I felt a funny “rough road” today on the way home from the coffee stop. Larry Ng, who was riding behind me, said I had a flat rear tire. I pulled over and so did he and others. Larry fixed the flat tire in the blinks of my eye. Blink! He put the chain on the smallest rear sprocket. Blink! Rear wheel completely off. I got in my tool bag and took out my yellow plastic tire irons and spare tube and looked up. Blink! Tire and tube already off the rim. I believe he used his bare hands to take the tire and tube off the rim. Blink! Culprit identified and removed—a nail still in position going through tube and tire. Blink! Tire and new tube back on rim and he and Mark Munguia did use their bare hands. Blink! Tube pumped up to pressure. Blink! Wheel back on the bike and adjusted properly.
Thank you Larry, and Mark and others. I know how to change a flat rear tire, but I would have been fumbling and fiddling and fussing with tires, tubes and tools for about an hour before I was done. Clearly, I have much more practicing and learning to do to change flat tires. Larry’s expertise and skills and quickness at changing a flat tire was a pleasure to observe. Thanks to the others, too. One does need others around while a flat is being repaired!