It's hard to believe that I have been cycling as long as I have and haven't actually flatted on the road. Especially when you consider how many tires I've changed and how fast I can change a tube/tire. There is an explanation: I have a training tire and am on my second upgrade of tires-- so really my changing skillzzz are due to my addiction to souping-up my ride.
But this time, the first flat I had to deal with on the road wasn't even my own! My friend Erin, who I have spent a few of our recent long Saturday rides exploring Illinois with realized her tire looked a little... strange before we left. It kind of looked lumpy/dented. I can't really explain it. Enough to worry that the actual wheel might've been warped (thankfully, it wasn't). We decided to exchange her tire with my spare and still use her tube because it appeared okay. Unfortunately, it must've not been so "okay" because she flatted 12 miles into our ride. So I lent her my spare tube...
SO HERE IS THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY:
CO2 is a PAIN THE BUTT
My first time dealing with CO2 was with Erin's tire. This time the canister didn't screw quite "correctly" into the charger and we lost all of it before we could even put it in her damn tire.
Oh no! What did we do you ask?
Well I went all out for about 15 minutes to the nearest bike store: Trek (which is conveniently located next to VQ so they know our team) and bought some more CO2 and tubes. In the meantime, some nice cyclist with a hand pump found Erin and put air in her tire. She met me at Trek and topped it off.
We were on our merry way for a little over an hour until, apparently, it was my turn. Baby's first flat. At first I wasn't even sure I flatted, and then I was sure when my wheel started thunking. :] Again, Erin and I attempted the magical feat of changing a tire. This time, the CO2 worked!... but I couldn't get it off in time (because I had a 16g canister) and so it overfilled my tube and popped it. So then I tried to use what little was left in the second tube and then some of the other CO2 canister I bought, but it all was an ultimate failure and I ended up biking around 4 miles on a flat. AWESOME.
Advice.
16g CO2 fills up to about 130 PSI. Great if you have some control... not great if you don't. Probably good for races when you need the air pressure, probably not the best for general rides.
12g CO2 fills up to about 90 PSI. Sure, this doesn't put you at a great inflation, but it's good enough to ride for a few miles to the nearest bike store! (Especially if you are in a semi-urban/sub-urban/bike-friendly setting where bike stores are common. There is probably one about every 3 or 4 miles for 16-18 miles out from Northwestern.)
Also, CO2 sucks for longevity. If you are going to be around a bike store and you are on a long ride... I'd say stop, empty out your tires, and have them refill entirely with a pump/air compressor. Even if you don't, be sure to do so when you get home/before your next ride. Don't top off CO2 filled tires with a pump. Take the extra minute to totally deflate them and refill.
Happy riding!
Also, race this weekend: Evergreen Lake Triathlon! Pictures, I'm SURE will follow. (Even if they aren't mine.) Second Olympic of the season!
Good luck with race!
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