Contest: Learn how to fix a flat (finally)

Hey you!  Yeah you there, the one with the funny haircut.  Do you know how to fix a flat on your bicycle?  Whaaaaat???  Why not?!?  What are you gonna do when you’re in the middle of nowhere on a beautiful ride and you hear that instantly recognizable hiss emanating from your tire?

Luckily, your friends at Mission Bicycle have the answer:

At this hands-on workshop, we’ll start with the basics, then give you the tricks and secrets of fast and easy flat fixing.
At the 11 AM session, we’ll get jacked on Fayes coffee and Pepple’s vegan donuts.  At the 5 PM session we’ll savor fresh Firebrand pretzels and ice cold beer (Anchor Steam and IBC).
We’ll even send you home with a set of our favorite tire levers.
We end the session with a group ride – a tour of the Mission District’s 11 bike related businesses.
One last thing.  No spectators allowed.  Nobody admitted without a bike.  Come prepared to get your hands dirty.

Of course, it wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t have two (2) free tickets to give away! All you have to do is tell a little story in the comments about a time when not knowing how to fix a flat really ruined your day. The contest closes at 5pm on Wednesday and entries will be judged on merit.

And if you just want to be sure that you get in on this, you can also register for the class here.

[Photo by pinkestblack]

6 Responses to “Contest: Learn how to fix a flat (finally)”

  1. Maddie says:

    I had a tire explode before climbing a hill near the Presidio…no recognizable hiss but a more confusing flop flop flop for about a block. I think I ran over some glass.

    Carried it and put it on the bus to get home. I rode my old kid size bmx bike around the next week.

    I’m more clueless than I’d like to be when it comes to bike maintenance, trying to brush up before a tour up north this summer.

  2. PMK says:

    My husband I both bike commute in the city, and we’ve both had pretty epic tire blowouts. His happened one evening up on Twin Peaks as he was on his way to watch the sunset. A $40 cab ride, new tube, and two hours later, things were back in business. My adventure came on a ride in the East Bay near Martinez. We had a patch kid but we had a defective canister; luckily, a kindly cyclist stopped to help us and let us use his equipment. We would love to attend and get the know-how that would help us be better prepared next time!

  3. CJS says:

    I know logistically how to fix a flat, but always have difficulty using my small, girlish hands to wedge my tire back on after replacing a tube. One ride to school a few years ago, I got a flat and stopped in a nearby bike shop. After replacing the tube myself, I sat on the curb outside for nearly 20 minutes struggling to get my tire back on and failing, until finally an employee of the shop walked out, grabbed my wheel out of my hands, forced the tire back into place in seconds, and smugly stomped back inside, without deigning to say a single word to me. I was so embarrassed and would love some tips on how to marry knowledge and ability to fix flats!!

  4. barbara says:

    I was riding to the abortion clinic when my bike got a flat tire. I took it as a sign from Our Holy Father that I shouldn’t have that abortion and that baby grew up to be the 43rd president of the United States.

    #praisejesus

  5. Cecilia says:

    I got a flat halfway through biking the 17 mile drive in Carmel…which means I know exactly how long the walk back was.

    Barely made it back before it got dark (didn’t bring bike lights), but if you want to be positive about the whole situation, it means I got to witness some awesome sunset action along the way!

  6. Thanks to everyone for contributing! The winners will be notified through the email with which they used to comment.