^^ This.

Ditto.

You'd get an argument if you said that to my kids! .

My coworker got a new Specialized Allez last week. He's got about 35 miles on it and got a pinch flat yesterday about 3/4 miles from home. He brought his bike into work today since the Systems Administrators at our company were all talking about going for a ride after work. I helped him patch the tube, and also handed him two spare tubes. We put one of the new tubes on his bike, and put the patched tube, and second new one in his seat bag.

While on the ride, I hit a pothole going up a hill.... not sure how I managed not to avoid it but the tire went flat nearly immediately. I pulled the spare of out my pannier, and swapped it on the side of the road, using the tree in someone's front lawn for shade (95F and 98% humid Ugh..)

Anyway. My coworker was going to stop at the LBS on the way home from the ride to get another couple of tubes, another patch kit, the tool for installing/removing tires from the rim.

That's the first time I've ever gotten a flat while riding.

Since I was about 7. Started repairing cars when I was 10. I was in charge of regular maintenance (tune ups, oil changes, valve adjustments) since I was 12 on my Moms VW sataions wagon and my Dads 914 Porsche (they had the same basic motor).
Not only do my bikes never go to a shop neither do my cars. I even rebuild the transmissions and engines.
Me at Three

Sure do, but it takes me forever to get the tire back on once the new tube is in.

Perhaps, but when I say teenager I mean he looked maybe 16 or so. My guess is he did not have an understanding of just how little time it takes to change a tube and worried that he would get held up and not get to class.

Pretty simple stuff. When I used to have Specialized Armadillo's I might have been inclined to.. Stuffing the bead under the rim can cause bruised knuckes. .
One aspect about club rides, they expect you to change your flats in no more than 6 minutes.. I believe in taking my time. Often a pinched tube will result in a second flat minutes after resuming our ride.. That's not just been my bad luck.. I've had club members volunteer to fix my flat for me. They supposedly being the quick change artist..
And the results were the same. Haste resulted in them giving me another pinch flat.

+1... and know how to do it properly. I had a guy come into the shop last year who was running late for work but had just gotten a flat. He proudly stated that he'd just bought the bike used for $10... a Next MTB with serious corrosion everywhere including chain, rims, brake cables and brake calipers... I kind of felt sorry for the guy. I was working on several bikes at the time so I couldn't fit him in immediately to clean the flaking rust off of the rim and replace the tube but I could lend him the tools to do it himself. He said that wasn't needed, he's repaired and replaced plenty of tubes before and he was running late. He got everything on (having discarded the cracked and broken rim strip and denying my offer for a free rubber one) and then borrowed the shop pump to inflate the tire to 20psi, he stated that higher pressures cause blowouts. He left and came back 10 minutes later with a flat claiming that we sold him a defective tube.

Ah... the venerable 411 and 412. Very interesting offerings from VW.

Yes, I fix my own flats. Patch the tubes until they can't be patched any more. It's not generally a good idea to put a patch over a patch, but I've done it plenty of times.

..

Fix my own flats and carry patches and a pump for other peoples flats. Saved a few teenagers that ran over a nail on the Central Valley Greenway one day. Taught my son to be a good Samaritan at the same time. He's still thrilled that we stopped and fixed someone else's bike.

so karma got me yesterday after posting, I had a flat on my ride and had to find a nice shade tree to fix it under.

Fix my own. I just replace the tube and then fix at home. I haven't had a flat this year yet. I've been over 2,000 miles thanks to the marathon + tires.

I always stop and ask if anyone needs help. Stoped and help a rider pump up his MTB tire. It took three cartridges. I think I will buy a pump instead to let them use so they can get a workout. It was then I realized that my inflator only works with presta. Good thing I never got a flat when I was riding my MTB that has Shrader.

+1

Sure I fix my own flats... in fact I was just verifying the status of the glue tubes in all my bike kits just yesterday... one was dried out and I replaced it... all the others were OK.

I fix my own flats as there is no AAA for cyclists, bike shops are never around when I get a flat, and frankly I'd just as soon get on my way.

I can fix a flat in under 10 minutes easily, and over the years I have developed a habit... I carry a spare tube and a flat kit and pump. I pull out the flat tube, patch it and put into my kit as the spare. I put the spare from my kit into the tire and fill it (after inspecting the tire for glass, sharps, etc... ). This method gives the patch and glue plenty of time to "vulcanize." This method has never failed me, and at times I may have a tube that has 3-4 or more patches before I retire it. I retire tubes for age or failed valves.

I also carry a small roll of duct tape (duck tape) to use as a tire patch in the event of a bad tire cut. A couple layers inside the tire will work quite well and last a couple hundred miles. I simply roll the tape around part of my pump and leave it there to carry it. Handy too in case a rack or fender or something works loose.

I've done this for well over 30 years and never had a problem with this habit. I've passed it on to my son. He should never have to walk, if he gets a flat.

All the flat tubes go in a box for a mass-patching session once or twice a year.

Except I don't know how to fix busted valve stems.

If you have a flat on the way to work, don't fix the tube, just replace it. Practice will help, try it at home so you can become efficient. I am no handyman by any means, but it doesn't take me longer than maybe 5 minutes. No worries

Absolutely not. If I get a flat I throw the bike away and get a new one.

[QUOTE=CCrew;11008377]I don't change mine. Isn't that why cyclists shave their legs? Get a flat, ya show a little leg, someone stops and fixes it.
QUOTE]

You clearly have not seen my legs shaved or not........ even fishnets don't help

+1

And I light my cigars w/ $100 bills.

I've only had one flat of my own, and I fixed that myself. My sister bought a like new, but with old tires Schwinn suburban at a garage sale a couple of weeks ago, and I replaced the tires, tubes, rim strips etc... so she'd be able to resume riding again. She got a few rides in on her "new" bike before she had a flat - I'd pinched one of the tubes so I drove for an hour to fix it for her.

And PAY someone to ride an exercise bike for you.

Why a whole new bike? You only need to buy a new wheelset and the shop guys will put a new tube and tire on it for you.
Duh... some people.