Help: i'm a Muppet

I could suggest, what the feck were you doing buying tubs so close to an event having never used them before but I won't....

I'd just risk it at this stage - from those I know who did IMR last year, the roads were in good nick so you might be OK.   but don't take my word for that!!

I was in the exact same boat for Ironman Regensburg last year. I got someone else to show me on their wheels how to change them so I knew in theory how to change them. I changed my tires shortly before the race but I got the bike shop to do it and I took one of the older ones they had taken off and carried it as a spare as it already has glue on it so I don't need to mess around with too much stuff on the day. Thankfully, I'd no punctures but the person who showed me how to change the tyre, got two! Best of Luck, I'm off to Austria this year but I wish I was going to Outlaw with the pirates!

Muppet !

Who put the tyres on ? Did they use glue or tub tape ? If glue - then just take a spare tub and the glue on the rim will hold it.  If tape - then take some tape with a spare tyre. It will take a while, but you'll be able to finish the bike.  Maybe look on youtube for the methodology for the tub tape. 

TBH - you should be fine. The roads were lovely even when wet. Not like Frankfurt and my 3 or 4 flats.

Leave the current ones on now.  Get some Vittoria Pitstop, use some on each tub to try & stop flats, carry another can with you in case that doesn't work.  Unless you've got a pre-stretched spare I wouldn't bother with one, just risk it.

Did you buy the bike locally? If so perhaps the bike could do a little demo, so at least you'd have an idea what to do if the worst happens on Sunday ...?

Good luck, by the way

+1 what Dave said would be my choice.    

If you want to you could always take a spare tub though - as mentioned above one with some glue on it already - so long as you are able to rip the old one off you will be able to get the new one on - even a complete novice wouldn't take more than 5 minutes to do it it's literally just a case of centering it on the rim and then don't corner too hard as it's not properly stuck on - but make sure the valve is long enough as otherwise you wont be able to pump it up ! 

Take youre pitstop and put it in your hold luggage, it'll be ok there.

Changing to a pre-stretched/glued tub isnt that hard, just needs a good bit of manhandling to get the old one off and the new one on.  It takes a few changes to understand they you really need to use a bit of brute force conpared to clincher tyres.

Get your LBS or the bike service area at Regensburg to put you a new one on and give you some advice about changing on race day (maybe watch them change the tub).  At least take a spare, there will be a on course mechanic/other rider that can help you if worst comes to worst.

Also take the pitstop and use it if you need to.

Aside from this, practice when you can so youre ready before your next race.

The chances of a puncture are low, dont worry about it until it happens. 

If something does happen use the pitstop first, dont forget to follow the instuctions (whether to shake or not etc), for the sake of taking a spare tub in case the pitstop doesnt work (in my experience its not very reliable) then its a no brainer. 

When your LBS/Regensburg bike mechanics replace one of your existing tubs ask them to leave a 3 inch glue/tape free gap either side of the valve, this is where youll insert your tyre lever when you remove it.  As you start to wrench a tub from a rim you have to work at the glue along both sides of the rim with another tyre lever, after a while you just need to wrench and wrench at it by pulling the thing off.

Putting a new tub on is like putting a tyre on, but with more of a rolling action, you need to use more force and really heave the last bit on with tyre levers.  It can almost seem like its impossible to get the last bit on but you need to force it with tyre levers.

All the above may sound a bit daunting but if you remain calm its quite realistic to be up and running again in 10 minutes. 

La petite rosbif wrote (see)

So thanks everyone and if you're thinking about ironman, do Regensburg, its brilliant.

well done PR - and loads off this forum did Regensburg last year so it's not high priority for lots at the mo as a result

good going! well done! 

Blimey - thats outstanding performance. Well done indeed.