Rookie Mistake - except I'm no rookie
StorckSpeed
Posts: 291
This morning set off for work as normal at 6:15am on my 15 mile commute to work. At this time in the morning it's still dark, and 2 miles in I didn't see the pot hole. Went over it with a thud but everything seemed ok. 5 miles later my back tyre feels really soft so stops to have a look and sure enough it's soft.
I stopped and with the efficiency of a F1 pit crew had the back wheel off, tyre changed, new tyre blown up and ready to go.
OK - An F1 pit crew would have changed the entire engine by this time but I still felt very smug about how quickly I'd done the whole process.
This story isn't going in the direction you thought is it.....
Feeling very efficient I decided to change over the CO2 canister for a fresh one, since the old one was empty and it would be ready for use next time I needed it and this is where it all went wrong. I unscrewed the old canister and began to screw in the new canister, but the valve was open and the new canister dispensed. Of course a C02 canister freezes when activated and I hadn't changed the rubber cover from the old one. So there I was with a freezing canister stuck to my cupped hand and I couldn't prize it off. I can't tell you the searing agony that was coursing from my palm at this point. It felt like forever but about 30 seconds later I could finally open my hand and the canister fell to the ground. The last 8 miles to work were a little precarious cause although I could change gear ok, I couldn't brake, it was too painful when pressing on the brake arm.....
So here I am at work, with 3 big red marks on the palm of my right hand, that look like I've had the belt at school and 6 big blisters on my index and middle fingers. I'm not in too much pain now but it feels like I stuck my hand in a hot oven. You live and learn I guess, won't make that mistake again.
I stopped and with the efficiency of a F1 pit crew had the back wheel off, tyre changed, new tyre blown up and ready to go.
OK - An F1 pit crew would have changed the entire engine by this time but I still felt very smug about how quickly I'd done the whole process.
This story isn't going in the direction you thought is it.....
Feeling very efficient I decided to change over the CO2 canister for a fresh one, since the old one was empty and it would be ready for use next time I needed it and this is where it all went wrong. I unscrewed the old canister and began to screw in the new canister, but the valve was open and the new canister dispensed. Of course a C02 canister freezes when activated and I hadn't changed the rubber cover from the old one. So there I was with a freezing canister stuck to my cupped hand and I couldn't prize it off. I can't tell you the searing agony that was coursing from my palm at this point. It felt like forever but about 30 seconds later I could finally open my hand and the canister fell to the ground. The last 8 miles to work were a little precarious cause although I could change gear ok, I couldn't brake, it was too painful when pressing on the brake arm.....
So here I am at work, with 3 big red marks on the palm of my right hand, that look like I've had the belt at school and 6 big blisters on my index and middle fingers. I'm not in too much pain now but it feels like I stuck my hand in a hot oven. You live and learn I guess, won't make that mistake again.
There's warp speed - then there's Storck Speed
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Comments
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Ouch. That is all. Hope you recover ok0
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Never had that problem with my pump...0
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CJ Bill wrote:Never had that problem with my pump...
Nice observation
Makes me think - time efficiency via painful frost burns........hmmmmThere's warp speed - then there's Storck Speed0 -
I carry a pump as well - for a 23 or 25mm tyre they don't take that long to get to pump up and the pumping gets you warm at the roadside before you get back on the bike"I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
--Jens Voight0 -
StorckSpeed wrote:....You live and learn I guess, won't make that mistake again.
You get some great nuggets of information on this website which are invaluable! Hope your hand recover soon! This morning I made the mistake of leaving without a skull cap or full fingered gloves...I left half an hour later than you but believe me....it took at least 15 mins into cycling before I was changing gears as normal....Cannondale CAADX 5 105
Trek T100 -
Mind you I repair my punctures rather than replace the inner tube so a puncture takes me a while to repair. Pumping up a tyre again isn't really adding much after waiting 5 minutes for the rubber to vulcanise.0
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I always repair my tubes, but still always carry a spare tube to swap at the roadside! Repairs are done at home, unless im unlucky enough to get more than 1 in the same trip.
Condolances on the freezing canister - Glad even more than usual that I use a capable pump instead, really doesnt take long to fill the tyre! specially with a topeak road morph - mini track pump i tells yer!0 -
gosport_commuter wrote:I always repair my tubes, but still always carry a spare tube to swap at the roadside! Repairs are done at home, unless im unlucky enough to get more than 1 in the same trip.
Indeed (though I carry two tubes) - 27000 odd road miles and I've only once had to repair a tube on the roadside - and that was due to the second spare having a dud valve!Faster than a tent.......0 -
Rolf F wrote:gosport_commuter wrote:I always repair my tubes, but still always carry a spare tube to swap at the roadside! Repairs are done at home, unless im unlucky enough to get more than 1 in the same trip.
Indeed (though I carry two tubes) - 27000 odd road miles and I've only once had to repair a tube on the roadside - and that was due to the second spare having a dud valve!
I get 4-6 flats a year all linked to cr@p on this section, i have tried C02 and come to the conclusion that a decent pump works for me better unless you want to carry a pump and an inflator .I carry a topeak road morph for commuting and it gets to full pressure in seconds.
With regards to repair kits i learnt the hard way that glue did not vulcanise in sub zero temperaures...FCN 3/5/90