[takl23]

Put the new tube in my rear tire, used my C02, it got stuck on the valve, I pull as hard as I can with my hand. My hand flies off with the inflater and my thumb hits the cassette and a sprocket tooth goes through the bottom of my thumb nail. Blood everywhere. Ouch. I'm gonna loose the nail now. Stupid flat tires!


Tim

 

[JohnnyTooBad]

OW!!! That hurts just thinking about it.

 

[CleavesF]

This is why you stick to minipumps.

 

[phoehn9111]

I had one of those Crank Brothers mini pumps. What a miserable contraption.
I got cramps in my pectorals and soaked with sweat just trying to get 20 psi in my tires.

 

[roadfix]

You're not supposed to 'pull' inflators and chuck heads off of valves. You can easily damage valve stems that way. I use the karate chop method. It's fast and easy.

 

[takl23]

You're not supposed to 'pull' inflators and chuck heads off of valves. You can easily damage valve stems that way. I use the karate chop method. It's fast and easy.

Oh? So you karate chop the inflater? That doesn't damage the stem at all?

 

[Chef Tony]

I try to avoid the problem by only buying tubes without threads on the valves, like Michelin tubes. And I also remove the pump with a quick hit rather than trying to pull it off. I don't think that would work as well with my CO2 though, since its only @3 inches long.

 

[CleavesF]

I had one of those Crank Brothers mini pumps. What a miserable contraption.
I got cramps in my pectorals and soaked with sweat just trying to get 20 psi in my tires.

I'm very proud of your low upper mass, but that's only beneficial in races as you've experienced

 

[CyclingVirtual]

Carry a decent frame pump

 

[azoomm]

I try to avoid the problem by only buying tubes without threads on the valves, like Michelin tubes. And I also remove the pump with a quick hit rather than trying to pull it off. I don't think that would work as well with my CO2 though, since its only @3 inches long.

True, but if you get the "Red Zeppelin," the chuck that goes on the valve is threaded, and it threads to the stem. All you have to do is "unscrew" it, and it's off! Oh, and I also use the Michelin tubes, as there's zero resistance when using a Silca pump.

 

[Dr. Placebo]

mmmm... Blackburn frame pump FTW. May not be the best, but I'll take any excuse to buy carbon fiber.

 

[Kuma601]

Ouch. Did you try cursing first? It is the universal procedure to begin irritating tasks. (Not in the presence of those easily offended, young children or cute gals who are passing by.)

Was the inflator frozen to the valve?

 

[takl23]

I did curse a lot in fact. The nail is toast and will fall off shortly. And yes, it did freeze to the valve, stupid thing. Riding home was no fun at all. Well, as much as you can with a busted finger nail.

 

[jspharmd]

That is amazing, I think you need to share a picture of your injured thumb.:thumbsup:

 

[takl23]

You asked for it! It's on the way

Tim

 

[takl23]

Yummy. I'm gonna lose the nail!

 

[astrobiker]

Perhaps stupider trick

I changed a flat a few months back... blew a little air in the new tube to give it some shape to stuff it into the tire. Closed the valve to keep the air in... remounted the tire.. applied the CO2 cartidge to the valve stem (notice I did not say "re-opened the valve"). Blew all the inflator parts apart! Man - that hurt! Luckily just bruised up thumb and fingers. Hammered all the press-fit inflator parts back together...

On most of my bikes I carry a Road Morph....

 

[Mr. Versatile]

Oweee! Another suggestion nobody has made yet is to file your cogs down so they're round. Seems to me it wouldn't hurt nearly as much.

 

[mayukawa]

Pull from the non-drive side next time?

 

[takl23]

Pull from the non-drive side next time?

You must have a phd. :thumbsup: