I had the same experience as Yehuda last year, only it wasn’t a gunshot, it was the tube in my rear tire blowing out. I’d patched it a few days earlier and apparently hadn’t spread the glue evenly enough; one edge of the patch lifted and BLAM! Sounded just like a gunshot. Things turned out well, though. It happened just as I was passing a fresh fruit and vegetable stand. The owner offered me a chair and we sat and talked about cycling while I put on a spare tube and pumped it up. He was surprised by the ease with which I removed and reinstalled the rear wheel and tire, and fascinated with my frame pump. It made a good demonstration of the practicality of using a bike for running errands, since my flat was fixed faster and easier than a flat on a car would have been. I also was able to correct a few misconceptions he had about the “rules of the road” for bikes. All in all, a pleasant experience.
If you get a “blam!” it’s usually not from a patch lifting. That gives a “hss hss hss” instead. “Blam!” usually means you didn’t get the tire bead seated straight enough, maybe because you pinched the tube between the tire and rim. The tire eventually unhooks from the rim and the tube bulges out and explodes.
Pow! Sorry about the late post – Sandy knocked out power in my house for four days.
ROFL!
You know sadly some how I believe Joe!
YEY!! Yehuda is back!! Life is back to normal, for most of us. Glade to hear that you made it OK Rick, hope everyone is good as well.
Eek… I hope I’m never that hurt!
I had the same experience as Yehuda last year, only it wasn’t a gunshot, it was the tube in my rear tire blowing out. I’d patched it a few days earlier and apparently hadn’t spread the glue evenly enough; one edge of the patch lifted and BLAM! Sounded just like a gunshot. Things turned out well, though. It happened just as I was passing a fresh fruit and vegetable stand. The owner offered me a chair and we sat and talked about cycling while I put on a spare tube and pumped it up. He was surprised by the ease with which I removed and reinstalled the rear wheel and tire, and fascinated with my frame pump. It made a good demonstration of the practicality of using a bike for running errands, since my flat was fixed faster and easier than a flat on a car would have been. I also was able to correct a few misconceptions he had about the “rules of the road” for bikes. All in all, a pleasant experience.
@widsith
If you get a “blam!” it’s usually not from a patch lifting. That gives a “hss hss hss” instead. “Blam!” usually means you didn’t get the tire bead seated straight enough, maybe because you pinched the tube between the tire and rim. The tire eventually unhooks from the rim and the tube bulges out and explodes.