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Fixing a flat while on a MTB ride is usually not a chore but been a while since I've changed a flat on road bike. Matter of fact the bike I used for the road I bought about four years ago and I've never had the opportunity to change a flat on it before. ( flat bar touring type bike with 700 x 23C tires )
I've been telling myself for years that I need to do a "test run" on changing a flat with that bike but never seemed to get around to it. Well today it happen and quite unexpectedly. First warm/dry weekend in a while, I'm all geared up ready to test some new GPS apps on my phone....Low and behold, the big F strikes.
I hadn't a clue what I ran over and my tire was freshly filled before leaving. I did have my flat kit along but since I was no more than a couple miles from home I decided to hoof it rather than take the chance I might have problems. As it was, it turned out to be the right call. I had everything I needed in my kit bag but one thing: my CO'2 device. :madman: I knew one day owning only "one" would come back to haunt me and sho'nuff it did. Such is the price you pay when you chose to shuffle bike gear between set-ups.
Anyway when I got home I took the tire off without too much problem. When I inspected the tire I found a piece of glass buried in the tire. Made quite a gash for something so small. Only a small piece ( size of a pin ) made it all the way through but that was enough. I cleaned the glass out of the tire and put everything back together.
Well I got my "fix-a-flat" run through. I actually used my CO2 set-up just to make sure that it was working just in case I needed to use it again. Afterwards I patched the tire. Thank God I wasn't out in the boonies when this happened. Walking long distances in cycling shoes is never fun.
To people who have a better half or a room mate who you can call to come to the rescue, "I envy you". I've never considered it before but I just might knock on my upstairs neighbors door ( who I've known for over 20 years ) and ask her if she might help me out when in a pinch ( locally ). I figure if I offer to pay gas and such that perhaps that might be the best way to go about it.
A final question: The gash in my tire sliced the tire about 2-3mm. While it didn't go all the way through I can't help but wonder...should I replace the tire? Advice anyone?
Oh, some parting advise of my own: "latex gloves", priceless when it comes time to messing with the chain when you have no place to wash up. :thumbsup:
I've been telling myself for years that I need to do a "test run" on changing a flat with that bike but never seemed to get around to it. Well today it happen and quite unexpectedly. First warm/dry weekend in a while, I'm all geared up ready to test some new GPS apps on my phone....Low and behold, the big F strikes.
I hadn't a clue what I ran over and my tire was freshly filled before leaving. I did have my flat kit along but since I was no more than a couple miles from home I decided to hoof it rather than take the chance I might have problems. As it was, it turned out to be the right call. I had everything I needed in my kit bag but one thing: my CO'2 device. :madman: I knew one day owning only "one" would come back to haunt me and sho'nuff it did. Such is the price you pay when you chose to shuffle bike gear between set-ups.
Anyway when I got home I took the tire off without too much problem. When I inspected the tire I found a piece of glass buried in the tire. Made quite a gash for something so small. Only a small piece ( size of a pin ) made it all the way through but that was enough. I cleaned the glass out of the tire and put everything back together.
Well I got my "fix-a-flat" run through. I actually used my CO2 set-up just to make sure that it was working just in case I needed to use it again. Afterwards I patched the tire. Thank God I wasn't out in the boonies when this happened. Walking long distances in cycling shoes is never fun.
To people who have a better half or a room mate who you can call to come to the rescue, "I envy you". I've never considered it before but I just might knock on my upstairs neighbors door ( who I've known for over 20 years ) and ask her if she might help me out when in a pinch ( locally ). I figure if I offer to pay gas and such that perhaps that might be the best way to go about it.
A final question: The gash in my tire sliced the tire about 2-3mm. While it didn't go all the way through I can't help but wonder...should I replace the tire? Advice anyone?
Oh, some parting advise of my own: "latex gloves", priceless when it comes time to messing with the chain when you have no place to wash up. :thumbsup: