Deflation

Well, it had to happen....my first flat tire. It was at the apex of an eight mile ride, on the highway, with no help. As I was riding I thought the cell phone was playing a song with a hiss to it. Ultimately the hissing stopped and a mild thump brought me to a halt. From my trusty tool bag I removed a tube, plastic tire irons, and prepared to fix a flat. How hard could it be? Had I practiced.....well, no.

I removed the wheel, got the botched tube removed and put in a new tube. After an hour, covered with bike chain oil, and with the tire inflated I headed down the road. My joy of a successful fix quickly faded with the discovery we were still flat.

What followed was an almost 4 mile push home. I won't comment on the many people who could have helped, but didn't or the transit bus with bike rack who drove quickly past. Suffice to say I got home and did a quick youtube search on "bicycle flat" to see a guy with no hands and one arm totally fix a front wheel flat in about 3 minutes. Feeling painfully useless I pulled my rear tire and analyzed the tread. There was a nasty bit of glass that had done the deed.... twice.

So I guess I learned 1. Check for glass and 2. Pack a rubber glove to be better prepared next time.

And just in case you want to see a double amputee do it, just click here.