I've replaced tires on a mountain bike before, so I'm used to practically changing the tire with just my thumbs. Last night I changed the rear tire on my road bike--a Trek Pilot 1.2, which came with Bontrager Racelights on Alexis(?) rims. Various reviews about this tire being "tight" were not joking. [Tire had something like 3kmiles, but there was a cut across the read which had cords sticking out. After coming off, the tire feels "thin" in that area too.] I came across two issues which I hadn't seen before. Oh, I used the same tire as before--a 700c x 25mm Bontrager Racelite, since it's held up so well.

The first was that I could not get the bead properly onto the rim; I fear I bent the bead in the tire somehow (it's been a while since I've had to use tire levers, and this tire required a good amount force). Once I pumped up the tire, and worked the tire a bit, all other sections could be heard to "pop" into place. Save one. I deflated, worked it, and reinflated; but it just won't pop up. It is making a slightly low section, which I fear is going to give me a "thumping" feel as I ride. [Tonight I'll take it out for a shakedown ride, couldn't do that last night.] Might it just need some riding, and perhaps a warm day, for the bead to take?

Secondly was that, once I got the old tire off, and the new tire on, I had a loose spoke. As in, I could turn the nipple with my fingers. Some years ago I hit some ledge in the pavement, which required trueing of the wheel; perhaps the tire was off somehow? Seemed very odd... I tightened that one spoke, and it basically came right back into true (or relatively close, it wasn't perfect before). [This is a lower spoke count wheel, not sure if it's 16 or 20; but it's not 32.] Might that indicate something bad? I've read these rims are not long lived, which is a shame, as I like the looks of them.

Thanks.