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Changing Flats on the Road (or Trail)

I had a flat tire last night on the way home–my third since bike commuting regularly for the past three years. I’m a little embarrassed to say I’ve never actually had to repair a flat while on the road. My girlfriend has come to my rescue all three times.

One of my mistakes last night was not having a complete repair kit with me. I was missing a spare tube and that made the task of trying to find and patch the leak a little too overwhelming. It was dark, I was tired, and Joan was at a nearby Starbucks waiting with a tasty green tea lemonade.

Asa Salas over at Team Estrogen has a great article on repairing a flat sans tire levers:

“Every rider should have a basic repair kit. This should include a pump, a brand new tube, a patch kit, a bike specific multi-tool, and a couple bucks for emergency latte. Tire levers are optional, but with a bit of practice, I bet you won’t need them anymore. Make sure your kit is complete before every ride. A small rag is also a good idea, as well as something to pry foreign objects out of tires. Usually, a good multi-tool will have a sharp, pointy thingy which will serve.”

Template Basics in Dreamweaver CS4

No Kids = Big Savings

I’m reading The Little Book of Big Savings by Ellie Kay and in the baby room Kay suggests saving money by making your own baby wipes. She did this for her five youngest kids until the were toddlers. WTF!

How about saving money by not having five or more children?