As will become clear I am not an experienced mechanic or cyclist for that matter. But I did think that I could change a flat tire (clinchers, BTW).

I hit something that I never saw today. It sounded like a long/skinny piece of metal. And the result was a rear flat. Not fun but hardly the end of the world. I was in a hurry and add that to marginal competence, then maybe it is (for me, anyway).

This was a local/errand type ride and all that I had was a single tube (I'm not a tube patcher, but I think I will be soon). But still no problem. So I took off the rear tire/tube and the first mistake I made was to just casually check the entire inner tire casing rather than find the hole in the tube and more carefully check that area of the tire. I felt nothing so installed the new tube and (in a manner that would go viral on Youtube) wrestled the tire/tube back on the wheel.

I had a Co2 inflator and, for some reason that mankind will never understand, that worked without a hitch. I was fumbling around getting the rear tire back on without tying my chain in knots when POW - rear tire went flat. At this point there was no reason to understand why this happened - I was stuck so it was 'the phone call of shame' for a ride.

BTW, we are far from done screwing things up at this point.

After dinner I again pulled the rear tire and checked more closely. I had a solid 3/8" (not at all clean) gash just above the bead of the tire. That was the culprit in the first flat and the second tube popped as it was being forced out that gash. Other than carrying more repair capability than I had, I'm not sure what one would do about that one (other than not waste a tube).

So I pulled an old tire that was in decent shape, and got out another NEW tube. I installed that (at least I am getting better at this) and tried to pump it up with my floor pump. I COULD NOT get it past 50 pounds. And it wouldn't hold 50 pounds for more than 10 seconds. As best as I could determine, this tube had a leaky value - it would leak air slowly no matter what the state of the presta valve (screwed in or not). I would have heard it but my neighbor was mowing his yard. OK - so much for that tube.

I found another old tube of questionable vintage and (yet again) pulled and re-installed. For some reason I had trouble this time getting the last 6 inches of tire into the rim. And somehow I managed to give myself a pinch flat with my tire tool while doing this! I mean, really?

So I dug even deeper into recesses of my garage rarely visited and found mouse droppings and one more tube. I put it on without a problem, so my assumption is that this worked simply to get me back on the road so that, in the most inconvenient place, I will encounter another flat. So first stop tomorrow is tubes and a patch kit.

dave