🤔 Do I actually need to carry a repair kit? 🤔
#126
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For one thing, you can sit inside your car while you are waiting for Super-Man to arrive and change your tire. Not so much when you’re riding. Also, AAA bike service is not available in all regions last I checked. And my time has value. I’d rather be able to take 10 min. to swap a tube than wait to be rescued. Not being able to fix common problems limits your options. I tour in rural places. I need to be able to deal with a flat.
BTW...I drive fewer than 3,000 miles/year and can (and have) change a car flat.
BTW...I drive fewer than 3,000 miles/year and can (and have) change a car flat.
#127
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There are other variables to consider when changing a flat tire on a car vs a bike. First, are you on a busy freeway with a narrow shoulder? Are you on an incline where the car might shift? Are you a woman in a high crime rate area? Are you elderly or disabled and do not have the upper body strength to torque or un-torque a lug? In those instances AAA makes sense.
However, most bicyclists, if motivated and trained, can swap a tube.
However, most bicyclists, if motivated and trained, can swap a tube.
#128
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There are other variables to consider when changing a flat tire on a car vs a bike. First, are you on a busy freeway with a narrow shoulder? Are you on an incline where the car might shift? Are you a woman in a high crime rate area? Are you elderly or disabled and do not have the upper body strength to torque or un-torque a lug? In those instances AAA makes sense.
#129
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Changing a tube out on a bike is the easiest thing to do next to oiling the chain.
My wife and I taught a bike maintenance class and she was the flat tire demonstrator. She could change out a tube only using tire levers to take the tire off the rim. She then demonstrated how to mount the tire without using tools.
She hit an dangerous storm grate on a fast decent while riding to work one morning. There were pinch flats in both the front and rear wheels. She was close enough to her office to walk there, and she patched the tires while eating lunch.
Changing or patching a tube is easy to learn, and should be in every cyclist skill set, especially if you ride further than walking distance from home.
My wife and I taught a bike maintenance class and she was the flat tire demonstrator. She could change out a tube only using tire levers to take the tire off the rim. She then demonstrated how to mount the tire without using tools.
She hit an dangerous storm grate on a fast decent while riding to work one morning. There were pinch flats in both the front and rear wheels. She was close enough to her office to walk there, and she patched the tires while eating lunch.
Changing or patching a tube is easy to learn, and should be in every cyclist skill set, especially if you ride further than walking distance from home.
#130
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while i am somewhat embarrassed to admit it, i don't have the skills to change a flat tire on my car, and I drive about 15k miles per year. how is this different in any material way? Especially now that AAA will pick up a cyclist with a flat and transport the cyclist and the bike back home (within a reasonable distance).
There might be situations where it's too dangerous, like on a busy freeway or unsteady ground. Heck, some cars are sold without a spare. And if you have a big car, the wheel is likely to be pretty heavy.
But sure, there's also a culture thing going on. For a lot of people, riding a bike is a sense of freedom, independence, and self sufficiency. Very few of us work for the Man to pay off a bike loan, or look forward to spending an hour in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The tools needed to fix nearly anything on a bike would fit in a shoe box, and very little of it requires any particular strength or specialized knowledge. So we develop that self sufficiency, perhaps not so much out of necessity, but because it's possible, and improves our enjoyment of cycling.
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I agree. If you are fretting about carrying patch kit, tools, etc. Then simply carry a spare tube small tire pump ( there are many great ones out there to select from around 8 to 10 inches long) and a pair of plastic tire removal levers. Have a flat, no problem, take out the tube install a new tube and head home, easy peasy. I recommend you practice changing the tube a couple of times at home. Its really pretty easy.
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Ok, fair enough. In my case, AAA is available anywhere I'd be riding, and if I'm willing to be out riding for hours, then hanging out outside (rather than sitting in the car) for a while until AAA shows up doesn't seem like a deal breaker. So other than the psychic benefit of self sufficiency and time factor (both of which would apply in the car scenario as well and in my case are no big deal), no material difference identified so far. YMMV of course.
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All I said was " what's the best shoe size" is a better analog than "what's the best color." I do have a really good candidate for "stupidest quibble ever" thanks to you. Maybe you should get a hobby?”
wont get in a pissing match with someone who obviously enjoys it, but let me state for the record that my response was completely honest and spoken from the heart. Twist it as you want to be ‘right’ since that is obviously important. Over and done with you.
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Last edited by rsbob; 10-25-20 at 07:47 PM.
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I find the best place to have a flat tire is in front of a French Bakery,
and the best time is right after the rain stops.
P.S. Examining the tire to find out if what punctured the tube is still in the tire is also important.
and the best time is right after the rain stops.
P.S. Examining the tire to find out if what punctured the tube is still in the tire is also important.
Last edited by Doug64; 10-25-20 at 07:45 PM.
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#145
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#146
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It may have been "spoken from the heart", but reality is that you first ignored that the OP had expressed just how adverse he was to doing anything himself (call that naivity on your part), secondly, you talk about being rude in my response to you, completely ignoring the reality that you defended someone who have no intention of helping himself. The first one is forgiveable and fair enough. The second is outright dishonesty. In short: Just because something is "heartfelt" doesn't make it any more or any less truthful, factual, or wrong.
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Often enough. Most often due to my own stupidity or laziness (for instance, can't be bothered to put in more air again after having taken some out, hitting some sharp kerb with my daughter on the front or something).
Then again, I don't buy or use heavy super stiff tyres. I often carry a lot of weight on my bike, though. But I'd rather repair a flat once in a while than having to use super strong rigid high-resistance tyres. I feel like a bike should be used and not be pampered. So I tend to be a little rough with my stuff.
Then again, I don't buy or use heavy super stiff tyres. I often carry a lot of weight on my bike, though. But I'd rather repair a flat once in a while than having to use super strong rigid high-resistance tyres. I feel like a bike should be used and not be pampered. So I tend to be a little rough with my stuff.
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Oh, you added a bit:
That's not really "all [you] said", now is it? In fact, even the gist of those "quotes" are wrong.
Maybe, just maybe, you will notice that I said that to you. Maybe I have problem when you state something as fact, and then pretend it wasn't that you said when confronted with it. So, yes, I have a track record - of pointing out inconsistencies and intellectual dishonesty.
It appears you have a track record here. Found on another thread: “ I have no idea what the hell you think we're arguing about, but it sure has nothing to do with the thread.
All I said was " what's the best shoe size" is a better analog than "what's the best color." I do have a really good candidate for "stupidest quibble ever" thanks to you. Maybe you should get a hobby?”
All I said was " what's the best shoe size" is a better analog than "what's the best color." I do have a really good candidate for "stupidest quibble ever" thanks to you. Maybe you should get a hobby?”
Maybe, just maybe, you will notice that I said that to you. Maybe I have problem when you state something as fact, and then pretend it wasn't that you said when confronted with it. So, yes, I have a track record - of pointing out inconsistencies and intellectual dishonesty.