Lesson learned - flat repair.

[bikeoutback]

Being new to mountain biking I don't really take much with me when biking, pretty much bike, water and me. Well saturday I learned why I might want to take more with me. Just past the rock garden on the intermediate loop before coming to X loop I got a flat. I ended up walking the trail the rest of the way out, I figured I'd end up doing this eventually but figured it's not so bad, no like I'm miles and miles away on a trip or anything like that. I did get a better view of the trail and a bit better at orienting myself within Leb, but still wasnt' the morning ride I was expecting. Saturday afternoon I re-learned how to replace a tube and all that stuff, those tire levers are a cool trick (as a kid I just used screw drivers). Bike is back in running condition, complete with a spare tube, pump and patch kit. And I was able to patch the old tube I hope, havne't put air in it yet to see if it worked which will give me a second extra tube lying around. Hope to be back on Leb again tonight.

[Trevize1138]

Yup. Getting a flat and having no way to fix it sucks!

Gosh, wouldn't this post go great in a section labeled "Tech/Wrenching" or something like that? If only these forums had such a section ... ;)

[manual63]

Gosh, wouldn't this post go great in a section labeled "Tech/Wrenching" or something like that? If only these forums had such a section ... ;)

Yeah...yeah. Working on that one....:p

[bikeoutback]

On the other side I did meet alot of people on the trail while I was walking, everyone was very friendly and I did my best to stay out of the way. I apologize if I ruined anyone's flow as they came up on me unexpectedly but nothing I could do about it. I haven't been able to determine what was wrong yet, think I may have been running too low air pressure.

[Uncle Leo]

I haven't been able to determine what was wrong yet, think I may have been running too low air pressure.

FWIW - if you don't have a pump with a pressure gauge, get one. I was shocked when I found I couldn't tell the difference (with finger and thumb squeezing) between 20 lb and 35 lb.

[bikeoutback]

FWIW - if you don't have a pump with a pressure gauge, get one. I was shocked when I found I couldn't tell the difference (with finger and thumb squeezing) between 20 lb and 35 lb.

The small hand pump I bought has a pressure gauge on it, just not sure on the accuracy of it, have to check further. I filled the tire and checked it with tire gauge at was at 50 psi, put hand pump on and it came out at 40psi, I figure either way if I needed it on trail should work. I think I was running 35psi on saturday morning when I headed out by accident, not sure what I was doing but I think I read it as 45. Not sure what I'm suppose to be at but gonna give 50 a try and see how it works out on the trail, at least now I could adjust it out on the trial if I really got the urge.

[Trevize1138]

I used to run as high as 50 or 55 in my rear tire and 45 in my front. These days, though, I'm really liking 32/38 front/rear. =) Traction, baby!

[bikeoutback]

I used to run as high as 50 or 55 in my rear tire and 45 in my front. These days, though, I'm really liking 32/38 front/rear. =) Traction, baby!

I read your previous threads on this as I was doing some searching for answers on another tire question. Guy at Eriks told me to run 50 psi, I'm also a big boy at about 270lbs (yeah I need to bike... alot!). I also did some reading online, I had a small hole in the tube, pinch flat says it would be a slit I believe, maybe I just picked up something that punctured it or something. I think I'll try the 50 and adjust if I feel I'm slipping out, at least I've got the pump to adjust on the trail and play with it a bit on dirt.

[destrago]

I used to run as high as 50 or 55 in my rear tire and 45 in my front. These days, though, I'm really liking 32/38 front/rear. =) Traction, baby!

Yeah, I run 45/55 to 55/65 front/rear usually - mostly because I have a 2.2 mile road ride to get to the trail and low tire pressure on roads just annoys me beyond words. Then when I hit the trail I have to be a little more careful because I just don't have the same traction as some people.

-Tony

[Uncle Leo]

I like 35-40 both front and rear, more than that and my 40-year old a$$ feels my hardtail too much.
But last summer I rode in Colorado and pinch-flatted the first day, so had to up it to 50-55 for the duration.

[Trevize1138]

Yeah, I run 45/55 to 55/65 front/rear usually - mostly because I have a 2.2 mile road ride to get to the trail and low tire pressure on roads just annoys me beyond words. Then when I hit the trail I have to be a little more careful because I just don't have the same traction as some people.

-Tony

I've got a 6 mile road ride to Theo and the low psi doesn't bother me. Then again, I do ride a singlespeed so it's not like I'm shifting into that big ring and crankin' hard. :)