changing a flat in a race with deep aero wheels and valve extenders

Is your spare also removable core?

Try it with your race stuff and see if what you have will work.

My plan is to go ahead and remove the core from the race spare.  Since the extender will still have a core on it, I would just take the extender/core from the flat and move it on to the spare.  I guess my question centers around if it is feasible to remove/install extenders by hand rather than with tools that I may not have in my saddle bag.

Well, if your spares do indeed have a removable core, I guess you could try and experiment with it at home and see how well the seal holds up with by making it "hand tight".

I see several issues though.

1.  You expect to remove the extender from the flat tube using your hands (going to be sweaty hands during a race), when you used a tool to tighten it.

2.  You expect to replace the extender into a core with your hands that is meant to be tightened with a tool.

3.  The whole process takes additional time an introduces several opportunities for you to screw up.

I have latex tubes with removeable cores.  My spare is a standard butyl tube with non removable cores.  I just pre-tape it with plumbers tape and put on a Zipp extender.  I test it out before hand, then it goes in my flat kit.  So if I flat, the change is simple and fast.

The reason I ask is that I will have 2 different wheels on, a FLO 60 and a FLO 90.  Each will require a different valve extender size.  My tube(s) will all be the same size and will require one or the other extender, depending on which tire flatted.

Tufo valve extenders are $10. Buy one for the spare.

ETA: Buy one for the deeper rim.  It will just stick out too far on the narrower front.  Not ideal but it will work.

TW

Just have both spares with a valve extender long enough for the 90.  It won't matter if the extender is too long for the 60.

I have no problem screwing on extenders for non removeable cores.  But with removeable cores, the extender becomes a critical part of how the tube holds air and should be tight.  If it's not on tight, you'll slowly leak air, where non removeable extenders, once the air is in the tube, the extender serves no purpose to holding air.

FTW

I'm in the 'non-removable core' bunch. Makes life really easy when swapping the extender over. As was mentioned, if you don't get the extender tight enough with a removable core extender, you might have issues with continual leaks. The best bet it to put the extender on prior to the race and carry it that way. Or switch to cheap non-removable core extenders.

As others have said, set your spares up with valve extenders in advance.

Also, and this is the best advice everyone ignores; practrice changing flats at home several times prior to race day so you have a high level of proficiency in doing it quickly and it won't be stressful on race day.

Race like you train.

You put so much effort and expense into getting to a race it makes sense to practice a skill as commonly needed and as basic as changin a flat tire- yet very few people actually ever do it.

Chrissie Wellington nearly lost Ironman because of this; twice. Her coach Brett Sutton then made her sit down with her bike and practice changing rear flats and using a CO2 inflator. He timed her and made her do repetitions until she got fast enough.

If you have never removed your rear wheel, removed the tube, replaced it with a new one with a valve extender and then inflated it with a CO2 you can't be sure any of this will work- or you can do it- on race day.

Remember how much you spent on the entry fee and how humiliating it would be to come on the forum and say, "I DNF'ed because I couldn't change my flat".

Best of luck in Arizona.

I use the Zipp extenders too and have never had an issue with them.  I know some people don't like them but I seemed to have more problems with the removeable cores.

another type of valve extender might be worth having in your race bag...the Topeak Valve Extender.

http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Presta-Valve-Extension/dp/B001M82ZHA

It came in real handy when the other valve extender was leaking, and only way to fix it is to take out the tube. But with the Topeak model, you can control the valve.

 With this Topeak presta valve extender, you do not need to leave in place the extender once it is installed, since this extender features a plunger that is used to tighten/untighten the the knurled nut on the existing presta valve.

After you're done you can take it off.

Not saying as a replacement, but a handy thing to carry with you in a race.

This is what I did - just re-used the extender and core from the flat.  I do however, carry the tool for loosening and tightening the extender.  I found that it slips easily over my 4mm allen key so it doesn't get lost.