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Phwfffffssssst! Duh…

10.10.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 12 Comments

I think I’ve had a very fortunate summer and fall. My last flat tire was on May 31st, during the Real Ale Ride. Since then, I’ve ridden lots of miles over some pretty rough patches, but the tires have held up beautifully.

Tonight, I had just completed a Mopac loop, and turned into the Veloway to knock off a few quick laps before heading home for supper. I crossed the gravel and dirt parking lot, jumped on the asphalt track, and pedaled easily, taking time to grab a swig from my water bottle.

When I reached the first curve, I immediately sensed that something was wrong. The rear wheel wobbled. It lost stability. !@%&*#! A flat.

I pulled over to the side and took off the wheel. Couldn’t find the tire levers! It had been so long since I poked around in my seat bag, I forgot that I had tucked them into a nifty little wallet that I keep my patch kit in. I got the tire off, and another rider came along.

“Got everything?” he asked.

“Yep,” I said. He nodded, and kept going.

Once I got the tube out of the tire, I inspected the inside of the tire for the culprit. There it was — a tiny sliver of sharp metal, about a quarter-inch long. I had to pull it out of the tread with my teeth.

“You okay?” asked a female rider as she passed.

“Yep, I can change this myself,” I replied. “Good,” she said, and pedaled off.

I always carry a spare tube. I got it into the tire, mounted both onto the wheel, and dug around for my CO2 cartridges.

WTF? Why am I carrying around a CO2 cartridge that’s already been used, and has a puncture?

Oh, there’s another good one in here. Let’s just stick it into the inflator and screw the top down…

Pop! Phwffffsssst! Oh no! I punctured the cartridge! Quick! Get it on the presta valve before…

I screwed down the top of the inflator, and stopped the leaking — but not before a cold white residue covered the cartridge, my fingers, and my gloves.

“!@%&*#!,” I shouted. I got the rest of the CO2 into the tire. There was enough to give the tire some shape, but not enough to make it rideable. I wasn’t far from the parking lot, so I started walking the bike back.

At the beginning of the path, a biker was taking it easy next to the water fountain. I leaned my bike against the bench nearby, and asked if he had a tire pump.

“No, but I have one of these things,” he said, holding up a CO2 cartridge. “I don’t know much about them. Can you use it?”

“You betcha,” I said (I’m originally from the Midwest). “Hey, it’s the threaded kind. That’s better.”

I screwed it onto the inflator, and fitted the end over the presta valve. Pulled the trigger. Whoosh! In about one second, the tire was inflated. I tested it with my fingers. It was firm to the touch. Let’s see…if I give it one more shot, it’ll probably inflate to the pressure I like…

Bang!

“Aww,” said the guy.

I said something stronger.

I inspected the flat tire. Dummy! The tube had gotten caught between the tire and the rim. One of those things they teach you to check for when you first learn how to change a flat tire.

I got out my cell phone.

“Honey? I’m at the Veloway. Can you come pick me up?”

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Categories // Equipment, Rides Tags // bike maintenance, CO2, flat tire, pumps

Comments

  1. Bryan says

    October 10, 2008 at 10:12 pm

    I feel your pain. I had one of those types of rides a couple of months ago. So frustrating.

    Reply
  2. Scott says

    October 10, 2008 at 10:29 pm

    Awesome story! I laughed out loud and had to go and try to re-tell it to my wife, but it wasn’t nearly as funny as the way you wrote it.

    Reply
  3. Jared says

    October 10, 2008 at 11:55 pm

    I’ve ALMOST done that one my mountain bike…thankfully I was using a pump and not CO2 or I would have had the same results! Now I get a good chunk of pressure in the tires and check that it’s seated before fully inflating! No fun, but glad that you were able to call for SAG support!

    Reply
  4. Apertome says

    October 11, 2008 at 12:18 am

    These things happen. Just ask my wife, she has bailed me out a couple of times.

    But yeah, inflate a bit (1/3 to 1/2 pressure), then check to make sure everything’s seated properly, then fill it up the rest of the way. I use a mini-pump and it’s a lot easier to check with this method. It gives you an excuse to quit pumping for a minute!

    Reply
  5. Andrew(AJH) says

    October 11, 2008 at 3:12 am

    I’ve had a bad run with punctures recently, about 4 in the last month, but I’ve never had a run of bad luck like that, or had to ring to get picked up.

    Good story!

    Reply
  6. Black Pearl says

    October 11, 2008 at 11:13 am

    Why Don’t you learn and carry a pump? I have never used a CO2 cartridge and I don’t know if I would even be able to figure one our I have a Zefal HP frame pump and have had one on every bike I have ridden.

    Never have more flats than I have air.

    Reply
  7. rainycamp says

    October 11, 2008 at 4:16 pm

    Just got back from the bike shop, and the bike now has a Topeak Road Morph mounted on the frame.

    Reply
  8. Bob says

    October 12, 2008 at 2:38 am

    I like the CO2, but also carry a pump and a cell phone for those special times.

    Reply
  9. Raiyn says

    October 27, 2008 at 12:21 am

    Pump > CO2 A bit more weight, but infinitely more practical.

    Reply

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