That's the sound I heard on my way home from work the other night.
Soon enough, the bike's handling started turning mushy and sloppy. I glanced down and yep, my tire was slowly going flat. Manuevering through traffic, I had hit something and had given myself a pinch flat. That's something that happens more frequently when your tires don't have sufficient air pressure.
I pulled over and gave my tire a shot of CO2 from a cartridge inflator that I keep in my little seat bag that holds all those handy things that you should always have with you when you ride. It was enough to get me home, where I fixed the flat tire after removing and patching the tube.
Just a reminder once again, that you can't always avoid flats -- though there are certainly simple steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting flat tires. So be sure to carry a pump or inflator, a patch kit and spare tube, and know how to use these items. It's not a question of if you'll get a flat, but when it will happen to you.
Related links:
Comments