So I got a flat tire on Monday on my way from work. On my bike, that is. And with bike, I mean bicycle (can't be too clear these days). I got a phenomenal biking outfit at a sale (wind/water proof and 'breathing' material), so I'm planning to bike to work all winter to save money and get fit (~7km one way, takes about 30min, possibly 45 if there's a lot of snow).
But anyway, I got a flat tire. I should have just taken the bike back to work (the bike shop is just a rock's throw away from the school), but I felt like I was too far away, so I walked home with it. Only to have to take it to the shop the next day... (I had to negotiate with the bus driver so he would let me take it on the bus).
Now my bike has Kevlar tires. With studs. *simian grunting*
-Pappa
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Probably one of the easiest things in the world to do is to change a bike's tube. You can even get a nifty tool that costs like 3$ that won't puncture your tube like a screwdriver will. Just keep a couple tubes in your pack and a little hand pump and you can change it in like five minutes and get back on the road. ;-) BIKING ROCKS!
If you have quick release wheels, yeah. I would have needed a monkey wrench (although the back of that works almost just as well to get tire off). Also, this time I suspected that the actual tire was done for as well and I'm always a little nervous to take the rear wheel off with these newfangled bikes, because off the sensitive settings back there these days.
I guess I'm just not much of a grease monkey. I don't even like to install upgrades on my cpu on my own. I just never did get in to it.
-Will
OMG, so installing new hardware is one of my most favorite things to do. In fact, I rather enjoy building computers in general. If you don't have quick release wheels then you have the wrong bike! I am donating money to a new bike fund for you just so you can have quick release wheels because they make life <-------------------------------------------> this much easier.
Well, as for me, I'm just glad you're well equipped for the road if you're going all winter!! I only live six miles from home; I guess I should consider it...NOT!!!
Biking is always worth it no matter what the weather conditions! Especially if it's only six miles. That wouldn't take you more than 30 minutes on a bike if that! Takes me about 15-20 to get from my house to Chastity's and that is only 4 miles. The best part about biking is that it is free! Well, you have to buy the bike and service it but it is exponentially (well I can't say that with certainty but it is a great deal more) cheaper than taking a car.
Hah! I guess I only use my eyes to look at Mama, bc biking home today I look down and lo and behold I have quick release wheels! :-P
Anyway, I wanted the winter tires with kevlar because I'm sick of flat tires.
So, anyways yes, I'm planning to save, particularly in the long run. The weather proof suit I got was about 70€ (great deal at a sale). There's helmet and reflectors and the new tires + annual service/maintenance and all that.
Compare that to the 60some euros you pay here for a full tank of gas.
winter tyres on bikes are the best things ...:) good for you that you managed to persuade the driver to let you and the bike on :) well done!
John, in Finland if it's the back tyre and you have a hub gear they really are impossibly hard to change.
Oh, well that's a shame. On my bike, I just pop the chain off and then I can pop the wheel off if it's the back tire. Oh well. Keep on biking! Hopefully people share the road a little better than they do over here. I get yelled on a consistent basis to get on the sidewalk. I think they forget that it is called a sideWALK for a reason!
Don't have to do much sharing with great paved biking paths over 90% of the way to work. (Cutting across some gravel paths'n'roads [Raunistula], over a RR crossing [by the alcoholics' shelter] and under a really low RR bridge [neat when a train is coming] to save time)
Yesterday I gave up biking to work for this season.
But I can take some bicycle-tours if the weather is nice.
How much does a monthly bus-card cost in Åbo? In Borgå it is 45 €. But then you don't get so much exercise, only when you are running to cath the bus :)
Ours is 43€.
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