I had my first flat tire yesterday. I had to make a bank run for the company and decided to make it a quick 15 mile run up the river. Rather than my back pack with all the essentials, I had no patch kit, phone, bike lock or money other than a business debit card on me. I was approx 4 miles from the house when going my usual no sweat 25mph, I hit a 12 penny nail in the dead center of the rear tire. It deflated in less than 5 seconds.
With essentially no side walls, these tires don't like to be pushed flat but without a phone, I really had no options. I couldn't leave the bike without a lock so, I decided to go for a bike shop about a mile from where I was rather than a very long and hilly push home. I lifted the back up a bit and did the mile walk to the bike shop. The bike shop and the entire mall were of course closed (COVID-19) and when in situation like that, the world seems a very dystopian place, at least much more so than when I'm speeding along on the X7 on a perfect weather day.
I was really screwed and then a pickup truck comes through the empty parking lot driven by a young guy who had just lost his job and a restaurant in this mall. I hailed him and explained my plight. He jumped out and helped me put the unrideable X7 in his truck and drove me home. He got a very nice tip for his good samaritanship and I dodged a bullet.
Lessons learned:
Never leave for a bike ride without:
- Phone
- Bike lock
- Tire Patch Kit
- Basic Tools
- Handlebar Jack (see below)
I also have these great little devices for emergency working on the bike from
Handelbar Jacks.
Fixing the flat is next. Also ordered 2 extra tubes and a this
Valve Core remover kit from Amazon.