Flat after first ride

[mjr]

After reading this, I realised that I didn't actually know how to take my back wheel off!

I do now though, so I might even be able to repair the inevitable first puncture

Probably useful anyway but see #9 for how to repair without removing the wheel.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Probably useful anyway but see #9 for how to repair without removing the wheel.

I tried that for some poor soul on the road one day with none quick release wheels and no tools to remove the nuts., fixed his front flat went to put some air in his back tyre only for the tube to disintegrate (well valve came away from the rest of the tube) so he was no better off than when I started.

 

[Cadire]

Probably useful anyway but see #9 for how to repair without removing the wheel.

That's an interesting video, but I'm not sure that I'd be able to do it without the dramatic music

 

[mjr]

I tried that for some poor soul on the road one day with none quick release wheels and no tools to remove the nuts., fixed his front flat went to put some air in his back tyre only for the tube to disintegrate (well valve came away from the rest of the tube) so he was no better off than when I started.

Wow. Only tube I've had perish is one that I suspect had been in the bike for twenty years before I bought it. I wonder if it was old or just rubbish?

 

[mjr]

That's an interesting video, but I'm not sure that I'd be able to do it without the dramatic music

You can play the music out of your phone like everyone else does

 

[martint235]

There's a balance though. The tyres thing is fair enough, but it was a very quick interaction without much interest shown. It's not like he was rushed off his feet!!

Take your time. You don't become instant friends with anyone else you meet and currently to him you're someone who has bought a couple of items from his staple stock rather than really engaged him. I can't get out of my LBS nowadays (been using the same one for 13 years!!!) and god help me if the older of the two blokes starts talking to me....

On the plus side I've also seen the changes in cycling over those years. When I first started taking my commuting bike in he used to comment that most of his customers spent less on a bike than I spent on having mine serviced. Now I take the TI bike in and it looks cheap compared to some of the bikes in there.

Oh and if you need tubes, try the Inner Tube Shop online.

 

[MichaelW2]

It is always a good idea with cheaper modern bikes to check the finish on the rim interior for sharp edges. A bit of emery or sandpaper will take the edge off the valve hole. Also check for protruding spoke heads and well seated rim tape.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Wow. Only tube I've had perish is one that I suspect had been in the bike for twenty years before I bought it. I wonder if it was old or just rubbish?

I think it was just old, but I felt bad, still he didn't have much further to walk having already done the best part of 7 miles or so

 

[Jody]

Punctures are never a good thing. Although I run tubeless on my MTB I would still carry a tube and some self adhesive patches just in case. For the sake of a couple of quid and taking up aout as much room as a 50p I wouldn't go anywhere without them.

 

[dst87]

Take your time. You don't become instant friends with anyone else you meet and currently to him you're someone who has bought a couple of items from his staple stock rather than really engaged him. I can't get out of my LBS nowadays (been using the same one for 13 years!!!) and god help me if the older of the two blokes starts talking to me....

I can see what you mean. I wouldn't expect that kind of super friendly banter as if we were long-lost friends. But surely anyone that's worked in retail knows that if you take an interest and spend a bit of time (especially when the store is empty) they'll come back and trust you more in the future? I got the impression that he didn't particularly want my business and that I wasn't worth his while, which is just bad business regardless of how much I know him or how much I've spent previously in his store. JMO!

Oh and if you need tubes, try the Inner Tube Shop online.

Brilliant recommendation thanks. I'm going to save this for when I need more tubes. I've got two more of the crappy short-valve ones to get through first.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I can see what you mean. I wouldn't expect that kind of super friendly banter as if we were long-lost friends. But surely anyone that's worked in retail knows that if you take an interest and spend a bit of time (especially when the store is empty) they'll come back and trust you more in the future? I got the impression that he didn't particularly want my business and that I wasn't worth his while, which is just bad business regardless of how much I know him or how much I've spent previously in his store. JMO!
[/QUOTE
Had this with one of the LBS twice, fair enough I only wanted a spoke for a RS11 rear wheel, got the spoke quick enough, but the nipple took (well it didn't) nearly a month so I gave up after being told repeatedly next few days ect...I have better banter and service at the local Halfords.

 

[martint235]

I can see what you mean. I wouldn't expect that kind of super friendly banter as if we were long-lost friends. But surely anyone that's worked in retail knows that if you take an interest and spend a bit of time (especially when the store is empty) they'll come back and trust you more in the future? I got the impression that he didn't particularly want my business and that I wasn't worth his while, which is just bad business regardless of how much I know him or how much I've spent previously in his store. JMO!

There's always the possibility that it's a cruddy LBS I suppose. I'd probably give it another go but if I left again with the feeling he didn't care, I might look for another one.

 

[dst87]

There's always the possibility that it's a cruddy LBS I suppose. I'd probably give it another go but if I left again with the feeling he didn't care, I might look for another one.

That's my plan. I'm going to go back to get mudguards fitted. I was going to get a rack and bag too, but for now I've ordered a saddle bag on Amazon to stick all the little essentials in and I'll worry about a rack and larger bag if/when I want to carry more or pop to the shops etc.