Not to be belittling or anything, what do you do when you flat 10, 20, 30 miles from home?

Well, my LBS would charge $15 for a flat repair which takes what - 5 to 10 minutes start to finish ...

I have seen people bring their entire bikes in for a flat fix. You gotta admit that's funny.

Oil change is what $25? I have mine done at a gas station - not that I can't do it, but it's a damn messy job and even if you DIY, you gotta take the used oil somewhere for disposal. That's worth paying someone to do if you ask me.

It's not like we are talking about cutting a steering tube and throwing a new fork on or ripping your hubs apart to grease them, we are talking about fixing a flat. This is something my Co-worker’s 7 year-old does.



Yes what do you people do? The only time I ever fix a flat is like a minimum of 5 miles away from home. Its not like I ever flat in the alley behind my house where I could just walk back home.

No! that's what butter knives are for...Duh! http://forums.probetalk.com/images/s...icon_dizzy.gif

When I hit the lottery, I'm going to hire that Mavic motorcyle to follow me around everytime I ride.

You can install new GP4000's on Bontragers in 3 minutes? What do you do?

You've probably mentioned this in another thread I started, but I don't remember what it was.

Let's say you're 30 miles from home and in the hills/mountains in a fairly remote location with no cell phone reception.....are you going to walk, or learn how to change a flat?

just a question: for those of you who can't\won't do basic repairs like changing a tube does it prevent you from going on long rides?

because for me, part of the beauty of cycling is going out in the morning and riding some place far that i've never been to before. i would really hesitate to do that if i knew i could get stuck somewhere if a problem occurs with the bike. having a small set of tools, a tube, and a patch kit grants me freedom to ride pretty much wherever i want.

+1. If your time is that valuable that's a long friggin' walk, or even a wait for someone to come pick you up.

I only had my LBS change a flat once, but I don't think it really counts as I was getting new tires that required smaller tubes, and they were performing a full tune-up as well. If it was just the flat, I would have done it myself. That being said, I have replaced four flats in the last 1000 miles. :mad: Time to get some puncture resistant tires.

yea but pretty much all repairs on a bicycle are just as simple, as long as you have the tool. But you probably wouldn't make fun of someone for paying to have their bottom bracket or derailler installed. From building my bike up from the ground up, I think I know how to do pretty much everything besides true wheels and any type of cutting or facing. My ex has a pretty nice road bike and whenever she gets a flat, guess who is her friend again...

Everyone should be able to fix a flat if they need to.

If people pay to have flats changed...well thank them for their support, then teach them how to do it themselves.

If people don't want to learn because they are not "mechanically inclined" - so be it. That would be like trying to teach my wife how to do it....no chance in H***. You'd be saying, "first remove the wheel..." she would be saying, "hey, look at that over there. I never noticed that before. I like that color. Where did they buy that. I wonder what my mother is doing. Hey, I should call her...."

If people don't want to learn because their time is too valuable...make a mental note to give them more room when group riding...to accomodate their huge head.

I used to think that way and argued with a car mechanic who made me wait longer than expected. I was making $10/hr at the time and told him he cost me $xx. He laughed. I grew up and figured out why. It's all relative folks.

Finally - personally - I would PAY someone to let ME fix my own flat. In today's world I find something about it to be very peaceful and calming. Then again working on bikes is my own form of therapy.

In the end though...anyone who pays a shop to fix their flat who either doesn't want to learn, can't learn, or doesn't "have the time" should be thanked for participating in our sport (hey they got a flat) and for supporting their local LBS. Ones that pay because they don't know how...should be taught. Offer to teach them. Make the world a little nicer.

What do you get in return??? Post break-up, hook-ups rock.

Long time ago, I have paid that ranson. $10 for what? But, my first tires were Armadillos. They are so difficult, it takes endurance and lots of skin from your finger tips. No wonder, I originally paid for the tire change. Having the right levers helps reduce with the skin loss.

I'll do it for 6.50:p

I've decided I need a full-time mechanic. I mentioned this to a fellow cyclist at work; and he kindly informed me that I also needed a masseuse and a nutritionist/chef.

I just replaced my sister's front and rear tubes while she was on vacation. I told her I would do it for free. They were in 700x23 Armadillos. Man, that might have been worth a trip to the store. :p

HAH! I've done four flats in three days!... yes, I'm getting new tires...

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/774/cartmanxr9.jpg

Things have gone from weak to super weak.

I'd never have someone fix my flat tire. Much less would I pay someone to do it for me. It's all part of the adventure. At least for me it is. I actually take pride in being able to be on a ride and fix my flat really fast so as to not have anyone even notice. I guess it's just a little of my competitiveness.

What's this, you can pay to have someone else fix your flats? No one ever told me... my father showed me how to do it when I was six years old! No mercy either, he made ME do it. Thanks, Dad!

Ansel

Flat repairs are around for the same reason there are Lube Stops in every city. I mean, it take five minutes to change your oil, and you're paying some high-scool kids $35 to do it in 20 minutes while you sit in your car with no music o anything?

I don't sit in my car. I sit in the waiting room with the cold, stale, 1/4 pot of coffee and the 15-year-old vending machine that's sold out of everything but Orange Crush and peruse the latest issue of "Low Rider" Magazine. :)

My guess is that people like this never get more than 5 miles from their home (or car) so hoofing it back is not a problem. You see them everyday on the trail no pump and no repair supplies.

Sorry but you forgot one minor detail. You need to dispose of the oil. I am fully capable of changing my own oil but I don't do so because of the oil disposal problem. It's worth the extra $10-$20 to let someone else worry about it.