2. While riding on the Wannsee route, far from the center of Berlin, I noticed that after cleaning my bike I had forgotten to put the seat bag, with my spare tube and patches in it, back and at that moment I looked down and there, 7 miles into my ride, I watched the rear tire suddenly go flat. Luckily I could walk to a train station but sometimes it is bad to think about what could the worst-case scenario.

3. As a roadie, I help other cyclists because people have helped me. My favourite was a guy on brand new Cervelo standing by the side of my training route. When I asked if he needed help, he said that he was going to call his wife on his cellphone since he had a flat. I pointed out that this would pretty much wreck his credibility as a cyclist and, as I guessed, he told me he had had his bike for four days and had never changed a flat (although he had the tools). So I walked him through the process and I hope that in the two years since he has done it for others.

I also wore your black Fat Cyclist.Com t-shirt around Door County. Boy, did that get some looks. I weigh 205lbs so the t-shirt works for me. But I got several looks and a couple of queries. Hopefully, I converted some other Clydesdales to your website.

I started my ride to my rim tapping the ground on a slow leak, pumped it up, by the time I got to work, I was leaning all the way forward to not wreck the tubentire. Fixed that, on the way home, I hear this tickticktickticktickticktickticktick coming from the front wheel, reveals to be a rock 1/2″ long, 1/4″ wide in my tire. Somehow it didn’t puncture the tube, but I had to boot the tire (used a cheque folded over a few times, worked like a charm, the 1/4″ cut didn’t spread a bit, even with talc in the tire) Cross my fingers for another few months trouble-free riding, I’ve put in my dues today.

Sitting in the Morristown ER with my New Fat Cyclist jersey was not how I pictured the day.

Personally, I carry a few CO2 carts, several sizes of tubes and a multi-tool in my Camelback. I have even stopped to help fellow riders in MTB races (back when I did such things).

I was able surprise a single-speed rider by having the multi-tool and was able to reattach his crank arm.

Win.

http://www.bicycling.co.za/articles/blog/22/3294