First Flat, Lessons Learned

Naveed Aziz Near-Ansari said:

2. Remember to close the top of your water bottle before flipping your bike over.

*laugh* Good one!

Quoted message said:

6. If you have a fancy leather saddle (I.E. Brooks), make sure to put something to protect it
from scratches before flipping the bike over onto the cement.

I typically just lay my bike over after taking the affected wheel off.

Thanks for the list!

RFM
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Quoted message said:

1. Get a good pump. Something that can go to a high pressure.

I really like my Topeak Road Morph. You might try it.

Quoted message said:

3. Kevlar will not stop a chocolate chip shaped metal spike.

It also won't stop a goathead grassbur.

Quoted message said:

4. Mr. Tuffy liners are probably worth the price.

Buy the imitation "Mr. Tuffy" (less expensive) and, of course, put them in by yourself. It's not
difficult.

Quoted message said:

5. Riding with low pressure is much more difficult than it seems.

How low?

Quoted message said:

6. If you have a fancy leather saddle (I.E. Brooks), make sure to put something to protect it
from scratches before flipping the bike over onto the cement.

Good advice.

Pat

Pat said:

Quoted message said:

1. Get a good pump. Something that can go to a high pressure.

I really like my Topeak Road Morph. You might try it.

This is a an ATB bike with slicks. The rated pressue is 45-75 PSI. I looked at the topeak morphline
and am considering one. Is there any reason why I should get the ATB version of it over the road
version. It seems that the more pressure you can get with it, the more versatile it
is. I was also thinking about a frame pump. Thoughts?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

3. Kevlar will not stop a chocolate chip shaped metal spike.

It also won't stop a goathead grassbur.

Or nails or... That's why combined with some liners they should be good for my commuter.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

4. Mr. Tuffy liners are probably worth the price.

Buy the imitation "Mr. Tuffy" (less expensive) and, of course, put them in by yourself. It's not
difficult.

my LBS only seemed to have the name brand version

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

5. Riding with low pressure is much more difficult than it seems.

How low?

45 PSI

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

6. If you have a fancy leather saddle (I.E. Brooks), make sure to put something to protect it
from scratches before flipping the bike over onto the cement.

Good advice.

Pat

Now if only i can find some kind of insulated coffe cup that fits in a bottle cage, and a pair of
shoes that don't look ridiculous to work and walk around in, my bicyle commutg experience will be
just about perfect.

------------------
Naveed Near-Ansari I speak for myself
------------------

"Naveed Aziz Near-Ansari" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

6. If you have a fancy leather saddle (I.E. Brooks), make sure to put something to protect it
from scratches before flipping the bike over onto the cement.

No need to ever put your bike on its back. It's pretty hard on a lot of things. As a matter of fact,
you don't even need to remove your wheel to fix a flat, but even if you do, just lay the bike down
after you get it out.

x-no-archive:yes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

1. Get a good pump. Something that can go to a high pressure.

I really like my Topeak Road Morph. You might try it.

This is a an ATB bike with slicks. The rated pressue is 45-75 PSI. I looked at the topeak
morphline and am considering one. Is there any reason why I should get the ATB version of it over
the road version. It seems that the more pressure you can get with it, the more versatile it
is. I was also thinking about a frame pump. Thoughts?

Read the small print in the advertisements or maybe on the web site. I seem to remember that the
Topeak Morph Mountain pump does not come with a gauge whereas the Road Morph does. They may have
changed since I bought mine in 2001, though. Also, I noticed today several imitations out there--one
by Blackburn, one by Serfas and who knows who else....this pump comes with a frame mount. You might
look for reviews, esp. at www.mtreview.com or www.roadbikereview.com

Pat

Naveed Aziz Near-Ansari said:

I have been commuting to work for about 3 months now. I hadn't ridden since i was a kid before
that. I have read through the newsgroups, The FAQS and Sheldon's Website.

I have learned alot, done a lot of riding, gone to a maintenance clinicn and gotten good
information from all of these sources. As you all know, experience is often the best teacher.

Today I had my first flat. I learned a few things from it.

1. Get a good pump. Something that can go to a high pressure.

Definitely

Quoted message said:

2. Remember to close the top of your water bottle before flipping your bike over.

No need to flip the bike over.

Quoted message said:

3. Kevlar will not stop a chocolate chip shaped metal spike.

True

Quoted message said:

4. Mr. Tuffy liners are probably worth the price.

Doubtful. Mr. Tuffy will not stop a chocolate chip shaped metal spike, either.

Quoted message said:

6. If you have a fancy leather saddle (I.E. Brooks), make sure to put something to protect it
from scratches before flipping the bike over onto the cement.

See my comment above.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | "What am I on? I'm on my bike, six hours a day, busting my ass. _`\(,_ | What are you on?"
--Lance Armstrong (_)/ (_) |

Quoted message said:

x-no-archive:yes

whoops! that's www.mtbreview.com Sorry about that.

Quoted message said:

Pat

In article <[email hidden]>, "Naveed Aziz Near-Ansari"

Quoted message said:

Today I had my first flat. I learned a few things from it.

1. Get a good pump. Something that can go to a high pressure.

I pack /two/ portable pumps. One for my own, personal use. And oneto lend to moochers on the
wayside, who insist on doing their own pumping, but treat the pump really roughly.

The pump I keep for myself is an aluminum barreled Planet Bike unit. The loaner is one of those
plastic barreled dual-piston jobbies that occasionally blow up in your hands.

I've got a spare chain tool, too.

cheers, Tom

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Mon, 30 Jun 2003 16:35:20 -0700, <[email hidden]>, "Naveed Aziz

Near-Ansari said:

Now if only i can find some kind of insulated coffe cup that fits in a bottle cage,

There are several of them listed here: bicyclecoffeesystems.combicyclecoffeesystems.comOpen ↗
--
zk

Naveed Aziz Near-Ansari said:

Quoted message said:

It also won't stop a goathead grassbur.

Or nails or... That's why combined with some liners they should be good for my commuter.

I could generally count on getting a flat at least every two weeks, but then I started using
heavy-duty tubes last year. Since then, I haven't had a single flat in spite of the goatheads and
broken glass on my commute. I haven't run over any metal spikes lately.

RFM
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"Tom Keats" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

I pack /two/ portable pumps. One for my own, personal use. And oneto lend to moochers on the
wayside, who insist on doing their own pumping, but treat the pump really roughly.

I've got a spare chain tool, too.

I *never* let anyone use my pump. The few people I have rescued w/o a pump seem to have little idea
how to use one.

I found a guy walking barefoot last year (fortunately it was summer) since his Campy C-10 chain
snapped & he had no tools. After I removed the broken link, he asked to use the tool to do the
joining himself. I was reluctant, but then considered that I really didn't want to be responsible
for the security of the join, so I let him have the honors.

On Tue, 01 Jul 2003 00:42:06 -0700, Zoot Katz <[email hidden]> from Balsa Pacific Aero Ltd.

Engineering & Bicycle Mongery said:

There are several of them listed here: bicyclecoffeesystems.combicyclecoffeesystems.comOpen ↗

Dang, Zoot, you have a bike link for EVERYTHING.

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my DACRON TANK TOP in a cheap hotel in HONOLULU!
2:27:43 PM 1 July 2003

Zoot Katz said:

Mon, 30 Jun 2003 16:35:20 -0700, <[email hidden]>, "Naveed Aziz

Near-Ansari said:

Now if only i can find some kind of insulated coffe cup that fits in a bottle cage,

There are several of them listed here: bicyclecoffeesystems.combicyclecoffeesystems.comOpen ↗

Great!

The Megaslim 2in1 looks ideal.

smallurl.comsmallurl.comOpen ↗

Thanks.

Peter Cole said:

Quoted message said:

I've got a spare chain tool, too.

Quoted message said:

After I removed the broken link, he asked to use the tool to do the joining himself. I was
reluctant,

At the risk of sounding dumb: How can the chain tool be damaged?

RFM
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In article said:

Peter Cole said:

Quoted message said:

I've got a spare chain tool, too.

Quoted message said:

After I removed the broken link, he asked to use the tool to do the joining himself. I was
reluctant,

At the risk of sounding dumb: How can the chain tool be damaged?

By not aligning it properly on the chain's pin, and forcing the pin-driving "anvil" of the tool
against a sideplate. The result is stripped threads and/or a bent driver pin.

This is just my opinion:

I've had the more expensive, and the cheaper chain tools. And I've dealt with (and learned from)
tool-moochers in the past, who's destructiveness would probably make them good beta-testers. I don't
like the materials (i.e: brass) in either of the two predominant makers of chain tools.

Might as well go with the cheaper tool, unless you can find one with a nice, hard, unwarpable,
drop-forged steel body and a slightly milder steel core. Metals with differing hardnesses wearing
against each other wear the least. And brass construction sux in chain tools. And all chrome-plating
does, is increase cost and make it look prettier than it needs to be.

cheers, Tom

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"Tom Keats" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

I pack /two/ portable pumps. One for my own, personal use. And oneto lend to moochers on the
wayside, who insist on doing their own pumping, but treat the pump really roughly.

I've got a spare chain tool, too.

I *never* let anyone use my pump. The few people I have rescued w/o a pump seem to have little idea
how to use one.

I found a guy walking barefoot last year (fortunately it was summer) since his Campy C-10 chain
snapped & he had no tools. After I removed the broken link, he asked to use the tool to do the
joining himself. I was reluctant, but then considered that I really didn't want to be responsible
for the security of the join, so I let him have the honors.

"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:a54Ma.1772$Xm3.274@sccrnsc02...

Quoted message said:

"Naveed Aziz Near-Ansari" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

6. If you have a fancy leather saddle (I.E. Brooks), make sure to put something to protect it
from scratches before flipping the bike over

onto

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the cement.

No need to ever put your bike on its back. It's pretty hard on a lot of things. As a matter of
fact, you don't even need to remove your wheel to

fix a

Quoted message said:

flat, but even if you do, just lay the bike down after you get it out.

Ok, how do you fix a flat tire without removing the tube?

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:a54Ma.1772$Xm3.274@sccrnsc02...

Quoted message said:

"Naveed Aziz Near-Ansari" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

6. If you have a fancy leather saddle (I.E. Brooks), make sure to put something to protect it
from scratches before flipping the bike over

onto

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the cement.

No need to ever put your bike on its back. It's pretty hard on a lot of things. As a matter of
fact, you don't even need to remove your wheel to

fix a

Quoted message said:

flat, but even if you do, just lay the bike down after you get it out.

Ok, how do you fix a flat tire without removing the tube?

Just pull out the section with the hole and patch it, then stuff it back into place.

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In article said:

Peter Cole said:

Quoted message said:

I've got a spare chain tool, too.

Quoted message said:

After I removed the broken link, he asked to use the tool to do the joining himself. I was
reluctant,

At the risk of sounding dumb: How can the chain tool be damaged?

Bending the pin is the most common way of damaging a chain tool in my experience.