My First Flat

Phil, some will argue but my opinion is that with good tires and correctly installed tubes, flats
are extremely rare. I can easily fix a flat. I carry spare tubes, hand pump, tire levers etc - and
have never used them in years of recumbent riding. Same with the guys I ride with.

I suggest that you had an early flat because a tube was pinched, a spoke head protruded, bad rim
strip or some other mechanical fault.

I also suggest tires with Kevlar bands for extreme puncture resistance.

My point is that your effort is best spent getting to the root cause of the flat. You might ask the
shop to look for any obvious problem in the wheels or tires, but if none is found, just put in a new
tube and write off that first flat as a fluke.

jim h said:

Phil, some will argue but my opinion is that with good tires and correctly installed tubes, flats
are extremely rare. I can easily fix a flat. I carry spare tubes, hand pump, tire levers etc - and
have never used them in years of recumbent riding. Same with the guys I ride with.

I suggest that you had an early flat because a tube was pinched, a spoke head protruded, bad rim
strip or some other mechanical fault.

I also suggest tires with Kevlar bands for extreme puncture resistance.

My point is that your effort is best spent getting to the root cause of the flat. You might ask the
shop to look for any obvious problem in the wheels or tires, but if none is found, just put in a
new tube and write off that first flat as a fluke.

Good advice BUT as rare as flats are it is best to be prepared to fix them on your own - even four
miles are a long walk with a bike, as I learned when I left my repair kit at home because it was
just a short ride............

"jim h" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Phil, some will argue but my opinion is that with good tires and correctly installed tubes, flats
are extremely rare. I can easily fix a flat. I

carry

Quoted message said:

spare tubes, hand pump, tire levers etc - and have never used them in

years

Quoted message said:

of recumbent riding. Same with the guys I ride with.

And others (like me) have flats for approx. every 60 miles. It depends a lot of your roads. But then
again - we mostly get beer in glassbottles, not cans around here (Denmark)

Quoted message said:

I suggest that you had an early flat because a tube was pinched, a spoke head protruded, bad rim
strip or some other mechanical fault.

It has happened to me, but mostly its flintstone or glass in the tire.

Quoted message said:

I also suggest tires with Kevlar bands for extreme puncture resistance.

Good advice, but learn to fix flats anyway - If not for anything else, then for the above
mentioned reasons.

Quoted message said:

My point is that your effort is best spent getting to the root cause of

the

Quoted message said:

flat. You might ask the shop to look for any obvious problem in the wheels or tires, but if none
is found, just put in a new tube and write off that first flat as a fluke.

Not nescessary - my tubes carry 10-15 patches before they hit the bin. It's not the tubes fault that
the stonechip get's through the tyre.

Regards, Torben

Hi Phil,

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend a bike repair manual clear enough for a mechanically inept guy to understand
that will help me get that rear wheel off and

safely

Quoted message said:

back on? I watched the guy at the bike repair shop but he got the wheel

off

Quoted message said:

so fast I couldn't keep up with what, precisely, he did to get it off.

I'd

Quoted message said:

appreciate any suggestions.

I found the following book useful for general bike repair and maintenance:

--------------------
Bicycling Magazines "Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair" by Jim Langley
--------------------

For web sites you might look at:

sheldonbrown.comflats.htmlOpen ↗

parktool.comFAQGP2.shtmlOpen ↗

home.comcast.netflat.htmOpen ↗

Terry

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

Quoted message said:

Phil, some will argue but my opinion is that with good tires and correctly installed tubes, flats
are extremely rare. I can easily fix a flat. I carry spare tubes, hand pump, tire levers etc - and
have never used them in years of recumbent riding. Same with the guys I ride with.

And I guess I have to be the first to argue with that opinion. Jim, you must live in an extremely
idealistic and protected world. Statements such as yours are an invitation for a visit by the
p*nct*re fairy. It is true that you can avoid almost all flats simply by not riding a bike. It that
your secret?

Sure, you can with proper precautions, avoid pinch flats, and 'snake bite' types of flats. Kevlar
belted tires help against cuts. Avoiding all the 'seeable' road hazards is also possible. But even
the newest 'bestest' kevlar tires will not stand up to all of the detritus that litters the roadways
that I have to travel.

My usual flat involves embedded glass or wire. It works its way into the tread, through the kevlar
cord and eventually has its way with the tube inside. Once in a great while, I will hit a large
glass shard that will slice through several layers of kevlar and not only destroy the tube but the
tire as well.

--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

Having a flat on a 'bent is really no different from having one on an MTB or any other bicycle.

The point I'm trying to make is that you could have ANYONE, who knows how to fix a flat, show you
how to do it. However, if you don't practice it several times and it takes you 6 months to get your
next flat, you'll probably have to go through the learning curve again.

Good luck.

--
Lewis.

......................... "pjclarkesq" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:_GGgb.59360$%h1.43588@sccrnsc02...

Quoted message said:

Had the first flat on my new Tour Easy. Luckily I was only about 2.5 miles from home. Still...a
long walk for an old guy (be 70 next spring) pushing a big long Tour Easy. So I guess I better
learn how to fix flats again. Haven't had to do that since I had my first bike back in the
1940's....a big old balloon tired bike with nothing but a "New Departure" brake to complicate
taking off the rear wheel.

Can anyone recommend a bike repair manual clear enough for a mechanically inept guy to understand
that will help me get that rear wheel off and

safely

Quoted message said:

back on? I watched the guy at the bike repair shop but he got the wheel

off

Quoted message said:

so fast I couldn't keep up with what, precisely, he did to get it off.

I'd

Quoted message said:

appreciate any suggestions.

Phil

Well, hopefully someone will actually answer your question in here ;-) When I lived in Nashville,
the router I rode almost guaranteed one flat per week. Since moving to Tampa, it has been one flat
per month if that. I ride anywhere from 30 to 50 mile rides daily, and there isn't a chance in hell
I am going to go out without the tools and knowledge to fix a flat. I don't think they have a triple
A for bikes? With that in mind, here is some advice.

First of all, make sure you are airing your tires up to spec. If you are running them low, you will
likely see more flats, snake bites, etc. If you do get a flat, taking the tire off is usually the
easiest part.

I would highly recommend you take an extra tube (or two if your bent has different size tires). The
reason is it is fast, easy, and you can't always find the hole that caused the flat. But, bring a
tube repair kit as well. You may end up with two flats then your toast.

Taking the tire off usually requires just one tire tool, don't know the name of it. After getting
the tire off, be SURE to check for thorns, glass, steel, etc. inside the tire. I simply rub my
finger around the inside of it. I'm sure someday I'll get cut doing this as someone is surely to
note. If you don't, you are going to get a flat down the road again.

After you have fixed the flat on the tube, or replace it, you generally put some air in the tube to
keep it from getting pinched. When you put the tire back on, don't use the tire tools. You will
likely scar the tube and have another flat. Also, massage the tire/tube around as you fit it to work
out any kinks, or you will get a snake bite flat.

Also, if you get into longer rides, you need to carry a toolset with you. A few extra links for the
chain, a chain tool, etc.

And I know I still haven't answered your question, but it will help down the line. If you would like
more help, let me know. I would be happy to explain it over the phone, rather then typing it all
out. Oh, finally, the bike repair shop will likely answer this question for you and show you how to
fix the flat if you ask them.

"pjclarkesq" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:_GGgb.59360$%h1.43588@sccrnsc02...

Quoted message said:

Had the first flat on my new Tour Easy. Luckily I was only about 2.5 miles from home. Still...a
long walk for an old guy (be 70 next spring) pushing a big long Tour Easy. So I guess I better
learn how to fix flats again. Haven't had to do that since I had my first bike back in the
1940's....a big old balloon tired bike with nothing but a "New Departure" brake to complicate
taking off the rear wheel.

Can anyone recommend a bike repair manual clear enough for a mechanically inept guy to understand
that will help me get that rear wheel off and

safely

Quoted message said:

back on? I watched the guy at the bike repair shop but he got the wheel

off

Quoted message said:

so fast I couldn't keep up with what, precisely, he did to get it off.

I'd

Quoted message said:

appreciate any suggestions.

Phil

I've always liked "Anybody's Bike Book" by Tom Cuthbertson, for bike repair stuff. The author
assumes that you are not especally well-versed about the technical aspect of repairs and bikes, so
he explains things clearly and in simple terms. Drawings accompany instructions as well. This book
has always worked quite well for me (well, when Wayne's not around to help...)

Diane and Wayne RANS Screamer, Haluzak Horizon, GRR "pjclarkesq" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message news:_GGgb.59360$%h1.43588@sccrnsc02...

Quoted message said:

Had the first flat on my new Tour Easy. Luckily I was only about 2.5 miles from home. Still...a
long walk for an old guy (be 70 next spring) pushing a big long Tour Easy. So I guess I better
learn how to fix flats again. Haven't had to do that since I had my first bike back in the
1940's....a big old balloon tired bike with nothing but a "New Departure" brake to complicate
taking off the rear wheel.

Can anyone recommend a bike repair manual clear enough for a mechanically inept guy to understand
that will help me get that rear wheel off and

safely

Quoted message said:

back on? I watched the guy at the bike repair shop but he got the wheel

off

Quoted message said:

so fast I couldn't keep up with what, precisely, he did to get it off.

I'd

Quoted message said:

appreciate any suggestions.

Phil

Single tool is possible Crank Brother Speed Lever, which generally works well. Since I changed to
Stelvios, I added 3 regular strong plastic tire levers to my kit. The speed lever just won't do it
with very tight tires.

It is good to practice taking the wheel and tire off and replacing them in the comfort and safety
of home. Just figuring out how to lay the bike in a stable position and pulling back the
derailleur to release and insert the wheel is just as important as how to replace or patch a tube.
A tip: take your new spare tubes and put them in a grocery sack with some talcum powder and shake
and bake the tubes. The talc is a good lubricant. Put the powder covered tubes in a plastic zippy
bag for your road kit.

Since we are both at geezer age taking along the trifocals in your kit if you normally wear single
vision is a good idea. Tough to fix a flat if you can't see it.

Pumping up a tire with a bike frame pump can be tough. I can't hold the tire/valve/pump head with
one hand while pumping with the other to get up to riding pressure. I have to lay the wheel on the
ground and put a spacer under the pump head -so it doesn't rip the valve off- so I can get enough
muscle behind the pump to get 120 psi.

A Tour Easy isn't a wallyworld bike. Don't be afraid to go back to your LBS and have them
demonstrate the whole procedure for you. It's a lot easier to do it after seeing a demonstration.

Also, most flats seem to be on back tires. Learn how to reach behind the seat and use the palm of
your riding glove to brush [censored] off of the tire before glass can work its way through the tire.

Good luck, and once you learn how fix a fl*t, I hope you never have to apply the skill.

snip

Quoted message said:

Taking the tire off usually requires just one tire tool, don't know the

name

Quoted message said:

of it. After getting the tire off, be SURE to check for thorns, glass, steel, etc. inside the
tire. I simply rub my finger around the inside of

it.

Quoted message said:

I'm sure someday I'll get cut doing this as someone is surely to note. If you don't, you are going
to get a flat down the road again.

snip

Quoted message said:

to Tampa, it has been one flat per month if that.

I had two in 8 months, both on the same day, same place.

Quoted message said:

I ride anywhere from 30 to 50 mile rides daily,

But I am riding along a bus route so I can always hop on the bus if I don't wanna patch the tube.
The buses have bike racks.

Quoted message said:

and there isn't a chance in hell I am going to go out without the tools and knowledge to
fix a flat.

Certainly true for me away from the bus route, IE out of town, etc

Quoted message said:

I would highly recommend you take an extra tube (or two if your bent has different size tires).

Save the old tube, take it home and patch it.

Quoted message said:

You may end up with two flats then your toast.

I couldn't believe it the other day, TWO flats at the same time. Here's the deal... the
street-sweeper guy did a lousey job. His bin must have ben full because he swept well, but deposited
all the glass and puncture vine burrs eveing across the road, not just in the gutter as before.
These drivers like to finish their route early, then ask for an over-time route (doesn't matter how
long it ACTUALLY took to do his route).

Quoted message said:

I'm sure someday I'll get cut doing this as someone is surely to note.

So noted. I have thrust puncture-vine (Goat Heads) into my fingers doing that, as well as glass, but
I still do it.

Quoted message said:

After you have fixed the flat on the tube, or replace it, you generally put some air in the tube
to keep it from getting pinched.

Just one/two pump strokes, or so. Any more and it will work against you.

Quoted message said:

massage the tire/tube around as you fit it to work out any kinks, or you will get a snake
bite flat.

If you have schraeder valves (like a car), then make sure it is standing perpendicular to the rim
when done. Don't try to push it up straight if it isn't, instead grasp the tire in one hand and the
rim in another and rotate the tire on the rim just enough to straighten the valve stem.

Also, when you think you are ready to inflate, put a cap on the valve stem, and *push* it into the
rim, but not all the way. This gives clearance for the tire bead to fit *under* the thick base of
the valve stem. Otherwise the tire bead won't seat properly.

Next, gently hold the rim and slowly spin it. Watch the molded raised line on the tire, just outside
of the rim. Use it to make sure the tire is even on the rim all the way around. If it is too far in
or out at some point, grasp that spot on both sides of thetire with your thumb and forefinger, pinch
it together, rock it back and forth, pull on it a bit if necessary till it gets even.

Quoted message said:

Also, if you get into longer rides, you need to carry a toolset with you. A few extra links for
the chain, a chain tool, etc.

Minimize the use of the chain stuff by routinely lubing the chain. Mine needs it about every
week/50 miles.

GeoB

jim h said:

Phil, some will argue but my opinion is that with good tires and correctly installed tubes, flats
are extremely rare.

Congratulations, but that's just nuts. You clearly do not live in goathead country. Here, even all
the slime and kevlar in the world won't solve the problem.

That being said, I've certainly noticed quite a difference depending on tire configuration. I used
to run Panaracer 1-1/8" tires at 100 lbs. Got flats all the time. At least one a week. I switched to
Panaracer Tecnova II 1" tires at 125 lbs. and have only had one flat in about 500 miles, and that
was caused by walking my bike through what turned out to be a large goathead patch.

The best way to learn to change tires efficiently is to find an expert and have them show you. Look
for a bicycle maintenance class if you can.

-- Robert

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

Quoted message said:

I would highly recommend you take an extra tube (or two if your bent has different size tires).
The reason is it is fast, easy, and you can't always find the hole that caused the flat. But,
bring a tube repair kit as well. You may end up with two flats then your toast.

After 2 large holes in the tire on my Aero from flats, I now carry a tire and two tubes. The reason
I carry the tire & tube is to save changing time. I can strip the tire and tube & replace the old
tire & tube without the worry of finding what caused the flat. I don't like fast moving vehicles
making noise while I try to find a leak; I usually do the hard work at home the next day.

I was riding a century and cut the tire where the tire would not hold the tube in the tire with a
good boot. I had to walk 5 miles when a very very nice person gave me a ride to my car which was 25
miles away. The next weekend I had to pay a person $10 to give me a 35 mile ride after riding 60
miles and walking 2 miles uphill. After that, I started looking at Airfree tires but then do not
have 650 sizes yet; maybe next year or the next after the 559 is available.

In Baton Rouge, we practice changing tires with experienced bikes at a practice site.

WOW!!!!! Did I get a lot of great stuff about tire repair. I thanked some of you with a private note
but decided it would be better to do it this way. It's really neat how many of you spent time to
help this old geezer out. I hope you all have hundreds of flat free miles. Phil "pjclarkesq"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:_GGgb.59360$%h1.43588@sccrnsc02...

Quoted message said:

Had the first flat on my new Tour Easy. Luckily I was only about 2.5 miles from home. Still...a
long walk for an old guy (be 70 next spring) pushing a big long Tour Easy. So I guess I better
learn how to fix flats again. Haven't had to do that since I had my first bike back in the
1940's....a big old balloon tired bike with nothing but a "New Departure" brake to complicate
taking off the rear wheel.

Can anyone recommend a bike repair manual clear enough for a mechanically inept guy to understand
that will help me get that rear wheel off and

safely

Quoted message said:

back on? I watched the guy at the bike repair shop but he got the wheel

off

Quoted message said:

so fast I couldn't keep up with what, precisely, he did to get it off.

I'd

Quoted message said:

appreciate any suggestions.

Phil

Ha, I knew I'd stir up a hornets' nest. Yes, everyone should know how to fix a flat. In 45 years
of biking I've repaired a few. But a flat on a new bike isn't normal and probably means something
was wrong.

I knew the 'goathead thorn' people would jump in, too. What the heck are those things? Somebody give
me a link to a picture.

I had three flats in 99 for my first year of recumbent riding. Got used to pulling that 35x700C tire
off and having fun. My last flat for that year was in July and I had no flats in 2000 so I felt
good. 2001 came in and I went for broke with a Specialized Nimbus EX (armadillo kevlar belt) in the
rear and Snafu Rim Job (20x1.95 130 PSI) front tire. Rode it with no problems in the spring and
shipped my recumbent to Korea. The year in Korea came and went with no flats, not even when I rode
about 250 meters across glass strewn trails. I was feeling bullet-proof! Came back last year and the
concept of getting a flat was fading away. July, 2003 my 4 year streak was celebrated with a
flat...on the front! A thorn went through the front tire and I pulled out my pump, spare tube and
bike tools and noted I had a flat. A week later, I was greeted with a front flat again! Rim tape
failure so I took care of that. August came along and, you guessed it... another front tire flat!
Ran over a roofing staple so I was really eating up the tubes. Early September greeted me with
another front tire flat caused by a thumb tack. The month was not over so I had to take the front
tire out again with another thumb tack! 4 years without a flat and 5 FRONT tire flats in 3 months.
The Nimbus EX rear tire has not flatted in almost 4 years (I put it on Feb 2000) It is really,
really worn and will be replaced for the spring riding season. Maybe I should hang it up with a gold
ribbon on it for flat-free performance. The comment about quality tires, I needed some humor to
brighten up my day! I have flatted Michelin, Specialized, Raleigh, Tioga, Snafu, Avocet and others
with no problem. You roll the dice and take your chances.

John H Finding tumb tacks in N TX

Well, it was great to share. And probably one of the longest threads on here for a while that didn't
include some threats and bashing. Would like to see more of it in the future.....

;-)

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

Quoted message said:

WOW!!!!! Did I get a lot of great stuff about tire repair. I thanked

some

Quoted message said:

of you with a private note but decided it would be better to do it this

way.

Quoted message said:

It's really neat how many of you spent time to help this old geezer out.

I

Quoted message said:

hope you all have hundreds of flat free miles. Phil "pjclarkesq" <[email hidden]> wrote
in message news:_GGgb.59360$%h1.43588@sccrnsc02...

Quoted message said:

Had the first flat on my new Tour Easy. Luckily I was only about 2.5 miles from home. Still...a
long walk for an old guy (be 70 next spring) pushing a big long Tour Easy. So I guess I better
learn how to fix

flats

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

again. Haven't had to do that since I had my first bike back in the 1940's....a big old balloon
tired bike with nothing but a "New

Departure"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

brake to complicate taking off the rear wheel.

Can anyone recommend a bike repair manual clear enough for a

mechanically

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

inept guy to understand that will help me get that rear wheel off and

safely

Quoted message said:

back on? I watched the guy at the bike repair shop but he got the wheel

off

Quoted message said:

so fast I couldn't keep up with what, precisely, he did to get it off.

I'd

Quoted message said:

appreciate any suggestions.

Phil

Now I'm afraid to ride. I'm sure the Puncture God will punish me. I will get 5 years worth of
overdue flats in the next month. :-)

Maybe I've actually had lots of flats but the experiences wer so traumatic that I repressed the
memories...

jim h said:

I knew the 'goathead thorn' people would jump in, too. What the heck are those things? Somebody
give me a link to a picture.

goatheads.comgoatheads.comOpen ↗

-- Robert

Thanks. Yeah they do look menacing. Not a problem for me - they can't survive a Minnesota winter.
You guys in the South just need to have someone drive ahead of you and spread weevils on the road.

"Robert Stevahn" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jim h said:

I knew the 'goathead thorn' people would jump in, too. What the heck are those things? Somebody
give me a link to a picture.

goatheads.comgoatheads.comOpen ↗

-- Robert