Re: First flat in a looooong time

On 4/2/2025 7:54 AM, Wolfgang Strobl wrote:

Am Tue, 1 Apr 2025 23:20:38 -0400 schrieb Frank Krygowski
<frkrygow@sbcglobal.net>:
>

While it didn't involve patching a tube, many years ago our bike club
put on a family-themed event in our local large metropark. Besides a
selection of rides there was a big picnic with multiple games and contests.
>
One game was a "flat fixing contest." Again, no tube patching, but the
contestants had to start with a deflated front tire; remove the wheel,
remove the tube from the tire, re-install the tube and tire, pump the
tire up to an acceptable pressure (around 100 psi in those days),
install the wheel and re-set the brakes.
>
The winner was the guy who was (and probably is still) considered the
best bike mechanic in our area. As I recall, it was back when "Quik
Sticks" were new on the market, which gave him an advantage over classic
tire irons; but it was still impressive to watch. He did the job in less
than a minute, IIRC.

 Impossible, when using a Rema TipTop patching set from that time.  Those
sold nowadays are advertised with "there is no need to wait until the
SVS vulcanization fluid dries because the inner tube patch can be fitted
immediately after the coat of fluid has been applied".  Those sets from
twenty or more years ago recommended to wait about five minutes before
applying the patch to the prepared tube.  The applied contact adhesive
had to be dry before the patch was pressed on; the higher the contact
pressure, the better the patch held.

Understood. Again, for the contest I described, there was no patching involved. I suppose we could have made it slightly more realistic by making the contestant use a replacement tube that was still in the box, but we just had them remove the original tube entirely, then put it all back together.

On other occasions, I just
mounted a new tube and patched at home, later.

>
That's my standard procedure. It's so much easier in my shop, with the
necessary tools (including dowels for sanding anvils) all ready to go.

 Sure. But sometimes, you have to patch on the road, for example when you
get a second flat and don't carry a another tube. Happened to me a few
years ago.

Right. I remember one ride five to ten years ago when I had (I think) three independent flats within about 15 miles.

BTW, last week I helped a young woman resurrect her mountain bike,
unused for five years, so she can begin riding to work. She told me she
needed new inner tubes because the old ones wouldn't hold air.
>
Turns out she'd borrowed a Schrader mini pump. She didn't recognize that
it didn't fit her Presta valves. So I gave her tire irons, taught her
how to change a tube, and advised on buying the proper pump and a spare
tube, checked over the rest of the bike, etc.

 Even around here, where almost every child or adult is able to ride a
bicycle and does it at least now and then, the majority seems to become
unable doing even the simplest repairs.

Yes, and I think some people on this discussion group lose sight of the fact that we are much different than almost all cyclists.

Some even can't inflate a tire.  I guess these people expect a bicycle
to work similar to a modern car: Do not touch anything except the
handlebar/steering wheel, pedals and brakes and visit the dealer's
workshop if an indicator light comes on.

Another tale, told to me last week by one of our best friends. She goes several times per week to a place where she does strength exercises. treadmill in winter, etc. Two older men (um, younger than me, I'm sure!) who are frequently there talk to her about their avid bicycle riding - but only back and forth on one local rail-trail. (!)
Anyway, last week one was making fun of the other. Why? Because he had gone out for his usual solo ride and had a flat on the trail. His buddy was teasing him because he had to walk his bike seven miles to get back to his car.
My friend was astonished, and said she told them "I can't believe you don't carry a spare tube!" She asked me "Are there really people who say they're bicyclists but can't fix a flat?"
Apparently the answer is yes.
--
- Frank Krygowski