Changed my first flat today!!!

[Eagle-Eye]

You would think this would have happened to me sooner, with about 1000 miles logged on my hybrid last year, but anyway...

It was a beautiful day, and I skipped out of work (cuz it also happens to be my birthday ) to go for a longer ride on my new road bike. About 15 miles in, I heard that ominous phhsshhh sound. My first thought was "oh, great, that's the end of my ride", but then I got rational, and didn't panic. I just pulled off the road into a nice grassy area, and went ahead and changed it!

My two hang-ups were 1) getting the piece of shrapnel out of my tire and tube (it was a long piece of metal, sort of like wire, that wrapped itself around really strangely), and 2) figuring out where the chain is supposed to go.

I must not have been that hung up on it though. The whole process only took me about 20 minutes. I figure that's not bad for someone who has only read about changing a flat.

So, I have a question about the tire... The piece of shrapnel left a couple tears about 1/8-1/4 inch long and about 1/8 inch apart. Is the tire still usable? I rode it the rest of my planned ride, but being a beginner I am not too sure about these things. I know I could always use this tire on my trainer in the winter instead of wearing out a new tire.

Any of you ladies have some advice for me?

[DebW]

Technicall, the tire is usable until the tube starts poking out of the hole. But practically, you should replace that tire pretty soon. Or install a boot inside to cover the holes.

[kiwi girl]

I don't really have advice on how big a hole is too big to safely boot (looking at the tyres on my commuting bike I've got several tears of around 1/8 inch - or even bigger I think - I'm a metric girl - that I haven't done anything about and its been a while since I had my last flat)

- but just wanted to say well done on the tyre change

[Geonz]

Twenty minutes, I'm jealous :-) You're a SELF SUFFICIENT RIDING MAVEN!

[Barb]

I have used a mylar wrapper from an energy bar as a boot and it worked well on my errands bike. I wouldn't be up for a century on it though!

[li10up]

So, I have a question about the tire... The piece of shrapnel left a couple tears about 1/8-1/4 inch long and about 1/8 inch apart. Is the tire still usable? I rode it the rest of my planned ride, but being a beginner I am not too sure about these things. I know I could always use this tire on my trainer in the winter instead of wearing out a new tire.

Any of you ladies have some advice for me?

I had a much smaller hole in my tire than that and it pinched the tube and caused slow leaks. I had to patch my tube after every ride. It took me about 4 rides to figure out what was causing the flats. This hole was really small so I just applied a patch to the inside of my tire. Worked for me. But in your case I think I'd try a boot like others suggested. When I got my first two flats on the road I was riding with a group. Of course one of the men just changed the tube for me. I guess since he knew I was new that it would be a lot faster if he just changed it. So, I was actually glad when I developed a flat overnight. It gave me a chance to change and fix a flat all by myself. Took me an hour the first time (but that included patching the tube)...so 20 minutes is excellent. Isn't it's nice to know that if you flat while you're out by yourself you can take care of it?

[Eagle-Eye]

I brought my bike to my LBS (cuz I needed some other adjustments made anyway) and they said it was a borderline case of whether I needed a new tire. They offered to patch it up for free, and I took them up on that. I just wasn't comfortable with riding long distances on it (I am training for my first century in June). So, I decided to get a new tire. As glad as I am that I can change a flat myself, I'd rather be riding than fixing.

I am keeping the old one for winter riding on the trainer, which the LBS guys said it would be fine for.

Thank you all for the great advice!

[yogabear]

I'd love to learn to fix a flat. I know how to do it, but I need to practice it LOL

Thanks for sharing your story...It gives me hope I can do the same

[CorsairMac]

I'd love to learn to fix a flat. I know how to do it, but I need to practice it LOL

Thanks for sharing your story...It gives me hope I can do the same

Do like I did: in the comfort of your home "pretend" you have a flat. Just deflate one of your tires and treat is if it was flat - you just don't need a new tube. That way when it happens in real life, you've already gotten the steps down. Course, the one time I had to change a "real" flat, I had someone with me watching me and I became all thumbs. Prior to that the only ones watching me were the dog and 2 cats and They didn't care how long it took or the words I used while getting the tire back on! LOL

[li10up]

Do like I did: in the comfort of your home "pretend" you have a flat. Just deflate one of your tires and treat is if it was flat - you just don't need a new tube. That way when it happens in real life, you've already gotten the steps down. Course, the one time I had to change a "real" flat, I had someone with me watching me and I became all thumbs. Prior to that the only ones watching me were the dog and 2 cats and They didn't care how long it took or the words I used while getting the tire back on! LOL

Since I had a blowout the other day I had to put on my first new TIRE. That was a bit different. You take out this folded up piece of rubber that at first doesn't even LOOK like a tire and go what the heck...??? It was a bit harder to put back on the rim than my old tire was. But I did it.