So I'm rollin' along on my way to work this morning when I realize I'm riding on the rim. How the tire went flat without my even realizing it I can't imagine. I was close enough to work 1-1.5 miles that I debated whether to fix the flat or just walk the rest of the way. Having decided to fix it I proceeded to skin my knuckles very nicely trying to get the very tight tire off. Once it was off I thankfully remembered to feel inside for something sticking through. Sure enough a tiny piece of wire. I struggled for about 5 minutes and just couldn't get it out. Too small to get a grip on, and I haven't been carrying a pair multitool with pliers. So back on goes the tire, and I wind up walking anyway!

The thing that REALLY frosts me is my own stupidity. I had grabbed this spare wheel to put on for a couple of days while having a wheel rebuilt. I was pretty sure it did not have a Mr. Tuffy liner and thorn resistant tube, my flat reduction armor, but I figured "What the heck, it's only a couple of days. SURELY I won't get a flat in just a couple of days." I was pressed for time when I did the swap but it would only have taken about two extra minutes to put the tire/liner/tube from the other wheel on. I had already taken it off. But NOOOO, Rainman has to take the gamble. So for lack of a 2 minute investment, I spent nearly 30 walking my bike. By the way, I was very thankful I wear mtb shoes for commuting!

We've all had similiar episodes, what makes this funny is your signature. If you're the power, why not just will the wire out.

Alas, my power only applies to the pedals, and there is precious little of that. BUT, since it's all I have, I AM the power!

When I lived in Texas the little wire flat was very common for me. The wire comes from truck tires that fly apart. Anyway if I couldn't pull the wire out with my fingers I would "tweeze" it with my front teeth. Not exactly the healthiest thing but hey, it worked.

You ARE the power!

20 minutes spent fixing a flat that culminated in my tweezing the wire out of the tread led me to include a tiny set of tweezers in my emergency kit. It must work, haven't had a flat since!

Oso

Oh boy are those famous lasts words or what?

I just realized that my logic was actually correct. I did ride for a couple of days without a flat. It was (literally) the THIRD day that the flat occurred. I feel MUCH better now.

i go cheap on the flat protection, i cut down an old set of tires to use as liners and filled the tubes with slime. works for me