Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by yai danche on July 27, 2013 at 4:53am

this is exactly why i am too scared to fix a flat.  i'm worried i'll install the wheel wrong and then something like this would happen.  i hope he's okay.  not sure the helmet would help when you land face first, but checking your bike before a ride would.  

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael A on July 27, 2013 at 6:51am

Yai, there are several clinics that will teach you the proper way to fix a flat, once you have that confidence you will be unstoppable ! Even if you never actually change a flat knowing how and what to check for before each ride is worth it.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by yai danche on July 27, 2013 at 8:06am

i attended a fix a flat workshop at west town bikes and got another quick lesson when i bought my bike.  so i've physically done it, but it didn't inspire a lot of confidence to do it myself in a real life situation.  i think i'd be more inclined to really learn if i didn't live/work so close to bike shops.   

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 27, 2013 at 9:48am

Please watch this video to see the kind of safety check referred to in the original post.  You do NOT need to know how to change a flat to do the kind of preventive check that would have prevented the type of crash described above.  With a little bit of basic knowledge (and not necessarily any mechanical skill), anyone can do a quick check of their bike's mechanical condition.  If you encounter any of the problems described in the video and don't have the confidence to fix them, don't ride the bike until you've had it checked by a mechanic.  

Stay safe and keep the rubber side down.

• ▶ Reply