The Chainlink

Talk about bad luck - helping a guy fix a flat on the LFP tonight

I'm riding home from work tonight and about 3/4 of the way there I run across a guy with a flat. I stopped to lend him my tire levers, patch kit, and pump. He was able to get the flat fixed and wheel back on, tire pumped up. Then, taking the pump off, somehow the guts of his Presta valve come off and "whoosh!" There goes all the air in his tire. I couldn't loan him one of my tubes because I run 700x32 and he was running something like 700x18 or 20 - not gonna fit. So, we part ways. He was gonna hoof it somewhere, bus I think? Luckily it was near 31st so he was just a few minutes walk away from MLK. Bummer. I felt bad for the guy. He was going in to work at the university (U Chicago), and his evenings probably pretty much shot. At least it wasn't any colder with a couple feet of snow or something. I guess the moral of the story is always be prepared. I'm a belt and suspenders kinda guy I guess, I carry a patch kit and an extra tube. Stay warm out there folks and make sure you have all the emergency kit you might need.

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Permalink Reply by A.K.A Paul on December 17, 2011 at 7:40pm

Thanks for stopping to help the guy.  It's nice to hear when cyclist stop and help each other out.  FYI...I've run a small tube like a 700X 20 in a larger tire like a 700X 32 before.  It's not ideal but it worked in a pinch till I could get home and swap the tube for an appropriate sized one.

Permalink Reply by mark stetson on December 17, 2011 at 11:02pm

Nice of you to do what you could.  I'm often out with nothing to fix a flat.  Walked home twice last year, didn't teach me a thing.

Permalink Reply by Gerry G on December 17, 2011 at 11:52pm

Kiltedcelt thanks for the making the effort!  Your PSA regarding preparedness is spot on.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on December 18, 2011 at 10:23am

Nice of you to stop. Bravo!

I really don't like presta valves. On more than one occasion I've been unable to fix a flat out in the field because of some presta problem or another. Usually it was a problem getting a portable pump switched over to accomodate a presta valve, so it wasn't technically the valve's fault. I've never heard of one blowing out like that though. 

I dislike prestas so much that I drilled out the valve hole on my current rear rim so that I don't have to use them. 

Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on December 18, 2011 at 11:32am

Nice of you to help the guy.  Being stranded in the cold like that has gotta suck.  

Things I'm never on my bike without:  Multi-tool, spare tube, levers, patch kit.  But ever since my road morph-g stopped working I have resisted buying another.  I've gotten by fine so far but I feel like one day it's gonna bite me in the butt.  Gotta figure out what's wrong with it.  

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on December 18, 2011 at 4:45pm

A quarter, perhaps a third of the flats I've fixed in the field didn't require removing the wheel. If you can see the cause of the flat sticking out of the tire you can usually patch it without taking off the wheel. It might be different with a 50 lbs Dutch bike though...

But I see your point. I'm not looking forward to my first rear flat on my three speed/coaster brake...  (and that is part of the motivation for my next project being a two speed).


Jeff Schneider said:

In the winter, I actually tend not to carry tools.  That's partly because I'm often riding a bike that requires several tools to remove the rear wheel (think Dutch bike), and partly because I have no desire to work outside in bitter cold.  So, I take my chances; if I get a flat, I'll lock up the bike, find a cab or public transit to get home, and come back with a car to pick up the bike.  Clearly, this strategy wouldn't work so well if you ride much in isolated places like the LFP, or if you don't have easy access to a car.

In the summer, it's no problem working outside, so I carry a full bag of tricks.  Also, for whatever reason (more people walking around smashing beer bottles?), I seem to get more flats in warm weather.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on December 18, 2011 at 5:06pm

Great story and following discussion.  I tend to carry a full bike tool-kit on my bike nearly everywhere I go.  The kit has been put together with weight being a major factor regarding lightweight tool choices  But even though I have tried  to keep it as light as possible I still can't leave many necessary tools behind -it still weighs a few grams over one kilo.  That's a lot of tools!    Short of working on the headset, removing cranks/working on the bottom-bracket I can do just about anything right up to doing a heavy tune-up on the side of the road.  I guess I'm a bit of a preparedness freak ;)  (If I were to be taking a really long trip I'd bring along my compact crank tool and headset wrenches and some grease/bearings just in case.)

That said, my bike is in tip-top shape at all times and I never break down.  Usually I find myself helping less-prepared folks I happen upon.  


A few months back I helped a guy before CM who had a broken chain with a couple of mangled links.  I was able to piece together his mangled chain with a few spare links I carry with me and my chain tool so he could still ride CM on his rattle-trap BSO.  For all I know the guy might still be riding on the temporary repair I did on his chain that day.  

It is good to be prepared for anything. 

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on December 18, 2011 at 6:29pm

If you spit a little in the pump head it'll help make a better seal, and also help prevent ripping the presta valve off.

Permalink Reply by S.Presley☠ on December 18, 2011 at 8:28pm

I didn't break the valve...but even though I had all the tools when i got my flat,I wasted my co2 cartridge because I didn't know how to use it. here is a video I made the day after.

Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on December 18, 2011 at 8:53pm

What brand is that pump?  I've never used a c02 pump but that looks easy.  I might buy one just to try out in a pinch.  

Permalink Reply by S.Presley☠ on December 18, 2011 at 9:05pm

This is the exact one but it looks like they are out of stock. I didn't buy it at REI...it was several years ago and I can't remember where I got it from. sorry

http://www.rei.com/product/696554/genuine-innovations-ultraflate-pr...

Permalink Reply by djm on December 18, 2011 at 11:18pm

Planet Bike sells replacement parts online with free shipping. 

kiltedcelt said:

I had a Planet Bike pump with the extendable hose but some small part fell off of it over the summer and now it's useless unless I can find replacement parts.

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