What to do when you flat in a race
by Garry Birch
You're in the race, feeling great and then you get that deflating feeling. So what should you do? Well, that depends on several variables. What type of race you are in, do you have access to a spare wheel, tube, etc and is it worth the frenzied change?
Situation A - The typical Criterium
I am assuming that you have deposited your spare wheels at the pit area designated by the chief judge or organizer. The wheels are marked with your race number on paper wedged into the spokes or marked with some other discernible marking. The wheels are properly trued, tires inflated to an appropriate pressure and you know the chain will run smoothly over the cogs. The side walls of the tires have your name on them.
The chief judge will address the field before the race and inform you of his or hers rules for accessing the pits and when during the race you are no longer eligible to stop for a mechanical or flat, usually 5 laps before the end of the race. Riders will normally be given 1 lap to make the wheel change. This will depend upon the length of the course lap. Most judges will want you to notify an official if you have a flat and that you are going to change your wheel. Bigger races have an official specifically presiding over the pits to cover all this particular action.
So to the race. Your tearing along when it all get's a little spongy and that last corner included a little slide. Time to pit. Firstly inform the riders around you, call out "FLAT" and if safe, raise one hand above your head. This will inform the riders coming up behind you that you are slowing and that you are a possible hazard. Make your way to the rear of the pack and then ride as safely as possible to the pit area. In most races this means continuing on the course. Some larger courses will have cut through's that the judge will allow you to use to access the pits more quickly.
When rolling into the pit, put the chain onto the smallest cog, 11, 12 or whatever. Before stopping you should have also released the brake caliper quick release to widen the gap between brake pads to allow the wheel to fall out without jamming. This is easier if you have the quick release at the brake levers or on the front brake. Wait to you stop for flicking the lever on the rear brake quick release. Find your wheels, remove the offending wheel and put the new wheel in. You should have plenty of time for either a front or rear wheel change. Your impulse will be to try and make the change really quickly, the nerves will be frayed and mistakes can happen. Take your time.
An option to the above paragraph may occur at the larger races with neutral service provided by the organizer. In these races the mechanic should be leaping all over your bike, changing the wheel in a blur of arms and hands. Make sure they know what type of rear wheel to insert, Campy 9 or 10, Shimano 8 or 9. They should give you a push to get you going. All part of that professional service.
Make sure your wheel quick release is tight, report to the judge if a judge has not already seen you and before remounting the bike, change the gear onto something you can get going a little easier. Jump onto the bike and wait beside the road for the race to re-appear. When they are about 200 yards away, start rolling. You must rejoin the race into the group you was in at the time of the flat. If you flat while crossing a gap up to a breakaway, most judges will assume that you would not have made it, unless of course you was 90% of the way there, and they will make you rejoin the race into the main peloton.
Of course if you have no access to spare wheels your crit race is over. However at the time of the flat you still have the onus of making sure you leave the circuit safely, so the warning, hand up and reporting to the judge are all good etiquette. You will be appreciated for it.
Situation B - At the Road Race
Not all road races have service support. The onus is on the individual to find out what is available. If there is a minimum of volunteers and vehicles available, they are always assigned to the higher category races.
But you're lucky, the organizers have enough vehicles and volunteers for your race, you have brought your wheels and your ready to rumble.
Your wheels are marked with your race number on paper wedged into the spokes or marked with some other discernible marking. The wheels are properly trued, tires inflated to an appropriate pressure and you know the chain will run smoothly over the cogs. The side walls of the tires have your name on them. Normally there will be a call out for wheels and a collection point will be assigned. The wrenches will want to stack wheels in the service vehicle the way they want them, so there is no point trying to carefully stack your wheels away from all the sharp edges and such.
So to the race. It's all peachy and then catastrophe; the flat tire strikes you down. Immediately call out "FLAT" and if safe, raise your hand above your head. The riders around you part like the Red Sea and your progressing to the rear of the pack. When at the back, pull to the left hand side of the road, change the chain onto the smallest cog possible, open the appropriate brake caliper quick release and stop the bike where safe. Get off the bike and remove the offending wheel and if the service vehicle is a little way off, raise the wheel above your head. This should allow the wrench to see you more easily and to ascertain which wheel is flatted. If it is the front, you may well get someone else's wheel. If it is the rear wheel the wrench may have to sort through the vehicle for your wheel.
Hold the bike up, but do not try to do his job. The wrench should guide the wheel in and lock the quick release. Jump back on the bike and the wrench should push you to get you going, don't forget your in the 53x12 gear. Get rolling ASAP. If the service vehicle driver knows his stuff he will not fly past you at warp speed but should pull ahead and provide some slipstream for you to try and get back up to the pack or break. If you have not made reasonable progress back to the pack, the service vehicle will leave you to your own devices.
In larger events there will be a convoy of vehicles associated with the race. The first vehicle behind the pack or break will be a judge with a C.B. radio. When he sees you he will broadcast to the following vehicles that there is a rider slowing with a mechanical, and if they can see, will also broadcast what team, number and what wheel is the problem, if of course it is a wheel problem. In this way the wrench will know beforehand what wheel is required and thus shortens the time for a wheel change. With a larger vehicular convoy there will more opportunity to pace your way back up to the pack.
Of course the majority of road races will not have a service vehicle. Then it is up to you to make the decision whether you are going to carry all the appropriate spares, etc.
Situation C - At the Velodrome
Massed start distance races on the track also have provisos for flats or mechanicals.
Depending on the size of track you will be given up to approximately 2 minutes to change a wheel or fix a mechanical. This would be a designated number of laps you are allowed out of the race, the number of laps depending upon the length of the lap. As with crit's, towards the end of the race the chief judge will prohibit any laps out.
Just like other races, warn your compatriots verbally and then raise your hand above your head. Because of the increased risks of flat tires on tracks, the chief judge will also possibly neutralize the race to help the rider leave the race safely.
Upon getting to the pit area safely, get off the bike, locate your wheels and spanner, which should be close by and remove your deflated wheel. Your replacement should be pre-inflated to the same pressure and if the rear, it should have the same cog size screwed on.
Slip in the new wheel and tighten up, making sure that the chain tension is correct.
If it is a mechanical other than a flat, fix if possible, such as re-tightening handlebar clamp bolts, saddle clamp bolts.
Walk the bike over to inside of the track and mount up, making sure you will not be a hazard to the fast moving race. The judge will tell you when to start rolling. The judge should allow you to have a lengthy distance to get up to speed. You should ride onto the track and go to the top of the banking, increasing speed up to race velocity and then carefully rejoin the race into the same group from which left.
Situation D - On the Trail on the MTB
I have never done a cross country race, but I believe that it is every one for yourself. Carry all you need and pray a lot seems to be the modus operandi.
Make sure you leave the trail to make your repair. Do not leave expended CO2 canisters or other detritus on the trail.