I always check the tread before taking the tire off. You can usually see the object that way, even if you can't remove it yet. Just don't stop at the first glass sliver, finish checking the entire thing.

Doing this, I can remove all offending objects and swap a tube, co2 it, and ride off in about 4-5min.

A good way to check the inside of the tire for stuff is to use a good section of the flat tube to rub inside the tire....that way, your fingers won't get cut up.

Both option 1 and option 2. If I am on my way to work and don't have time to fuss with it on the spot, I swap and patch the old one later. Otherwise, if I don't have time constraints, I patch it and save the spare tube for later.

The "what happens if I get a second flat?" factor is the main reason why I carry two spare tubes on every ride. I have an inordinate distaste for patching on the side of the road (probably because I am a klutz and tend to drop the tube, glued-side down, into dirt (or worse:eek: ) more often than I care to think about). Throw in cold, windy and/or rainy conditions, and my desire to patch goes into serious negtive number territory. On the other hand, patching a tube or two at home sitting in front of the TV (or in camp at the end of a touring day) bothers me not at all. (Beats the living hell out of fixing tubulars, which I used to do as a kid when I had delusions of being a racer not a lot of money - or is that redundant?)

Having two tubes along also allows me to be the hero every so often to save a ride for someone who has no spare. (Boy, is that a cool feeling.:))

In addition to the two tubes, I do also carry a patch kit. Even more than patching on the road, I hate the idea of wiping out a ride for lack of a tube that will hold air. I'd rather patch a cactus blindfolded that have that happen.

Another reason Slime is a waste of time and money. :mad:

The only thing any tire sealant goo has ever done for me is make the job of fixing the flat, and the rear end of the bike/motorcycle/car a disgusting mess.

Used to have the parents fix flats for me but theyd go flat again a week later. Finally decided to just invest some money in the local LBS and I get a flat every 4-5 months now. Its worth it in the long run! Honestly though... Im on a bike team and cant even fix a flat. Its funny and severely pathetic at the same time. Oh well, as long as its fixed in a quick amount of time. :)

Kat,

Get some tire levers, a floor pump, and a junk wheel, tire, and some tubes to play with (ask the LBS if they have an old whel you can have for free or some busted up old tires so you can learn this off of).

Once you get good at it, then look at carrying either a pump or a CO2 inflator (carry extra cartridges just in case)

Seriously, learning to fix a flat is IMO pretty much required. Because sometimes, you just aren't near anyplace useful when a flat occurs.

Good advice.

Or, volunteer to fix flats at the LBS for a few days. Even just one Saturday. The variety of wheels tires and sizes is a handy thing to have under your belt too.

Fixing flats for a day! My hands would be screwed after a whole day.

I actually LOVE patching tubes for some reason. That said, I have never had a flat in the rain or snow yet. The most challenging was probably a three-hole pinch flat from hammering a shoddy railroad crossing really hard while trying to bunny-hop it while racing to the bar (after getting good and warmed up beforehand, if you know what I mean).

I wrote this earlier this year on the subject of patching:
http://www.basementfreaks.com/member...nized_elegance

Although I always carry a spare, I mostly patch.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger ! ;)

I do both. I swap the leaking tube for one in my bike bag... which may be new or have been patched before. And then I put a patch on the holed tube, and then put it into the bike bag.

This gets me on the road faster, and gives the glue plenty of time to set up well.

Have done it this way for years... never had a problem.

When I was commuting in NYC, I carried 2 spares and patches (just in case). I would rather patch my flats in the convenience of my home.

Sorry I can't spare the lecture. There is no excuse for this practice. You can use non slime tubes or carry a plastic bag and discard the whole works properly later. The because it's convenient for me so I'll just through it out now attitude really gets to me. Have some respect for the natural environment where you are riding. And yes I know I have make an impact on the environment by driving my car or even disposing of a tube in a proper manner. Everyone living in the modern world does, but we can do simple little easy things to minimize our impact.

Looks like there should have been one more choice. Swap now, fix later. But as someone point out, you should inflate the flat tube anyway yo find the hole. It helps in inspecting the tire for anything stick through the tire.

Heh, wait until you are rebuilding hubs all day.

I learned a majority of my bike mechanical skills helping out at the bike shop as a free repairguy for the people that could barely afford the part, let alone the labor.

After a day where at least a half dozen hubs got rebuilt, installed numerous new chains, tube, and tires....and the dozen or so brake re-cabling jobs...only reason I was able to lift a beer mug that day is because my 1 liter mug's handle is designed to slip over the entire hand.

I guess I gotta get me one of these! :beer:

I found mine at a wal-mart, sold as a single mug for $7...but here's a site that seems to sell the same item, just by the dozen: http://www.restockit.com/browseprodu...(1153UAH).html

I also collect steins and unique beerware (this hobby is worse than crack...steins go from $100 to over $1,000....I can only afford the $100 ones at most and garage sales specials :( ). Keeps me on top of finding this stuff. There is a better quality version of this 1l glass mug around, but you can't fit your hand through the handle quite as well. The better quality one has a "thumb rest" on the top of it.

I remember seeing the Paris Roubaix in 1997 and 1998, and that the professionals were using Michelin Axial Pros on their bikes. When I came to live in France, I saw that a lot of people also used them so I've stuck with Michelin ever since and it's rare that I've had a puncture. That may be that the state of the roads here in France are better compared to the UK.

I always carry one or two tubes in case.

I just refill the tire, and let the slime work. 99% of the time, this works, and I later have the LBS mount a new tire or tube, whatever is necessary.

Twice, in 16 years, I had blowouts, that the slime wouldn't seal. I walked home once, and another time, I had my wife pick me up. In these instances, a tube or patch probably wouldn't have helped anyway.

Well just this Saturday we went for a metric and I had a puncture. For a change I decide to swap tubes and haul the brand new tube out of the ziplock bag. WTF! Stem too short! I was able to inflate it halfway with a helluva lot of effort. It would have been easier/faster to patch but once the whole thing is mounted who's gunna go back? Plus doofus here rode with his saddle bag wide open at the start and lost the pump and patch kit somewhere.

Swap. I find it a little difficult to find a small tube hole oout on the road. I like to be home in total quiet, so I can easily hear the hissing.

I would have picked the fourth choice this AM. No spare and a long nail went thru the Armadillo tire and both sides of the tube. Not enough patches to fix all the holes made by the nail in the time it took me to stop. Three miles walk to the lbs. Valve stem separated from the tire rubber after I brought and used a patch. Had to buy a new tube afterall. The old tube had fourteen patches on it a new record for me. A Kenda tube BTW.

I have two nails in the garage wall. One marked good tubes, the other bad. I am always careful to start each ride with a new, or one of the "good" tubes in the seat bag. First flat on the road - swap. Second and subsequent - fix. Bad tube goes into the bag. Once in a while, I'll sit in the back yard and patch tubes.

Patch once...

New tube second..

Never patch twice..