Not that many people enjoy fixing flat tires. I do not know a single one, and even less like to do it when it is cold and dark. Those people, if they exist, are called "weirdos".
If you are going to get a flat tire, the universe has already predestined that you are going to get it at the most inconvenient time or during the most despicable of conditions. It would be super if I got a flat just as I was riding past a taco stand with free tacos and mandarin Jarritos, but that never happens. It will inevitable happen when you are on the way somewhere with no extra time and the weather sucks. So what do you do, buck up and fix it. Joy. No free tacos. No free Jarritos. No fluffy bunnies either.
First thing you need is all the stuff to fix your flat. I shun those of you who ride around without at least a tube and pump. Shuuuuuuuuuuun. Even if you can't fix your own flat, you can stand and look helpless with the tube and pump and usually someone will stop to help you. If you are out in the middle of the night, carry the $20 patch kit, consisting of $20 to pay a cab to take your butt and bike home. Here's a tip, hide you bike from sight until the cab stops to welcome you aboard, otherwise you will find yourself shunned again. The un-shunn'd who carry their gear get gold stars. Boom! Let's all shun the others together one last time, shuuuuuuuuun. Moving on now.
What do you need you ask? You need:
Tube!
Tire Levers!
Pump or CO2!
Wrench (if your wheel is bolted on)!
Tire Changing Skills!
I am a bit more prepared than the average bear, er llama. I ride a few different bikes and like to have what I need for each bike.
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| Llama's bike fixing pack. |
Blackburn AirStik Long Neck Evo Pump
Hutchinson Fast Air - Tire Sealant and CO2
Genuine Innovations Air Chuck Elite
CO2 x 2
15mm Wrench
14mm Wrench
Alien II Tool
Tire Levers
Tubes - Road, CX, Mountain
Chrome Man Purse Pouch Velcro Pack Thing
Patch Kit
I love the Blackburn AirStik Long Neck Evo (Rus and Colleen also dig this pump). It has a detachable head so you don't wiggle and rip your valve whilst you pump... it up. Also there is a high and low setting to use depending on your tire and volume. Low to fill a lower pressure tire faster, and high to achieve the higher air pressures needed for road tires. Makes sense right? You can start your road tires on low and switch to high once it gets difficult to pump. It also has a mighty fine ergonomically shapped handle for your pumping pleasure. If you would like to have this glorious piece of inflation engineering genius, you can get yours for 25% off using the code "AirStikBlog" when you check out on villagecycle.com.
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| Check out the detachable head. |
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| You can see the switch to change the low & high settings. |
"You got a tube?" The call of the unprepared. This is a shunable offense. All together now, shuuuuuuuuuuuuun.
Lets avoid this, shall we? First you need to know what tube you need. To get the right tube, you need to know the tire size and the type of valve.
Size.
Tube size is dictated by tire size. The side wall of your tire is filled with useful information, tire size and recommended inflation pressures included. The tire size will look something like this:
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| 25-622 / 700x25c is this tires size. |
These two numbers are the same but different. 25-622 is the ISO size (International Organization for Standards) and 700 x 25 is the metric sizing. When going to get your tube, you need to know the 700x25 number. 700 is the diameter and 25 is the width of the tire. Because tires don't stretch the size is static.
Tubes do stretch. So one tube will accomodate a range of tire sizes. Mostly different widths. In an emergency, people have stretched or stuffed different size tubes into different sized tires to get the job done. But for you, you want the tube for your tire.
Lets say you have the 700 x 25 tire above. We need a tube to fit that tire. 700 is the diameter, and 25 being the width, we need something that fits in there. The tube would be most likely be a 700 x 19-25. This means it would fit a tire with a diameter of 700 and any width from 19 to 25.
Valve.
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| Schrader |
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| Presta |
Now take your new found knowledge to the bike shop and get yourself a tube!
Also while you are there, ask the fine folks to if they have time to give you some pointers on fixing flats or call ahead to see if someone would show you how.
So you got the tools and the know how. Here are some tips to help you out.
- Use your headlight to help you out when looking for debris in your tire.
- Wear your gloves as much as possible. It will help for the times when you have to take them off. Numb fingers make tire changing into a whole new ball game.
- Take your time to do it right the first time. Rushing through the repair and missing a piece of glass in your tire, resulting in another flat and no more tubes will enrage you, unless you are a Zen master, then you can channel some of that positive energy to me, cause if befell such a calamity, I would not be a very happy camper.
- Check your tires for debris a couple times a week to prevent flats! Even better than fixing one, is preventing one.
- Carry a latex tire sealant with CO2 for those days you would rather change the tube at home.
- Check your tires for wear too. Worn tires also cause flats.
- Check your air pressure. Guess what, too much or too little air will make you more prone to a visit from our friend, the flat tire.
- Practice changing tubes before the time comes where you have to do it.
- Just get it done. When the flat comes, just fix it. Getting all crabby pants isn't going to change anything. When you are done, you can bask in the sense of accomplishment that you changed your own tube. You rock. You are the grand pubah of rocking out the flat fix. If you did it in the cold at night. You freaking rock.
- Remember that flat tires make friends. I stop to help people, and other people stop to help people. You can meet some nice folks doing so, or meet the girl of your dreams.
footnote: It really isn't good to shun anyone. The shunning done here is purely in fun. I help everyone I can when I ride by and I see broken bikes, without a single bit of shunning. Shunning was mostly done by those unicorns.
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