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darkemeraldsI managed to flatten Clyde's front tire yesterday while pumping air into it. Tore a hole next to the valve stem. This created obstacles to my cycling development.
Obstacle one: Actually going to the bike shop and buying replacement tubes, a pump, a pair of tire-irons, a little saddle bag to keep them in. This means once again being ignorant, noticeably older and less fit than the majority clientele, and dealing with the 21 year old boys who work there. Managed this over my lunch hour.
Obstacle two: Actually learning to change a bike tire. My sis came over and walked me through it.
Obstacle three: Serious unexpectedness: Ruined BOTH NEW TUBES because of a small mistake (a tiny bolt inside the rim, supposed to be covered with a buffer strip, became exposed with the buffer strip got twisted; didn't notice it).
Obstacle four: Learning how to apply a patch. Sis showed me how. Patch revealed a second leak. Sis does not recommend riding on a tire with two patches.
Obstacle five: Taking wheel, tire, and ruined tubes back to the 21 year old boys for an assessment and help. This means carrying it on the bus, and spending another lunch hour at the bike shop tomorrow. And money. Did I mention money? Bike stuff adds up damn fast.
Obstacle six--this is the big one: getting everything fixed quickly and getting back on the bike. It will be way too easy, once fall and weather set in, to talk myself out of riding if I have a lot of flat-tire oh-no-this-will-never-work! fears on top of rain and stuff.
On the plus side, Sis says my tires are the easiest to change she's ever seen. It really wasn't all that bad, until the sudden outrushing of air.
Obstacle one: Actually going to the bike shop and buying replacement tubes, a pump, a pair of tire-irons, a little saddle bag to keep them in. This means once again being ignorant, noticeably older and less fit than the majority clientele, and dealing with the 21 year old boys who work there. Managed this over my lunch hour.
Obstacle two: Actually learning to change a bike tire. My sis came over and walked me through it.
Obstacle three: Serious unexpectedness: Ruined BOTH NEW TUBES because of a small mistake (a tiny bolt inside the rim, supposed to be covered with a buffer strip, became exposed with the buffer strip got twisted; didn't notice it).
Obstacle four: Learning how to apply a patch. Sis showed me how. Patch revealed a second leak. Sis does not recommend riding on a tire with two patches.
Obstacle five: Taking wheel, tire, and ruined tubes back to the 21 year old boys for an assessment and help. This means carrying it on the bus, and spending another lunch hour at the bike shop tomorrow. And money. Did I mention money? Bike stuff adds up damn fast.
Obstacle six--this is the big one: getting everything fixed quickly and getting back on the bike. It will be way too easy, once fall and weather set in, to talk myself out of riding if I have a lot of flat-tire oh-no-this-will-never-work! fears on top of rain and stuff.
On the plus side, Sis says my tires are the easiest to change she's ever seen. It really wasn't all that bad, until the sudden outrushing of air.
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