Flat Tyre!

This had been going to be the first week where I had ridden to work all 5 days -- and it nearly was. But found a rear flat tyre. Flat as a pancake.

Ahah! I will use my newly acquired bike maintenance skills here. It's wonderful to have quick release wheels and, of course, I remembered to undo the brakes. Got the tyre off easily. Removed the tube. Checked the tyre itself for nails, glass or whatever had caused the issue. Got my new tube out, lightly filled it just to give it shape, put it back into the tyre and put the tyre back onto the rim.


The putting the tyre back onto the rim took ages -- longer than the rest of the process put together all because the valve did not want to go through the hole! It was so frustrating!


Anyway, got the valve through the hole pumped up the tyre to a reasonable pressure and went to put the wheel back on the bike. Ah, that's where the fun (or not) started! Just couldn't remember how to hold the derailleur to get it back on, especially in the dim light of the garage.


Anyway, I have my wheel ready to replace and a one wheeled bike sitting waiting until this afternoon when I can take it to the Bike Shed to ask them to show me how to put it back on. In the meantime, I have my car here at work.


I'm sure there is a reason for this. Maybe I wasn't meant to ride for whatever reason. Anyway, I'm reasonably happy with my tyre replacement skills. Just needed to remember how to hold the derailleur to put the wheel back on with the chain in the correct spot.


The end result. A car trip and extremely dirty hands!

3pm and I finally realised the easiest solution. I should have just taken my old Giant. It is there ready to go. Okay it would have been a slower ride, but I could still have ridden and wouldn't have felt guilty all day. Oh well, I know for next time. Just annoyed I didn't think of it at 6am this morning. Aah, the other thought though, it wouldn't go on the bike'n'ride. Would be pedalling all the way home! Not so bad on a Thursday - no other commitments and would have taken the bike path through Lyneham etc.