Fear Begone
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kylie posted 11 weeks ago.
Yay! It will come in handy someday, and you'll be glad you can take a deep breath and know that even if it is tough you can do it :)
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3050
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Anton posted 11 weeks ago.
Welcome to the ranks of the "Fully Functioning Cyclist." Changing a tire is an essential and basic skill.
Now, when you're on some group ride and a GUY punctures (Oh yeah, their out there...guys who can't fix a flat) you'll be able to say..."Here, let me show you how to do that."
"If he wants to swim in dangerous waters...who are we to deny him?" Chef Skinner
My Blog: http://antonspath.blogspot.com
1818
Member
1441 days
brittda posted 11 weeks ago.
Good on you!!! You MUST know how to do this. I got a couple of flats on some solo century rides and was glad I could do it. Have never had to do it in a race, but hubby has in both his first HIM and IM.
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Member
230 days
zagfan posted 11 weeks ago.
If I could only convince my wife to learn. She refuses to touch a tire (something about being icky I'm sure) and will only go riding with me in tow. But yes, learning to change a tire is a good thing. I got stuck 10 miles away from my house without a spare kit on my very first ride, ended up with permanent sunburn damage, I'm very good at changing tires now :). So good on you for learning to change the tire on your own terms, you'll be happy you did.
"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever." Lance Armstrong
1818
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1441 days
brittda posted 11 weeks ago.
zagfan wrote:
If I could only convince my wife to learn. She refuses to touch a tire (something about being icky I'm sure) and will only go riding with me in tow. But yes, learning to change a tire is a good thing. I got stuck 10 miles away from my house without a spare kit on my very first ride, ended up with permanent sunburn damage, I'm very good at changing tires now :). So good on you for learning to change the tire on your own terms, you'll be happy you did.
don't laugh, but I use gloves--the white laytex ones. We get them by the gross at costco and use them for all sorts of stuff--they really help with grease, I keep a couple in my tool kit.
687
Member
230 days
jtrimom posted 11 weeks ago.
brittda wrote:
zagfan wrote:If I could only convince my wife to learn. She refuses to touch a tire (something about being icky I'm sure) and will only go riding with me in tow. But yes, learning to change a tire is a good thing. I got stuck 10 miles away from my house without a spare kit on my very first ride, ended up with permanent sunburn damage, I'm very good at changing tires now :). So good on you for learning to change the tire on your own terms, you'll be happy you did.don't laugh, but I use gloves--the white laytex ones. We get them by the gross at costco and use them for all sorts of stuff--they really help with grease, I keep a couple in my tool kit.
the funny thing is, that one of my motivating factors was that when I told my friend that the guys at the lbs probably think I'm a loser for all the stuff I bring my bike in for, she said, "they don't think you're a loser, just a princess." So yesterday, when I changed my tire, and got my fingers all dirty, I said to my husband, who was there for moral support (saying the whole time, "you're making this harder than it is!") "Look at my fingers, these are NOT the fingers of a princess" with a big grin on my face:)!
1818
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1441 days
brittda posted 11 weeks ago.
jtrimom wrote:
brittda wrote:zagfan wrote:If I could only convince my wife to learn. She refuses to touch a tire (something about being icky I'm sure) and will only go riding with me in tow. But yes, learning to change a tire is a good thing. I got stuck 10 miles away from my house without a spare kit on my very first ride, ended up with permanent sunburn damage, I'm very good at changing tires now :). So good on you for learning to change the tire on your own terms, you'll be happy you did.don't laugh, but I use gloves--the white laytex ones. We get them by the gross at costco and use them for all sorts of stuff--they really help with grease, I keep a couple in my tool kit.
the funny thing is, that one of my motivating factors was that when I told my friend that the guys at the lbs probably think I'm a loser for all the stuff I bring my bike in for, she said, "they don't think you're a loser, just a princess." So yesterday, when I changed my tire, and got my fingers all dirty, I said to my husband, who was there for moral support (saying the whole time, "you're making this harder than it is!") "Look at my fingers, these are NOT the fingers of a princess" with a big grin on my face:)!
Yes that is good , but now you don't HAVE to have greasy fingers. I like having the gloves for races (IM). Would hate to be all greasy for the day---maybe I am a pricess but I am ok with that. Hubby actually is alergic to the oil so he has a good reason.
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349 days
CadenceGuy posted 11 weeks ago.
Yahoo, thats just more mental strength you can put into your race now knowing that your race isnt over in case of a flat....here comes a PR!!
3050
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1403 days
Anton posted 11 weeks ago.
Greasy,dirty Fingers?...That's why they make the bike shorts BLACK!
"If he wants to swim in dangerous waters...who are we to deny him?" Chef Skinner
My Blog: http://antonspath.blogspot.com
1818
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1441 days
brittda posted 11 weeks ago.
Anton wrote:
Greasy,dirty Fingers?...That's why they make the bike shorts BLACK!
Yeah but then I wipe the sweat from my face, eat a fig newton or a piece of cliff bar etc.... ICK yes I am a dork, I cannot explain it nor will I make excuses.
3050
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1403 days
Anton posted 11 weeks ago.
Grass and leaves work well too...
"If he wants to swim in dangerous waters...who are we to deny him?" Chef Skinner
My Blog: http://antonspath.blogspot.com
296
Member
122 days
jnrice posted 11 weeks ago.
brittda wrote:
Anton wrote:Greasy,dirty Fingers?...That's why they make the bike shorts BLACK!Yeah but then I wipe the sweat from my face, eat a fig newton or a piece of cliff bar etc.... ICK yes I am a dork, I cannot explain it nor will I make excuses.
Grease ads flavor to cliff bars and gives you shiny hair to boot! :)
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209 days
groovyjen posted 11 weeks ago.
So, uh, watching that video on YouTube doesn't count?
I am a slacker and must do this. I have all the stuff, just haven't actually used it.
Good for you!
Speaking of bike grease and degreasing hands, is there anything less gnarly than Lava that will do the job?
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
753
Member
354 days
jsk85 posted 11 weeks ago.
groovyjen wrote:
Speaking of bike grease and degreasing hands, is there anything less gnarly than Lava that will do the job?
Wet wipes work well from my experience...and are easy to transport in your bike bag.
5059
Member
1761 days
beads1985 posted 10 weeks ago.
groovyjen wrote:
So, uh, watching that video on YouTube doesn't count?I am a slacker and must do this. I have all the stuff, just haven't actually used it.
Good for you!
Speaking of bike grease and degreasing hands, is there anything less gnarly than Lava that will do the job?
Actually there are a coupld of things you can do.
If you are going to be working on your bike in your shop or garage, and you are handling the greasy parts of your bike, simply rub your hands with a little bit of Vaseline before starting.
If you are on the road and do something on your bike that gets you greasy then use some Vaseline or Olive oil and rub it in and then wipe it off. It loosens the chemical bond of the grease. Then you can wash your hands normally.
Hints from Heloise ;-)
Nothing to it, but to do it
568
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591 days
Socket posted 10 weeks ago.
I finally learned to change bike tires this year, but only because I got a pair of used bikes with cracking tires. I'm still hoping to stave off the flat-fairy so I don't have to do it unexpectedly.
687
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230 days
jtrimom posted 10 weeks ago.
Socket wrote:
I finally learned to change bike tires this year, but only because I got a pair of used bikes with cracking tires. I'm still hoping to stave off the flat-fairy so I don't have to do it unexpectedly.
You and me both- I am a little superstitious, and have this weird feeling that now that I learned how and am so proud of that, it will inevitably happen at the worst time- to test me
3050
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1403 days
Anton posted 10 weeks ago.
jtrimom wrote:
Socket wrote:I finally learned to change bike tires this year, but only because I got a pair of used bikes with cracking tires. I'm still hoping to stave off the flat-fairy so I don't have to do it unexpectedly.
You and me both- I am a little superstitious, and have this weird feeling that now that I learned how and am so proud of that, it will inevitably happen at the worst time- to test me
And if it does happen to you, you'll pass the test. It's happened to all of us who've ridden awhile...it will happen to you, and you'll be so proud of yourself for getting out of it on your own.
"If he wants to swim in dangerous waters...who are we to deny him?" Chef Skinner
My Blog: http://antonspath.blogspot.com
687
Member
230 days
jtrimom posted 10 weeks ago.
thanks, Anton, I needed that- you're a great cheerleader :)
Since I started riding, I have been told by triathlete friends, biker friends, regular friends and strangers that I should really learn how to change my tires, and I knew they were right. So after the end of last season, I reasoned with myself that if I took the tire changing Sat. morning class my LBS has every so often, I could buy myself clipless pedals. I took the class (although I never successfully changed the tire by myself- the LBS guy helped me the whole time), bought my pedals, and prayed for the best. This season has almost been and gone- a whole bunch of training, a whole bunch of races, and I prayed for the best on those days, knowing I had the "notes" from the class in my saddle bag, along with the necessary tools, should the horrifying possibility happen. Well, as many of you know, I am now within 3 weeks of my 1st HIM, and after watching Chrissie Wellington finish 1st after having to change her own tire (heaven knows if the SAG wagon didn't rush to her aid, their not gonna rush to mine), I finally sucked it up and told everyone I knew that Sunday night, I will personally deflate my tires (even though the thought literally gave me chills and butterflies) and practice changing front and rear tires till I can do it. So after a lot of cursing, some yelling and some crying, I CAN DO IT!! WOOHOO for me!