SlinkyWizard

I've had a few flats before, on my hybrid, and despite having a spare tube, tire levers, and a pump in my bag, I just walked my bike to the LBS, ( In Korea, many within walking distance from nearly anywhere ) mainly because I was too nervous to change a flat myself. What if I couldn't get the wheel off? what if I punctured the tube trying to put the tire back on, what if I couldn't put the wheel back in place etc.

Today, while cleaning the wife's bike, a Specialized Como 2.0 e bike, the back tire completely deflated, I pumped up the tire, but it deflated quickly. At least 2km out from one of the LBS's, I thought bugger it, I'm going fix the flat. The flat was on the inner side of the tube , facing the rim .

The bike has Nimbus Sport Reflect, 650b x 2.3", so quite large, and no quick release, luckily GCN had a couple of change tire videos, so off I went, the whole process took about 40 minutes, but what an experience, luckily all went well, but so glad I conquered my fear of changing a flat.

Here's hoping for no more flats but at least now, I have the confidence of fixing it myself, hopefully successfully here on out.

gringomojado

next time will be easier and quicker

starchase

Good for you! Sometimes it is more difficult getting the grease off your hands than doing the change!

BobbyG

Although I grew up riding bikes, I did not fix a flat myself until I was 30...and that was in 1992, before internet videos et, al. And now, 27 years later I read your post and it all came back to me...the anxiety, and uncertainty of that first repair.

I can tell you it gets easier, but no less annoying. But when you do get your next flat you can say to yourself..."I got this!"

Good job!

Brocephus

Must be nice, I'm jealous !! Around here it's a CVC pharmacy, a Dollar Store, or another convenience store/ gas station, that you can't seem to go a block without running into.

OldTryGuy

Unite one's thoughts and conquer. Way to go!!!

With the new skill-set in place and the fear of flats no longer existing the World of longer rides now awaits to be ridden.

Lemond1985

Ever figure out what caused the puncture? I've had a couple flats like this recently and couldn't come up with any possible cause. Rim strip is fine and there was no debris in there. Wasn't a pinch flat. *shrugs*

Digger Goreman

Good for you, friend! My "return" to cycling (35 years?) was fraught with repair nervousness. After six years I marvel that I ever used my LBS for any adjustments or derailleure installation. Only bottom brackets as I lack knowledge and tools. Derailleur adjustments were a bundle of nerves at first... youtube and practice have made them routine. I patched my first tire, successfully, two weeks ago and now carry it as a spare, after a thankfully rare nail puncture.

Don't be afraid to "mess it up"... and you will be amazed how many times you succeed!

DomaneS5

Changing a flat sucks no matter the situation. Easier in the garage..... less so out in the wild.

Brocephus

While admittedly, it ain't no party, if you have some cooperative tires, it can be an outright breeze. My last couple flats, first I've had in a couple years, couldn't have been less of a delay or headache.
One happened at a local country gas station, that has some covered picnic tables (where, coincidentally, I do a lot of my Craigslist-type meets). I flipped the mtn bike upside down on a table, replaced the tube, pumped it up,and hit the road !
Easy peasy !
The other was on my road bike. I was checking the bike and getting my bottles ready for an early ride the next morning, and saw that my front was flat. I grabbed my changing gear, and took it inside where I had TV and air conditioning, and patched that one, and had it all back together in about 10 minutes. That one was so quick and easy I'd have almost called it fun !! (especially in comparison to some, that have been highly inconvenient and a real headache).

DomaneS5

What I hate most about flats is they usually happen with the back tire. Plus, road bike tires with high PSI, in my experience, can be very difficult to change out. Mountain bike tires are a breeze compared to road bike tires. A few years back, I hit pot hole in the middle of nowhere and got a flat on the back tire of my road bike. It took me 45 minutes to change it out. And this was in 85°F weather with high humidity. Not a good experience to say the least.

Caliper

Congrats on fixing your first flat!

Did you check the rim strip to make sure a spoke nipple isn't poking through? That's the usual cause of a flat on the rim side of the tube.

ThermionicScott 

Congratulations! Now practice it a few more times in your living room so that you can get quicker. Then it won't be a big deal at all next time it happens on the road.

Spinay70

Congrats on your success!

NomarsGirl

Good for you! I really need to try that. I know, in theory, how to change a tire, but I have never actually needed to do it. Probably better to figure it out in my garage than on the side of the road. And I should probably buy a new mini pump. I have a spare tube, tire levers and a patch kit in my saddle bag, but my mini pump bounced off my frame and rolled away. I was miles away before I realized what that sound was. Not very useful to carry everything needed to change a tire with no way to inflate it.

BobbyG

Something to look forward to...riding familiar routes and passing locations where you remember fixing a flat.

BoBodyJones

I've had to change a tube 3 times before. Don't sweat it!

livedarklions

I love it sincerely when people celebrate small but important victories.

As someone who has had to change 4 tubes in the course of one century, I wish you as little roadside practice of this skill as possible, but am glad you now will be able to deal with the situation if it arises.

Is the traffic in Korea as bad as I have heard?

raceboy

When I was riding bikes casually, I never thought that I might get a flat—and I swear I never got one. Then I started riding all the time and read on here about people getting flat tires and studied up on how to fix them and started riding with a spare tube and mini-pump. That’s when I started getting flats!

DennisPortillo

I think you should take it as a new experience, your decision is perfect.
for me, changes is necessary to explore more, may be you will get more change to do more exploration in your bike.

SlinkyWizard

Thanks for the words of encouragement !



I took the tube to the LBS, but the owner said he had no idea.


No I didn't, it never crossed my mind, I will definitely check next time if it happens again.



Yes, Seoul traffic would have to rank up there

ThermionicScott 

Right? I get way more flats now, than when I was a kid.