1st blowout on bike

Sounds like you know what you need to do. Get the tools and a few spare tubes. Carry them around with you when you ride. It'll save your butt one day.

It surprises me that anyone goes out for a ride without tools needed to at least change a flat.  Everyone says that when you use clipless pedals you will fall over.  While this is true for approx 98% of people it is definately true that you will eventually get a flat.  There is not really anything you can do about it, and nearly no warning.

Contact your local bike shop to see if they affer calsses in bike maintenance. Both of our local LBSs do so, one even makes it into a ladies night out with wine and hors d'oeuvres. 

I suggest everyone learn how to change a tube then practice it over and over maybe 8-10 times over the course of a few days then you will have confidence on the skill.

I watched many men show me how to do it, but wasn't until a fellow BTer showed me how to do it and then coached me through changing it myself that it clicked That night I practiced a few times and again the next day.  What took me 40 minutes to do now takes me most days less than 3 minutes.

I agree with Bear learning basic bike maintenance is smart and a good thing to do in the off season. Many bike shops offer that type of class when they aren't so busy which tends to be winter. I looked for classes last year and the bike shop that supports my bike race team put on a 4 session 3 hours a time women only class with 4-5 women and the lead mechanic. Best thing he taught us was the why and it helped me understand things better and I am better able to figure things out myself.

It took me a couple time to really get used to changing a tube.  I had to call my wife once too pick me up because I forgot to pack the spare tube.  Luckily I was only a few mile from home.   When I got home I thought that I had a spare but turns out I didn't.  So now I always make sure I have at least on on the bike and 1 at home. 

"I may go take the tire off and take the tube out again just for practice."

Ding ding ding. I cannot believe how many people go out for a ride A) with nothing to fix a flat and B) having no idea how to do it.

Go now, sit down in front of your bike, take the wheel off... take the tube out...replace it...put the wheel back on...wash/rinse/repeat until you are confident you can do it alone.  You don't have to set a land speed record or anything, just be competent.

As a lifelong bicyclist, I learned to change a tub when I was about 10.
Although I don't get as much practice as I used to, I can still do a decent job in about 10 minutes.
I have found that many of the adults I ride with have NO idea how to do this.
Although it can be tough, it is one of the most basic of bike maint. skills.

I always have a pump, tube, patch kit and tire levers with me.
However, I have had double flats before that have stretched my patience!

X2. And practice on both the front and the rear. They're different, y'know!

Park Tool's web site is a very good resource for maintenance tips. They have lots of nice step by step instructions form the very basic (changing a tube, removing pedals) to the more complex stuff.

Also, Sheldon Brown's site has very good information and a nice glossary section.

Yep, let's get liquored up and change those tires

I've been really thinking about this a lot lately because, like you, I've ridden my bike for several months without a flat and also without the tools and knowledge to change one.  About a week ago I picked up a patch kit with tire levers to stick in my bike bag. Then a couple of days ago, and because I really don't want to get stranded halfway out in my tri on Sunday, I stopped by my LBS to pick up a couple of tubes and CO2 cartridges (and some lube--I hadn't even learned to do that yet).

The young man who helped me (does that make me sound like someone's grandma?) offered to teach me how to change my tire if I had time before my tri. It happened that my bike was in my car, so I brought it in and we did it right then and there.  He was really great. He showed me step by step how to remove the back wheel, take off the tire, put a little air in the tube, well, everything, etc., put the wheel back on. Then he put everything back and made me do it all myself.  I felt so confident after that--I am totally prepared for that flat on Sunday! I also discovered that my tires are actually pretty easy to change. I only barely needed the tiniest bit of assistant with the tire lever at the end.  He showed me how to check afterward to make sure the tube isn't being pinched and what to do if it is (before inflating).  It was the best use of my lunch hour ever.

Oh yeah...and he went ahead and put my bike on a stand and showed me how to lube my chain link by link. Love that LBS.

Edited by msmogreen 2009-08-14 10:16 PM