Double P-bomb fiasco and lessons learned.

[thefollen]

I never normally fail this badly at life.

Usually it takes me about 30-35mins to cycle home from Covent Garden/Holborn. Not yesterday.

As I whizzed down York Road (Waterloo) I had the classic 'hang on that bump was a little hard' feeling and knew immediately what had occurred. Pulled over, flipped my bike and during the tyre removal process managed to snap a tyre lever; this I attribute to a combination of a crappy Halfords levers and bad technique on my part.

Anyway, wheeled the bike to Evans on The Cut where they leant me another lever, it was then I discovered I'd packed my MTB spare inner tube instead of the road one. New one purchased. Also Evans Waterloo wouldn't allow me to fix the bike in-shop so turfed me outside to fix it amongst loads of people milling about and some dodgy (I assume) homeless, special-brew touting types hanging around and shouting. Not fun but fixed (whilst mildly nervous of my bag and all parts on the floor). At least Evans leant me the tool for free.

Past Clapham North, the tyre flats AGAIN. Rats cocks! Turns out I didn't get all of the offending materials out of my tyre. Evans stop #2 (Clapham High Street) and inner tube purchase #2. They let me fix it in store this time, far more friendly than Waterloo.

All-in-all a total ballache but good repair practise. Nice new set of Bontrager levers purchased. Also, very thankful for iPhone GPS and location services.

Moral of the story. Pack the correct spare inner tube(s), check your tyres THOROUGHLY following a flat (even if you think you've removed the offending item), and get some decent levers.

I've certainly grown from the experience.

 

[akb]

Pack the correct spare inner tube(s), check your tyres THOROUGHLY following a flat (even if you think you've removed the offending item), and get some decent levers

Some worthwhile advice! Glad all fixed.

 

[endoman]

I was shown by a club mate how to remove a road bike tyre with no levers, pretty useful if you ever have the need. Takes a bit longer, kind of just loosen it off all the way round and stretch it like a big elastic band. Hands a bit sore after.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

I've got gatorskins on my coyote road bike, and i can roll them off the cheap chinese rims!

I've also got gator skins on the trek road bike, that needs full-fat metal levers to get them off.

 

[cyberknight]

Lucky for you there are shops on your route and you cycle at a time when they are open !

Bad luck and necessity have taught me to carry 2 tubes + repair kit + pump + tools that have been tested , the inner tubes sit on top of the bikes in a bag so if i change bikes they are waiting for me so i do not get mixed up.
Learnt this the hard way last winter at 7.30 pm on the way to night shift when i had a double flat on an unlit country lane with only 1 inner tube and a valve that was to short for the rim , the rubber glue was not setting either.By the time the wife got to me it was 3/4 an hour later and i was getting hypothermia .