LAI wrote:
I glanced over most of what was said and saw some things I strongly disagree with so if someone already pointed them out, apologies for the repetition. Tire levers:
Don't use levers to put tires on, only to take them off. I love the pedro levers as I find they work best being a bulky and stiff lever. One lever is all I need. Slip it in, fold the bead over the rim, grip the rim and tire on one side of the lever, and with the free hand push the lever away from you. You can pull, but that's a great way to punch yourself in the face. Ask DesertDude how he knows. 😁
Tire off:
Once you have the tire off, of course look for shit, as you don't want another flat in like 20 feet. With your spare tube you want to blow some air in the tube with your lungs. Give it some shape and body. You should already have one bead on the rim so place the partially inflated tube into the tire.
Getting the tire back on:
START at the OPPOSITE end of the valve stem and END at the VALVE!! This is key in preventing a tire from pinching a tube and makes mounting the tire infinitely easier as the bead isn't pushed away from the center by the valve. I know 95% of folks out there say to do it the other way, but trust me on this. You'll thank me later. Make sure that bead is in the channel and then work with pressure towards the valve stem (similar on how you would mount a tubular) When you get close to the valve stem and you don't have the strongest of hands then you can let some of the air out of the tube to finish getting that tire seated.
One day I will make a video (I always am saying that), but it really is kind of easy. If with practice and proper technique you still struggle, well, some folks talents lie elsewhere and that's okay. As for taking longer on the road it's because you have to stop and unpack all your shit, do the dead, and then pack your shit back up. The act of changing a tire should take the same amount of time.
I'll add this...
When get the 2nd bead almost all the way on and going to use the tire lever for the last 10-12", DO NOT, EVER, NEVER NEVER NEVER, try to put the tire lever in the middle and try to force it on in 1 go. Guaranteed you'll break the lever. Slide the tire lever under the bead until it sits on the edge of the rim without pinching the tube, then slide it close to the edge of the bead closest to you that isn't seated about 2-3" away from the edge. Then seat small sections of 2-3" at a time. After a couple of those are done, you can see the remaining part of the unseated bead sliding up closer to the edge, of the braking track if you are using rim brakes. At that time you just might be able to use your palms or thumbs for the last bit. I've been doing it this way with the same plastic tire lever for 3 years. To prevent the tube from being cut by the sharp edge of the tire lever, I took a metal fingernail file to the edges of the lever to make them more round.
Some people like CO2, and I have used it before with this nozzle that makes it super easy and quick. However, I have a small pump that fits in the seat bag that I use on overnight trips because I don't want to reinflate with another CO2 canister the next day after some of the CO2 leaks out overnight.
The more people I encounter the more I love my cats.