Hope you get one on your birthday. I'll ask for one at mine... but it's in December!!

[Lise]

CC--that is an incredible story. I shudder. So what is a "boot"? Please explain, or help us find a link to the repository of this knowledge here on TE! Thanks!

[DrBee]

Corsair - that is unreal! I can just imagine the cussing! Wow!

[Tiffanie]

CC--that is an incredible story. I shudder. So what is a "boot"? Please explain, or help us find a link to the repository of this knowledge here on TE! Thanks!

please!

[maillotpois]

CC--that is an incredible story. I shudder. So what is a "boot"? Please explain, or help us find a link to the repository of this knowledge here on TE! Thanks!

A "boot" is a section of old tire, or clif bar wrapper or something you can use to support a tire that's got enough of a hole in it that the tube might poke out or become damaged if you didn't protect it with a boot.

Cut up old tires into 2 injch lenghts and stick a few of these in your saddle bag to use as a boot. (They go inside the tire where the hole or cut is).