Out of curiosity, how long does it take you?
I changed over my tyres for the first time this morning - I am rather impressed with myself. Being new as well I have never had to patch a tube, or replace a tube. But I noticed, the first wheel I did took me quite a while as I was doing it carefully with many looks at the instructions. The second tyre was much quicker and easier.

So, how long would it take you to change tyres over?
How long does it take you to replace a tube?
How long does it take you to patch a tube?
How often would you need to do this? This last one would be related with the type of riding and how often, what type of tubes and tyres you use.

As I said, just curious, I'd like to know how often I would need to do this.

Thanks for your input.

Edit: Apologies for the typo in the title.

I can easily change a flat in around 5 minutes. I never patch on the road, I just pop in a new tube after I carefully checked to make sure there is no debris poking through the tire casing.

Keep your tires aired up right and avoid running over things like glass, sticks, etc, and you should be fine. I only run into a handful of flats a year.

If you consistently get flats, check your tire for wear and your rim strip.

So, how long would it take you to change tyres over? 20 Minutes at a leisurely pace in the garage. It's a chance to inspect things.
How long does it take you to replace a tube? Maybe 5 minutes on the road. When I hurry, I'm more prone to botch the fix.
How long does it take you to patch a tube? Without wheel removal, I can do it pretty quick. Still, I save this for a last resort.
How often would you need to do this? Seems to run in fits. Get three in a week and then none for a while. Heavier, stiffer tires tend to not flat as often.

Nice colours

I've done it in 10 minutes, but normally it takes about 15.
I usually just replace the tube when on the road. I do all my patching in the garage. Sometimes I'll do 6 - 10 patches at a time.

Same with me. I get 2 or 3 flats in a few days, then none for quite awhile. It's weird. Must be one of those karma things.

Takes 5-10 minutes to change a flat on the road, depending on how well the tire/tube/rim wants to cooperate.

It really depends on the tire/rim. In the shop, an "easy combo" takes me about 7 minutes. A harder one, probably about 12 min.

On the side of a road? 2-3 mins max with CO2, don't want to keep my mates waiting.

I don't rush it. On the road I have to remove my backpack, get stuff out, etc. 15 minutes but no patching. In foul weather, it could take longer. I take time to examine the tire once its off the rim. When the tire is off, you can squeeze it to see the deep cuts and glass, etc. This will take time. Don't rush it. Examine the inside of the tire too.

I have seen guys go thru tire changes as if they're a pit crewman at Indy. Maybe they're in a group ride and got left behind.

It's the results that count, not the speed. Success is riding away from a flat knowing exactly what caused it.

Al

Amen! I've had nothing but headaches every time I ended up not being able to find the cause on the first flat. Sure enough later that day, flat again. Learn to diagnose these things while you've taken the time to stop anyway.

With CO2, on the roadside, about 3-4mins for rear wheel, 2-3 for the front.

At home.....about 15 mins, since I'm usually goofing off doing 100 other things as well.

Times count fiding the source of the flat. I was a QC inspector in a past job, so I have devloped a knack for spotting abnormalities quickly.

I take my time, turn the tire inside-out, rub all internal surfaces and inspect it thoroughly. It takes about 10-15 minutes. I, too repair my tubes at home in nice conditions--usually during one of those cold, snowy winter days, like today! There's about 6 of them waiting for me.

Purple&gold. Mn Vikings. What the hell.

With borrowed CO2, I can do it in two traffic light cycles. Add one minute for my hand pump. If it took me five minutes, I've probably been gabbing with fellow riders.

You'll get better at it, unfortunately.

If properly motivated I can either fix a flat or replace the tube in about 5 minutes; it takes me about the same time to do either.

I tend to be a bit different the rest of you here because I would rather try to fix the tube first rather then replace the tube first. The reason for that is because if I have a couple of flats on the same ride I don't want to deal with 2 bad tubes. Also you have to spend time to take all the air out of the old tube before you can stow it in your seat bag. Plus I can usually find the leak within a matter of a few seconds anyways.

The fastest way to repair a flat with folding tires is to remove only half the bead on one side with the hole in the middle, then pull about 1/4th of the tube out again with the hole in the middle. Then simply buff, apply a glueless patch which is faster then the glue type and last just as long no matter what anyone tells you, then get the offender out of the tire, and restuff the tube and seat the tire. When replacing a tube you can use the same procedure accept you remove the entire side of a tire.

There is a tool called the Quik Stik that makes ripping the beads off a rim a snap and fast.

Steel beaded tires or non folding tires on road bikes may require that you remove one side of the tire because their sidewalls tend to be stiffer.

I mostly road bike and I now use Specialized All Condition S Works (700x25) tires with Specialized Turbo racing tubes but I am considering trying latex tubes again.

Is it a contest? Maybe you get a prize or something for fastest flat-fixer?

No contest, I've been doing this for over 30 years you just figure out how to do it and do it quickly. Over the years folding tires made the job easier and faster as did the glueless patch. I knew guys that could do it faster then 5 minutes including many LBS mechanics, and in fact last time this was asked on this forum there were some that said they could do it faster then 5 minutes. I was referring to a front flat and not a rear, the rear takes longer due to the mechanical hassle of the derailleur; also this is assuming the hole is found right away, if the hole isn't evident then you have to fill the tire and either listen for the leak or move the tire near your lips to feel the air coming out and that will consume time thus 5 minutes will be shot before you even get to fixing the flat.

By the way, in the old days when I raced we had to fix our own flats, we weren't handed a new tire and rim, so we had to fix flats fast or lose precious race time and probably the race if you were too slow. So I would set at home in my spare time and do nothing for hours (or at least till my hands got too tired) but practice fixing flats and timing myself so I could find a goal then try to best it. This first started with tubulars then progressed to clinchers in later racing years.

It depends on how many beers I've had.

I get what you're saying froze, but since I don't race anymore, the only reason I'd be in a hurry to fix a flat is not to lose the group I'm riding with, or to get the hell out of the rain. OTOH, you get into a habit of moving quickly just from having done it so much.

When trying to make an appointment on time, it can be a benefit

and if you shift the bike into the lowest gear prior to removing the wheel, it makes thigns go by far easier (faster too). Grabe teh RD by the parralell housing, and swing it down to release the chain from the cogs. Once you got it down, it's super fast to swap a rear wheel.

Right; I commute to work and when I get a flat on the way to work I'm motivated to repair it quickly. But my work understands and they don't really care I come in late anyways; but because I'm so anal I'm usually at least an hour early for work anyways!

That's my deal too, I no longer race so I'm no longer anal about trying to get the flat fixed in 5 minutes unless I am motivated for some reason. Now that I'm over 50 and I get a flat and I find myself in a remote area and just start walking around looking a the wildlife or whatever I see! Fixing flats this way might take up to 20 minutes!!!! But I never take longer then 20 minutes to sight see and fix the flat because then your legs feel heavy for about 20 to 30 minutes after getting back on.

Ahh the joys of not racing anymore...but when I retire I may go back to racing. I have this yurning to attempt a RAAM race and compete in the old man catagory (and other gray hair racing), and I have connections to people in this race anyways so thats part of the attraction. But obviously this is something still at least 10 years off so I have to wait to see what the future holds.

So does my work, but not all things are as patient as the folks at work are. Plus it's not like I'm busting my butt any harder than I was on the bike....flip the bike upside down, pop a QR, and get to it.