My First Flat

Just hundreds? I have had three flats in the last 7000 miles and that's at east three too many.
"pjclarkesq" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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

some

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

way.

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

I

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

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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

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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"

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brake to complicate taking off the rear wheel.

Can anyone recommend a bike repair manual clear enough for a

mechanically

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

safely

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

off

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

I'd

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appreciate any suggestions.

Phil

Question: Why do some people have asterisks at weird places in certain words? Is it some kind of
censor function of the site they post from or their newsreader app? IE, why "fl*t" and "p*nct*re"?
OR, is this some kind of "knock on wood" defecne against flats (err, fl*ts)? 🙂

Thanks

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

Quoted message said:

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

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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

Quoted message said:

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

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and have them demonstrate the whole procedure for you. It's a lot easier

to

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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

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the skill.

snip

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

name

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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.

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

If

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you don't, you are going to get a flat down the road again.

snip

<snip>

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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.

GeoB

I carry a couple kleenex in my kit and if I get a flat, I just gently run the kleenex around the
inside of the tire. Anything nasty sticking up will usually snag the kleenex and tear a piece off. I
developed this method after a rather nasty slice on two fingers from a long and thin piece of glass
through the tire.

In article <4pJhb.275828$Lnr1.198610 @news01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com>, [email hidden] says...

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<snip>

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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.

GeoB

I carry a couple kleenex in my kit and if I get a flat, I just gently run the kleenex around the
inside of the tire. Anything nasty sticking up will usually snag the kleenex and tear a piece off.
I developed this method after a rather nasty slice on two fingers from a long and thin piece of
glass through the tire.

Also helps sop up the blood after you've found the glass shard with your fingers.

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

iLiad said:

... 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....

Check the rim strip also, as protruding spokes can cause punctures.

Tom Sherman - Near the confluence of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers

Lewis Campbell said:

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

Unless you have a Windcheetah "Speedy" where all the wheels have single side mounts, so the tires
can be removed with the wheels in place.

Tom Sherman - Near the confluence of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers

harv said:

... 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....

Have you considered getting a Topeak Road Morph?

Quoted message said:

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....

Or you could accidentally stick your fingers into the spokes - I will pass on this suggestion.

Tom Sherman - Near the confluence of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers

Sticker Jim said:

Question: Why do some people have asterisks at weird places in certain words? Is it some kind of
censor function of the site they post from or their newsreader app? IE, why "fl*t" and "p*nct*re"?
OR, is this some kind of "knock on wood" defecne against flats (err, fl*ts)? 🙂

W* h*v* * sh*rt*g* *f v*wv*ls.

T*m Sh*rm*n - N**r th* c*nfl**nc* *f th* M*ss*ss*pp* *nd R*ck R*v*rs

pjclarkesq said:

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.

What about flat free kilometers for those who live in countries that have adopted SI, i.e. 95% of
the world?

Tom Sherman - Near the confluence of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers

Its probably so that they can say words like ' ph*ck ' and not offend anybody. :-)

Lewis.

***********************

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

Quoted message said:

Question: Why do some people have asterisks at weird places in certain words? Is it some kind of
censor function of the site they post from or their newsreader app? IE, why "fl*t" and "p*nct*re"?
OR, is this some kind of "knock on wood" defecne against flats (err, fl*ts)? 🙂

Thanks

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

and have them demonstrate the whole procedure for you. It's a lot easier

to

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

the skill.

snip

Quoted message said:

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

name

Quoted message said:

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:

Quoted message said:

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

If

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you don't, you are going to get a flat down the road again.

snip

"Question: Why do some people have asterisks at weird places in certain words? Is it some kind of
censor function of the site they post from or their newsreader app? IE, why "fl*t" and "p*nct*re"?
OR, is this some kind of "knock on wood" defecne against flats (err, fl*ts)? 🙂"

Exactly!!! To talk about it is to invite a string of them. They do seem to run in clusters.

In my own case, when I have a ****, I just go home and shoot two more tires to get the obigatory
three out of the way. Sometimes it doesn't work.
--
Miles of Smiles,

Tom Blum Winter Haven, Florida Homebuilts: SWB Tour Easy Clone Speed Machine Clone High Racer Clone
www.gate.net/~teblum

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

Quoted message said:

Sticker Jim said:

Question: Why do some people have asterisks at weird places in certain words? Is it some kind of
censor function of the site they post from or their newsreader app? IE, why "fl*t" and
"p*nct*re"? OR, is this some

kind

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of "knock on wood" defecne against flats (err, fl*ts)? 🙂

W* h*v* * sh*rt*g* *f v*wv*ls.

T*m Sh*rm*n - N**r th* c*nfl**nc* *f th* M*ss*ss*pp* *nd R*ck R*v*rs

V*r* cl*v*r. 🙂

That I can understand, but in words like "flat" and "puncture"? (I've seen other common, everyday,
non-vulgar words with similar asterisk substitutions in this NG too)

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

Quoted message said:

Its probably so that they can say words like ' ph*ck ' and not offend

anybody. :-)

Quoted message said:

Lewis.

***********************

"Sticker Jim" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Question: Why do some people have asterisks at weird places in certain words? Is it some kind of
censor function of the site they post from or their newsreader app? IE, why "fl*t" and
"p*nct*re"? OR, is this some

kind

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of "knock on wood" defecne against flats (err, fl*ts)? 🙂

Thanks

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

Quoted message said:

Single tool is possible Crank Brother Speed Lever, which generally

works

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

well. Since I changed to Stelvios, I added 3 regular strong plastic

tire

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

levers to my kit. The speed lever just won't do it with very tight

tires.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It is good to practice taking the wheel and tire off and replacing

them in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the comfort and safety of home. Just figuring out how to lay the bike

in a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stable position and pulling back the derailleur to release and insert

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

wheel is just as important as how to replace or patch a tube. A tip:

take

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

your new spare tubes and put them in a grocery sack with some talcum

powder

Quoted message said:

and shake and bake the tubes. The talc is a good lubricant. Put the

powder

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you normally wear single vision is a good idea. Tough to fix a flat if

you

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

can't see it.

Pumping up a tire with a bike frame pump can be tough. I can't hold

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

tire/valve/pump head with one hand while pumping with the other to get

up

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

riding pressure. I have to lay the wheel on the ground and put a

spacer

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

under the pump head -so it doesn't rip the valve off- so I can get

enough

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

LBS

Quoted message said:

and have them demonstrate the whole procedure for you. It's a lot

easier

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

do it after seeing a demonstration.

Also, most flats seem to be on back tires. Learn how to reach behind

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

seat and use the palm of your riding glove to brush [censored] off of the

tire

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

the skill.

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

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

name

Quoted message said:

> of it. After getting the tire off, be SURE to check for thorns,

glass,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> steel, etc. inside the tire. I simply rub my finger around the

inside of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it.

Quoted message said:

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

note.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If

Quoted message said:

> you don't, you are going to get a flat down the road again.
>
snip

"Sticker Jim" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

Sticker Jim said:

Question: Why do some people have asterisks at weird places in certain words? Is it some kind
of censor function of the site they post from or their newsreader app? IE, why "fl*t" and
"p*nct*re"? OR, is this some

kind

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of "knock on wood" defecne against flats (err, fl*ts)? 🙂

W* h*v* * sh*rt*g* *f v*wv*ls.

T*m Sh*rm*n - N**r th* c*nfl**nc* *f th* M*ss*ss*pp* *nd R*ck R*v*rs

V*r* cl*v*r. 🙂

I'd like to buy a vowel...

--
May all beings be happy. May they be joyous and live in safety. All living beings, whether weak or
strong, in high or middle or low realms of existence, small or great, visible or invisible, near or
far, born or to be born, Let no one deceive another, nor despise any being in any state; Let none by
anger or hatred wish harm to another. Even as a mother at the risk of her life watches over and
protects her only child, so with a boundless mind should one cherish all living things,

Sticker Jim said:

That I can understand, but in words like "flat" and "puncture"? (I've seen other common, everyday,
non-vulgar words with similar asterisk substitutions in this NG too)

In the world of bicycling Usenet newsgroups h*lm*t is considered a word to avoid, as it leads to
interminable discussions with the same people posting the same arguments over and over again
(especially if the thread is cross-posted).

Tom Sherman - Near the confluence of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers

"Tom Sherman" skrev

Quoted message said:

In the world of bicycling Usenet newsgroups h*lm*t is considered a word to avoid, as it leads to
interminable discussions with the same people posting the same arguments over and over again
(especially if the thread is cross-posted).

And if you write "helmut" that german guy complains.

M.