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I fixed my first flat today!!

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

I fixed my first flat today!!

Old 09-04-10, 06:45 PM
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I fixed my first flat today!!

My road bike is just over two months old and the other day I had my first flat, I had to call the "little lady" to come and rescue me, I took it to the shop to get the flat fixed, and the next day about seven miles into my ride the same tire (rear) went flat again. I thought this is crazy, and I need to learn how to fix my own flats. So today I watched some instuctional videos on You Tube about fixing flat tires on road bikes, it looked easy enough to me so I went to the LBS and bought a mini pump, a set of tire irons, a tube, and a small bag that fits behind my seat. I took my time with the job, and checked out the inside of the tire very well, and found a very very small piece of glass that worked itself into the tire but could'nt be seen from the outside of the tire. Right before I mounted the tire I took a rag and wiped the inside of the tire a few times to make sure I had gotten any, and everything that might be in there, then I mounted the tire, and tube with no problems, took her for a little ride, and EVERT THING WAS FINE!!! Im kinda proud of myself, from now on I'll save the labor cost for fixing a flat. I did order a new set of tires for my bike though, as the OEM tires that came with the bike are wearing pretty fast (Contenental Ultra Sport), the new tires are Contenental GP-4000. This winter I plan on getting a set of rollers, and since I now know how to change out the tires, I'll just use the old tires for use with the rollers, and save my new tires for this spring on the road.
Paul
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Old 09-04-10, 06:50 PM
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It's not like curing cancer...
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Old 09-04-10, 06:51 PM
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Cheaper to fix you own! Good job!
Hate to say, there will be more flats . . .
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Old 09-04-10, 07:14 PM
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Good to get the first one out of the way. Practice makes perfect...
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Old 09-04-10, 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by gundogblue
....bought a mini pump, a set of tire irons, a tube, and a small bag...
Good job with that ! Should be tire levels though, not "irons."
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Old 09-04-10, 07:39 PM
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Next thing you know you will be working on Bottom Brackets! Well maybe not right away but I find that I feel better when I know how to take care of my hobbies and that I am self sufficient. Its nice to see that you gave it a try and did it yourself, Congrats!
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Old 09-04-10, 07:45 PM
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Once you do one or two you will cease to be intimidated by flats. Do it a few times at home just for practice.
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Old 09-04-10, 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by NathanC
It's not like curing cancer...
lol

I bought my road bike in December or January - no flats so far (knock on wood). I probably should just try and do it in the studio a couple of times so I don't get all panicky trying to fix it on the side of the road haha
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Old 09-04-10, 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by dnuzzomueller
Next thing you know you will be working on Bottom Brackets! Well maybe not right away but I find that I feel better when I know how to take care of my hobbies and that I am self sufficient. Its nice to see that you gave it a try and did it yourself, Congrats!
Hopefully not screwed up threads and seized to high hell-bb's. Yeah it's just a matter of "cranking on a wrench" with a 2 foot long wrench and a C-clamp after trying everything else that is sane in the world.

Good job! Working on bikes is miles easier and more enjoyable than working on cars. I like to make a warm beverage (tea or coffee) put on some Italian music, set the bike in a well-lit area and don the campy classic hat as I massage my baby into perfect working order.
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Old 09-04-10, 07:58 PM
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umm. Congrats I guess?

I installed some new tubeless MTB tires the other week. Should I make a thread? What about removing the cranks from my road bike?

Oh, and I cleaned the chain. I think I should make a few threads.
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Old 09-04-10, 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Flatballer
umm. Congrats I guess?

I installed some new tubeless MTB tires the other week. Should I make a thread? What about removing the cranks from my road bike?

Oh, and I cleaned the chain. I think I should make a few threads.
Everything related to bikes, no matter how many times it's been discussed in the past, deserves a new thread.
Now go back on the other side of the fence where you belong
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Old 09-04-10, 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Flatballer
umm. Congrats I guess?

I installed some new tubeless MTB tires the other week. Should I make a thread? What about removing the cranks from my road bike?

Oh, and I cleaned the chain. I think I should make a few threads.
Except that you are an *******.
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Old 09-04-10, 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by pcfxer
Except that you are an *******.
uh huh. Tell me more, I'm interested.
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Old 09-04-10, 08:12 PM
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I fixed my first flat today!!

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Old 09-04-10, 09:22 PM
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good job!
the odd thing about BF is you can start a thread entitled "I cleaned my white handlebar tape today" and it's just business as usual.
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Old 09-04-10, 09:25 PM
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This is incredible news.
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Old 09-04-10, 09:26 PM
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It's not the bike...it's the rider
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Old 09-04-10, 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by NathanC
It's not like curing cancer...
Your first is pretty close.
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Old 09-04-10, 09:30 PM
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Well I think it's worth...



So now get use to it. You ride you fix flats.

Please post pictures of hot bikes or girls.

Thank You.
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Old 09-04-10, 09:38 PM
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Wow good job first tube fix! many more to come for sure.
I must of been 10 when I fixed my flats well over 40 years ago.
Also how do you wear a set of Contenental Ultra Sport two months thats a task in all it's own.
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Old 09-04-10, 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Flatballer
Oh, and I cleaned the chain. I think I should make a few threads.
Only if you want a 30 page thread arguing about the best chain cleaner/lube.
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Old 09-05-10, 04:14 AM
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Thanks for all the good words, and encouragement I really appriciate it, and to the very,very few who's remarks were not so nice, thats OK too.
I know changing a bike flat is'nt rocket science, but when you start messing with a new bike, with-out much experiance it can be a little intimidating, and when all goes well it's a feeling of accomplishment no matter how small. I realize that maintainance, fixing flats and even some wrecnching is as much a part of this sport as ridding , and in time it will all come. As far as wearing out a set of Ultra Sports in two months, even the guy at the LBS was kinda suprized, the crown of the rear tire has flatened out pretty good, but even though the bike is only two months old I have just under 800 miles on it.
Paul
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Old 09-05-10, 04:16 AM
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Can you seethe beads on said tyre?
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Old 09-05-10, 05:55 AM
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Originally Posted by JTGraphics
Wow good job first tube fix! many more to come for sure.
I must of been 10 when I fixed my flats well over 40 years ago.
Also how do you wear a set of Contenental Ultra Sport two months thats a task in all it's own.
If the OP is over 10 yrs. old, this is a very sad thread.
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Old 09-05-10, 06:28 AM
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OP: Always useful to learn a new skill. Good job. Hope you don't have to do this too often.
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