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.”