If you are like me, I always try to bring along a guy or two on a ride. If I have mechanical problems or a flat, I have no problem whipping out my "girl card" and letting the guy fix it. But secretly I know enough bike maintenance to get by. It just seems that guys like to help a woman in distress...so I'm happy to oblige. And who wants to chance breaking a nail. Ha!
Knock on wood, I almost never get a flat. But many of the folks I ride with do. I've learned a lot watching them repair flats or even a tire slit. Thought I'd share with you some tricks of the trade, as well as the basics.
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To avoid a flat in the first place:
1) Inspect your tires - Get in the habit after each ride to give your wheels a quick spin. Look for debris in your tire, slits or wear. If you find a small piece of debris, remove it carefully with a tweezer or your finger nail. Also tires come with "wear dimples" that show you when to change them. I use Continentals and there's two dimples on the tire. If you don't see the dimples, definitely time to change the tire.
2) Pump up your tires before every ride - I think I rarely get flats because I always pump up my tires prior to a ride. This helps to avoid pinch flats or what they call snake bites.
3) Vary the PSI depending on the conditions - When it is raining or possibility of rain, put a little less air in your tires. A wet tire picks up debris and the moisture keeps it on the wheel. So it is more prone to become embedded into your tire. Also if you are going to go on a path vs pavement, you'll also want to adjust your PSI down.
4) Mount your tire correctly - Two things when putting on a tire. First, some brands are designed to only rotate in one direction. Look at the side wall to see if there are directional arrows. Second, line up the logo or brand label with the valve. This way when you have a flat, you can line up the tube with the tire and figure out the area to inspect. Is it 4" from the valve? Then you know to look 4" from the logo on the tire.
If you do get a flat, here are some tips/tricks I've learned over the years:
1) Yell FLAT - If you are in a group ride and you get a flat, immediately yell at the top of your lungs FLAT. Do this for two reasons. It alters riders around you that you are slowing down and they should be cautious. and you may not have full control of your bike. Second, you want to make sure the group doesn't 'drop you not being aware you flatted.
2) Pull off the road - Be sure you pull all the way off the road and to a safe spot. This goes for you and the people you are riding with. Changing flats always turns into a spectator sport with people standing in the road and they don't realize they are in danger of getting hit.
3) Change gears - Murphy's Law is you will most likely flat in the rear. So move your chain to the small chain ring in front and the gear closest to the frame on the back cassette. This will make it easier to take the wheel off and then back on. Remember to open your breaks, too.
4) Can you find the flat? - Before you remove the tire from the wheel, see if you can tell where the flat is or what caused the flat. If you followed suggestion #4 above "Mount your tire correctly" then you should be able to line up the tube and the tire to find the exact problem area. Also be sure to run your fingers on the inside of the tire to see if you can feel any debris. And check the rim tape on your wheel to see if a spoke is popping through.
5) Fixing a cut in your tire - I've known for years to carry a $1 bill with me. The soft paper is great to use as a temporary fix if you have a slit in the tire. This should get you home and prevent the tube from popping through the tire. If you don't have a dollar, see who has the largest bill in the group and take that. Might as well make a few bucks to help pay for a new tire. Tell your friends $50s or $100s work best. But caution, this will only work once as they'll catch on quickly.
This past year while on a group ride, one of the guys ran over a rusty nail I threw out on the road...hey, I needed to slow down the pace. The nail caused a large gash in the tire. Even a $50 bill wouldn't work here. So they pulled out some Tyvek. This is the material they use to wrap a house as a water and air barrier. If you can't scam some Tyvek, a strip from a FedEx envelope works fine (you want the coated paper envelop not not the cardboard). You take the Tyvek strip and lay it inside the tire to cover the slit. Then put the tube back in. This stuff is amazing!! After that incident, one of the guys I ride with presented me with my own strip of Tyvek. Almost better than diamonds. So now I carry the strip in my saddle bag.
7) Prepping the tube - Put a little air in the tube before putting it back in the tire. If you don't have a pump you can easily do it using your mouth. Open the valve and blow into the tire until it inflates a bit. Then quickly close the valve.
7) Replacing the tire - When you are ready to replace the tire, remember to look for directional arrows and line up the logo with the valve. Start with the edge closest to the valve and use your thumbs to work the tire on. If you can avoid tire irons that is best. Use the heel of your hand to get that last little bit of tire over the rim. The last 4" are usually the hardest for me. My hands are just not that strong. But using the heel of your hand gives you much more leverage.
6) Pump it Up - When it's time to pump up the tire and you are using a CO2 cartridge, caution you can freeze your fingers. So make sure you wrap your bike glove around the cartridge to protect your hand.
7) Secure the wheel - Place the wheel back on the bike. A neat trick I learned is to have someone hold in the break lever. That will center the wheel. ALWAYS check the wheel that it the break pads aren't rubbing and that the wheel is on securely. Simply hold the bike off the ground, hit the top of the wheel with the heel of your hand. If the wheel is secure, it wont move. If it isn't on correctly, you'll see it slip. Be safe!
Always take your old tube and any garbage with you. Never leave it on the side of the road. Tires, tubes, nuts, and packaging do not biodegrade. Take it with you and dispose of it correctly. Many bike shops will take old tubes and tires and recycle them.
One last hint. Keep a wet nap in your saddle bag. Always great to clean your hands of grease and dirt. Or just wipe them on your shorts. They are black for a reason.
Hope you never have to change a flat, but if you do you are well informed. Please share with me and the readers any tips you have for changing a flat.
Enjoy the ride,
Sheri
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