I watched a kid fix a flat on the Burke-Gilman Trail with a multi-tool and a stick, and it changed how I think about roadside repairs.

This was last Tuesday afternoon. I was on my usual route, and I saw a teenager with a completely flat rear tire. He didn't have tire levers or a proper pump, just a basic multi-tool. He used the flathead screwdriver from it to get the tire bead started, then found a smooth, forked stick to lever the rest of the tire off. He patched the tube, used the stick again to get the tire back on, and inflated it at the next public pump a mile down the trail. It was messy and took him 25 minutes, but it worked. I've always carried a full kit, but it made me wonder if we overcomplicate things for new riders. What's the most improvised fix you've seen or done that actually held up?

2 comments

2 Comments

jade_grant954d ago

That's a great example of making do with what you have. I read a story once about a cyclist using a dollar bill as a temporary tire boot to cover a gash in the sidewall. It got them home without the tube bulging out. Sometimes the simplest fix is just using your head.

wesley8014d ago

Yeah, the "making do with what you have" thing you said is so true, @jade_grant95. I mean, it feels like we're always told we need the perfect tool for every little job. But most of the time, a bit of clever thinking with whatever's in your pocket or bag works just as well. I see it all the time, like using a paperclip for a quick fix or a stick to prop something up. It's a good reminder that solving problems is more about your head than your wallet.