What are the chances?

Andyh1710

So I haven't been out on the bike for a couple of weeks due to work commitments and just general laziness. Tonight was the night to get back on it and it must be said my enthusiasm wasn't at its highest but once I got out I remembered why I enjoy this sport despite having only taken it up a couple of months ago, the weather was good and I was feeling surprisingly strong despite the short layoff.

Then 3 miles from home I felt an odd thunk-thunk-thunk coming up through the rear wheel so pulled over to have a look and discovered I had my first on-the-road puncture. Not an issue though, got some inner tubes and CO2 inflators with me. So off comes the wheel, fuck about with inner tubes and tyre levers for five minutes and we're ready to re-inflate, so I pull out a CO2 canister, fit the nozzle and the tyre is inflated.... but not back on the bike. Now for some reason on my Specialized Allez a fully inflated tyre won't go between the brake pads, even when they are fully disengaged (does anyone else have this issue or am I doing something wrong?). But not a problem, I'll just deflate the tyre, stick the wheel back on the bike and then reinflate using a second CO2 canister now that everything is in place. As I do this the nozzle on the C02 explodes and fires cold CO2 everywhere. This is only the second time I've used a CO2 inflator, the other having been two minutes previously, so I am left a bit confused as to what just happened.

No worries, I've still got my mini pump which I promptly pull out and screw onto the valve. Now, what I have realised happens at this point, in hindsight, is that a metallic valve, which has had freezing CO2 sprayed all over it a minute earlier, comes into contact with the metallic inner of my mini pump, and freeze together. I then spend the next fifteen minutes trying to figure out why the pump will not screw further onto the valve, nor will it come off. The prospect of even being able to move the bike is now looking unlikely as I have a pump dangling from the valve which won't come off. I eventually manage to snap the valve off, leaving half of it inside the pump and thus making the whole set up completely redundant and me out of options.

I made it home through a combination of cycling very slowly on the rims and walking. I then dumped the bike in my room and went to the pub, I probably should have just gone straight there after work.......

sloppyschleckonds

Agreed

Buckie2k5

rather than waste another co2 it wouldve been easier in the long run to remove a brake cartridge/pad. 2 second job.

team47b

Stupid little things are really annoying sometimes, don't let it stop you enjoying the cycling.

goonz

I'd bin the bike and take up golf...

slowbike

I have an Allez - what tyres and what size are you using? I'm on 23mm GP4Seasons - it can be a tight squeeze to get between the brakepads when inflated but normally a light shuv and its through.

Re the pumping - perhaps you should've reseated the wheel first then attached the CO2? I've only used CO2 once and (luckily) it worked fine ... I normally just use the mini-pump and save the CO2 for when I'm in a hurry!

houston26

What size are the tyres? My 23s fit thought the 105 brakes on my allez without having to slacken them

At least you weren't miles and miles away from home.

jimmybloom

Had a friend have his hand cold fused to a c02 cartridge before. It was very funny....not so much for him!

cheaterkiller

goonz wrote:

I'd bin the bike and take up golf...

Take up golf!! Yeah rite. Probably doesnt know what a club is. He would be better off getting like minded individuals to create a modern series of the 3 stooges. Having fully inflated the tyre, he discovered that the inflated tyre doesnt fit between the brake calipers, blocks whatever. So why did he lack the intelligence to open the calipers using a small lever on them. Assuming he done that, why didnt he undo the pinch bolt, pull the brake cable through and loosen the calipers further. and this is a post coming from a total IDIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!

dabber

Andyh1710 wrote:

Now, what I have realised happens at this point, in hindsight, is that a metallic valve, which has had freezing CO2 sprayed all over it a minute earlier, comes into contact with the metallic inner of my mini pump, and freeze together. I then spend the next fifteen minutes trying to figure out why the pump will not screw further onto the valve, nor will it come off.

Couldn't you have peed over it to warm it up?

desweller

Dabber wrote:

Andyh1710 wrote:

Now, what I have realised happens at this point, in hindsight, is that a metallic valve, which has had freezing CO2 sprayed all over it a minute earlier, comes into contact with the metallic inner of my mini pump, and freeze together. I then spend the next fifteen minutes trying to figure out why the pump will not screw further onto the valve, nor will it come off.

Couldn't you have peed over it to warm it up?

I've done that with freehubs/freewheels. It's pretty difficult first thing in the morning when you've already had your first whiz, I can tell you.