Rolla

False equivalency. The poster in question knows perfectly well how to fix a flat, but makes his friends come get him anyway.

shelbyfv

Sorry, if you can't fix a flat you need to stay indoors on the keyboard.

downhillmaster

Wrong.
My post was quite obviously towards all of the peeps in this thread complaining about having to help a friend.
Either way it’s pretty funny that you would say that considering that your post early on in this thread referenced people in general and you stated ‘keep up the good work, noobs’
If I thought you knew the meaning of a big word like hypocrisy I would use it

downhillmaster

Says the guy typing on a keyboard.
My bad. Of course you posted this message while outside working on or riding a bike
Too funny.
Another laughable BF road mechanic warrior.

shelbyfv

Best you can do? Embarrassing....

livedarklions

No, it means that if you deliberately refuse to take steps so you don't "need" the ride, we think you're imposing on your friends for really lousy reasons.

You presented that as some sort of principled stand and sorry, you're describing jerk behavior -- "you need to give me a ride because I'm tired of changing flats at roadside " is something you should be ashamed of, but you've stated it defiantly.
Show your friends this thread and ask for their honest feelings about this. I dare you.

livedarklions

Having argued with that troll wayyy too much on the very same subject, I can tell you he can do much worse.

Near as I can figure out, he doesn't really ride much outside of his own neighborhood, but feels this qualifies him to declare that riding around 30 miles from home prepared to fix a flat is "ridiculous" and "virtue signaling." There was a thread where someone asked what people brought on 4 hour rides. He proceeded to explain that he only does 1 and a half hour rides "around the lake" if I recall correctly, and then make fun of everything the people who actually rode 4 hour rides packed as equipment. On a 4 hour ride, I figure I'm probably going to be at least 30 miles from home at some point, in the middle of nowhere, and yeah, I really, really want to avoid having to impose that much on a friend.

Maelochs

Wrong. No one is complaining about helping a friend. People are saying that friends who take advantage are not friends.

livedarklions

Yes, this is more like calling your friend the computer expert, and insisting he come over to your house to tell you where the on switch is for the 13th time.

livedarklions

It depends for me on which bike and which kind of tires. But generally, I estimate about 10-15 minutes to swap out the tube and reinflate. It's a lot shorter than the wait I can expect for the ride to get there.

What are the issues? Maybe some people on the thread know a trick or two that could help you. Mine is to slightly inflate the tube I'm putting on before I put the stem through the hole so it becomes obvious if the tube is getting pinched between the tire and the rim while I tuck in the tire. As you can see by my use of "technical" terms, I am definitely no mechanic, but I've gotten pretty good at this one thing out of necessity.

Maelochs

I can generally swap a tube in 5-15 minutes. Sometimes a particular tire will fight for an hour...I have broken tire levers, had them fly off into who knows where, used a house key as a lever and nearly broke that ..... but usually it isn't that hard. It is just part of riding a bike on the street.

gigadeath

Of course I come late to the party and others have already lynched you for good reasons. And of course, there's a 97% chance yours is only good-natured trolling.

If not, beware, the life of your significant others is not really longer than yours, and they have better thing to do too than carrying your sorry ass home like you were a sack of potatoes. Unless you are a millionaire of course, that would explain a lot of things

downhillmaster

Yeah?
Who specifically referenced the same person coming to fix a flat 13x? Or even more than once or twice for that matter.
And yes, I have gone to the same friends house more than once to assist them with basic computer issues.
Nice job comparing fixing a flat to pushing the computer on switch though.
Grasping

downhillmaster

FWIW, I am not advocating for people to not learn basic bicycle maintenance repair and be able to fix their own flats.
I am simply reacting to the numerous and regular BF shaming and insulting of someone(myself included)who will on occasion phone a friend.
Certain BF posters lack a bit of perspective and I believe my computer analogy is quite valid.

Rolla

HA. You quoted someone directly involved in the "I can't be bothered to fix my own flat" discussion, but now say you were addressing "all the peeps complaining about helping a friend."
As for my comment, I didn't address "people in general," I addressed those who can't fix their own flats, thanking them (with tongue obviously in cheek) for their support of local bike shops.

I guess when you can't effectively argue with integrity, misrepresenting context is your only available tactic. How laughably transparent of you.

Maelochs

@downhillmaster .... I don't believe you believe what you are posting.

Simple, obvious flaw---EVERYBODY can fix a flat if they have two working hands and half a working brain. You are comparing changing a tube---something about as hard as urinating without wetting yourself---with advanced computer or network repair. Obviously you had to learn a good bit before you could help set up people with a home network---it wasn't something anyone could learn in three minut6es from any of a hundred YouTube videos (if they didn't learn as kids.)

As I believe it was @livedarklions stated, the equivalent here is that someone kept calling you to turn on his or her computer, after you had shown the person where the On button was located it, and even highlighted it with a bit of colored tape. Not rocket science---not even computer science. Something anyone could learn by paying attention once.

Also, it doesn't matter if the poster calls one person 13 times or different people each time. it is still selfishness. He could five or ten minutes roadside doing what he is going to do back home anyway---but instead asks a friend to drive half a an hour pick him up, put his bike in the car, drive him half an hour home .... because the poster in question thinks his time is too important to be spent changing a tire roadside.

Not that he won't change a tire, he will---as soon as someone spends an hour chauffeurring him around for free.

You understand all this .... so I figure you are just trolling too. No problem.

And another exaggeration on your part: No one is shaming Anyone for occasionally needing a ride. I myself have admitted that I have needed a ride three times while cycling, and once while driving (which I didn't mention because I didn't find it germane.) The difference is that in none of those cases was I able to fix my own problems, and in none of those cases was I able to fix my own problems because I simply didn't want to help myself if I could get someone else to do a lot more work to help me.

You understand this too .... which is more evidence that you just want to stir things up.

Certain BF posters have very broad and generous views .... and we have clearly explained our perspectives, and clearly explained why your analogy is not relevant. As they said in the Old West, though ... you can lead a mule to water but you can't make him think.

mschwett 

the idea that anyone would call a friend or spouse for help on a bike ride is a bit preposterous to me - i mean … whose time in the modern world is worth less than it costs to get a lyft? i suppose it’s possible if you were riding very far away, and had friends with nothing to do, and were a frugal sort. those people should carry what it takes to fix a flat.

but the idea that an hour or more of a friend or family member’s time is somehow worth either a) not bringing flat-fixing stuff or b) saving myself $25 is just crazy. we all live in slightly different worlds, i suppose.

NomarsGirl

I usually ride with my husband so we help each other out. He got a flat and had no spare with him. My spare wouldn't fit his bike. I rode back and got the car and brought him and his bike to the nearest LBS. I crashed once and he rode back to get the car and picked me up. My bike was fine. I broke my collar bone and really couldn't ride back to the car.

Maelochs

Now I feel selfish and guilty for not riding with my spouse .... except she doesn't ride .....

I guess bike shops need to start selling "Cycling Spouses" along with repair parts and under-saddle bags and such. I'd buy a couple.

tomato coupe

Awesome thread ...

downhillmaster

My bad.
What was I thinking.
Of course you are correct, and changing the rear tire of a geared bicycle on the side of the road is exactly the same for a beginner as hitting the power switch on a computer

njkayaker

You are assuming anything people do "suits" them (you/we really don't know).

While gigadeath used overly-absolute language (so what, anyway?), just because the riders you mention here can't fix a flat doesn't mean not being able to do so "suits" them.

Some of them might be unaware that flats are a possibility (or that tires even lose air). (Certainly, the risk varies based on where one rides and the tires one uses.)

Some of the people you assume that not being able to fix a flat "suits" them might be better-off being able to fix a flat. 10 miles is 3-4 hours of walking.

downhillmaster

No one is shaming people for not changing their own flat?
You obviously don’t remember your own quotes in this very thread. Why I am not surprised.

“Of course, I wouldn't say that. I would say, "Cool, I hope you have cash but if not we can stop at an ATM, because I charge $25 per hour plus gas and mileage. Your mom might have rescued you when you were a kid, but the rest of us grew up, and it is about time you did too."

Good stuff

njkayaker

You shouldn't be too concerned with how long it takes you. Even at a half-hour, it will still often more convenient and faster to fix it. (I wonder if there are things you could learn from someone more experienced.)

(Is there anybody who finds it a "terrific experience"?)

It's too tight (these things can be too tight). Another (easily missed) point of preparation is assuring one can remove the wheels.

livedarklions

The guy we're reacting to made it quite clear that he IS NOT a beginner, and has changed several flats on the side of the road. And yeah, if you've done it once, it really doesn't involve a lot more technical skill than flipping a power switch. It takes a little longer and is greasier, that's about it. Nice try at making it sound as complicated as brain surgery, but yeah, it's really simple, don't twist the chain and everything slips right back into place.

I could dig up plenty of posts where you've made fun of people for carrying tools, tubes, etc. when they ride, but you're really not worth the time. You picked this fight several years ago by ridiculing several other people for being over-prepared, and have been trying to portray yourself as the victim ever since.