I know how to pedal...I need help with the other stuff!!
 

Ok, so I know how to do a few more things than pedal, but not much. I was scared to change the skewer on my rear wheel before attaching it to the trainer because I was afraid it would fall out of the little joint and I would have absolutely NO IDEA how to get back to where it was supposed to be...you know with that scary claspy looking thing (derailleur) and that thing with the thing that attaches and goes around? You know, they call it a chain or something. :rolleyes: But, I am a novice's novice so I need help from all you peeps out there that have a clue.

I was staring at my front wheel last night while I was riding....ON THE TRAINER...I don't stare at the front wheel while I am on the road! (The back one is much more interesting.) But, it got me thinking...

I ordered a slick the other night because I am tired of my knobby tires on my fluid trainer making more noise than a freight train...I could have spent way less for a wind machine to do that. I have no idea how I am possibly going to change the tire, but I hope to goodness that it is somewhere in those cycling books I have bought! Anyway, I was wondering... Can you put a narrower tire on wheels as long as they are the right size (e.g. 26 x 1 vs 26 x 1.95)? The slick I ordered is the exact same specifications as the tire I have on now, but I was just curious. Thanks for reading my dissertation of a post and for helping a noob out.

The answer is: it depends. Max and min tire width is determined by the rim width. It would not be out of the question for a rim to be able to take those two tires but not all 26" rims will.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

Look at the decimal sizing here. Sheldon Brown was a huge asset to the cycling community. There is also an ISOcross reference table. As long as the rim diameter matches it will work putting a 26X1 in a wheel that has a 26X1.95. They are both designed for a 559mm wheel. I'm assuming, of course, that you are talking about a modern mountain bike, right? Make sure that you are ordering the 559mm 26" and not the 571 or 599mm.

Thanks!

Changing your rear tire is pretty easy, it's nothing to worry about.

While your bike is on the trainer, shift the gears in front to highest one then shift the rear gear to the smallest one. Open the bail to your rear brake. If you're using V-brakes, squeeze the arms together with your hand then use the other hand to slip the noodle (that metal thing that looks like a noodle which the cable is routed through) from the metal yoke which holds it in place. Now free your bike from the trainer. If you can, squat down and set the back of your seat on your shoulder, open your quick relese skewer and the tire should fall straight down. If will probably get snagged on the chain so reach down and move the chain so that your wheel can come free. Set the bike down on left hand side so that it doesn't rest on the derailure.

Now your wheel is free! Let the air out of your tire. Starting at the side of the tire opposite to the valve stem, work a tire leaver under the bead of the tire and gently work it around. Do the same on the other side and your tire will come right off. Reverse the process to get your new tire on. Pump it up. Pick your bike back up and thread the chain around your small gear on your cassette. Sometimes it helps to push just a bit on the lowest part of your derailure. It swings forward so you're not going to hurt anything. Once you do that, the tire should guide itself right back into the drop outs. Close your skewer, reattach your brakes, put it back on the trainer, then enjoy your relative peace and quiet.

This is a good time and place to learn a necessary skill.

@Bautieri - amazingly simple! Thanks so much for the play by play.

@Jethro - There are many, many necessary skills that I needed to learn long ago. Haven't been serious about biking in the past, just a ton of fun and I hadn't the second thought about anything going wrong out there. Sounds naive, which it was.

No problem fatvarider, anything else we can help with?

At the absolute bare minimum you have to be able to change a tire in the field. Which, most of the time, really means changing or patching the tube. That means getting the wheel free from the bike, getting the tire off the rim, patching or replacing the tube, making sure whatever foreign matter caused the flat is no longer lodged in the tire, remounting the tube and tire and inflating it, and putting the wheel back on the bike. None are hard to do, but they're skills you should practice a time or two at home in the garage/basement before you go on any ride that's too long to walk home from (which is not a very long ride).

fatvarider, Now's a good time to read those books. ;) Also some LBS' will host a basic maintenance seminar.Brad

Small victory...but first time accomplished. New tire on...very easily. Thanks y'all.

5/3/20116:30 - 8:00 PM EDT

• Bike Maintenance Basics | Kids, Adventure, Cycling, Family
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+1. Take some classes.

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