How long did it take you to change your first tyre

[Jason37]

A week ago I had my first visit from the puncture fairy. I didn't like it, so I thought it would be a good idea to change the very cheap tyres I had on my bike (Kenda) for some puncture resistant ones Bontrager Hard Case

Anyway Saturday morning comes and I disappear into the garage. Took both wheels off and got old tyres off and inner tubes out easily enough. Back indoors consulted book and googled video's of how to put tyres back on. Off I go fit first inner tube in valve pushed through.....damn I bought short valves needed long ones. Wash bike clean and re lube chain. and wheels and put in better Rim tape. Detour to Local Bike shop stock up on 3 inner tubes with longer valves.....wife needs to go shopping and kiddie needs to go to the fair at the local park ! eventually back into Garage. First bead into Rim easy Tubes now go in...... twisted. Try again twisted. Get the idea now and they pop in fine. Second bead goes on rim easily until I get about 4 inches either side of valve try to ring Geoff Capes but don't have his number so end up taking tyre inside to warm up and become pliable. Eventually after much struggling finally get 2nd bead over rim (please tell me there is a knack). Tyre 2 much the same but a bit quicker. Both tyres up and pumped re attached. Quick spin round the block and they are fine back infor a cup of tea at 6pm!!!

But It took me ages........how am I gonna cope in the rain in the middle of nowhere

 

[sheddy]

There are tools available to pull the bead back over, in order to easily refit stiffer tyres

 

[yello]

(please tell me there is a knack).

There is a knack. And some tyre/rim combinations are harder than others. You learn. You've already learnt!

Imagine being out on the road and not realising that you can get long and short valve tubes... you puncture, but 'sokay, you can fix it - then you find that your spare tube is short valve... and you have deep section rims. Not that that would happen to me, oh no I ALWAYS check... well, now I do

 

[RedBike]

Hours.
Then again I was only about 8. I can remember jumping up and down on the spanner trying to get the wheel off, the nuts were on too tight for me to undo.

Then I couldn't get the tyre off. My parents eventually lent me some spoons after I had stuck twigs and god knows what in there to try and lever it off.

 

[gbb]

I thank my lucky stars i've been blessed with a mechanical aptitude...always repaired my own as a kid, for as far back as i can remember (probably cos dad was always overseas with the services)...diy or it does'nt get done at all .

Mind, i do remember fixing a puncture as a kid, putting it back on, pumping it up.....only to go down again
Probably did this 3 or 4 times before dad said..'you have checked inside the tyre for thorns hav'nt you?'
Bugger
Freewheels, hubs, cranksets, as a kid, no problem....probably the only plus to having a dad that was'nt about much.

 

[Radius]

Great lexis for a newcomer, are you secretly someone else

 

[iLB]

Great lexis for a newcomer, are you secretly someone else

you cynical git

 

[Jason37]

Great lexis for a newcomer, are you secretly someone else

Thanks.... I think, it all sounded greek to me

I am just me I'm afraid, just out of interest who did you think I was secretly being?

 

[The doomed]

is it worth taking a tire a tube out at home for a practice?

 

[Radius]

No idea, otherwise I would most probably have said "are you secretly [name]"

 

[tyred]

is it worth taking a tire a tube out at home for a practice?

I would say so. As with most things, practice makes perfect. Try and keep the beading of the tyre in the "valley" of the rim while popping it on as it has more room to move about and will make it easier. Also, with narrow wheels in particular, push the valve back into the tyre as much as you can and then start to to put it on at the valve first.

Try and find an old wheel in the dump and stick felt tacks in it and practice fixing the punctures...

 

[Jason37]

is it worth taking a tire a tube out at home for a practice?

If you are as mechanically minded as me (i.e. never done it before) then I can personally recommend that practising fixing a flat tyre is well worth the effort. It will highlight what tools you need and how long you can reasonably expect to be at the roadside.

 

[yello]

If you are as mechanically minded as me (i.e. never done it before) then I can personally recommend that practising fixing a flat tyre is well worth the effort. It will highlight what tools you need and how long you can reasonably expect to be at the roadside.

Agreed. If you're familiar with the task then it becomes 2nd nature to ensure you carry the right tools.

 

[Sittingduck]

I presume you ARE using tyre levers, right? Should be able to squeeze 1 lever in an use it to work the bead onto the rim. Then move a couple of inches round the rim or insert lever #2 and do it again. Can be difficult (depending on the tyres) but with decent levers and practice you will be okay. I find getting the tyre OFF the rim more difficult, if they are tight tyres (aka Vittoria).

Cheers,
SD

 

[Jason37]

I was using tyre levers although as you stated it was difficult and I just could not get the knack of it and kept skinning my knuckles, so I ended up just using my hands and thumbs to ease the last part of the beadover the rim. I am sure that with a bit of practise it will get easier (it was easier on the 2nd tyre)