FAIL .. I admit it.

About once a week, I get a call from my dad, asking me how to do something on the computer regardless of how many times I may have shown him the same thing before. The kids come to me to fix all things electronic in the house. Jay came home with a bluetooth headset the other day, handed me his phone and the bluetooth, and with one eyebrow raised and a goofy smile, said "please?"

Surely, this should be a piece of cake. Besides, I was the kid in my dad's workshop helping him "fix" things, ever the tomboy.

With much colder temperatures looming, daylight becoming scarce, and the following two weekends unavailable for an outdoor ride, I figured it was time. My bike will set up temporary residence on the indoor trainer, so I got a different tire that will hopefully be quieter, and won't damage the one I use outdoors. My new training plan calls for two rides per week during this phase, and would rather continue to use my bike than a stationary at the gym.

Latex gloves on, from the box I scored during my last visit with my mom. She does foot care, so had a large supply! Thanks mom!

Due to the aerobars on my bike, it's not too steady upside-down, so my work desk is helping hold it up...

Look! I managed to get the back wheel off. Yay me! Deflated the tube, expected a clincher tire. (At this time I'd like to thank YouTube for some added knowledge and new words introduced to my vocabulary... certainly not things I knew when I woke up this morning.) Seems like there's two types of tires... clincher, which I've been shown how to change, and tubular, which, from what some of the YouTube videos I checked out said, were one piece, and glued onto the rim as I understand it. One video even said I could change the tire in 3 minutes!

Clearly being shown 'how to' and doing it yourself are two completely different things.

Mine doesn't appear to be the two pieces, tire and tube, but it also doesn't look like my tube is glued down. Tried to consult the other resident expert... Mr. Google. Nothing found that makes me feel definitively confident that I'm doing the right thing, or leading me to believe that it will end with success. Oh ya, and 3 minutes have long-since passed. Did I mention that I also had to take a break to eat lunch?

So, with the tire deflated, I figured no harm (hopefully!) in trying to put the wheel (despite the now deflated tire) back on, at this point. I'm certainly happy that this wasn't a flat tire in a race situation; I fear that I'd still be sitting on the curb, crying, trying to fix it with the rule of no outside help allowed!! With the bike still upside down, took some twisting and turning of my body to see if it 'looked right.' Pedals move, breaks work, fingers crossed.

I called Jay... "ummm, it's not a computer, i dunno what to do" After a bit of mocking, he politely suggested that I take it to the bike shop after work. Sigh. Will do.

In other news, I'm committing! I will be filling out my waiver, writing out my cheque to give to my new Masters Swim Coach tonight. I got the answer to the question I had posed on Monday, and even seem to be on the distribution email list already! Exciting stuff!

Heading out for a mini getaway this weekend, Barton Hill Hotel & Spa and shopping in Lewiston, NY. Catch ya next week -- hopefully on a fully put together bike! :D