Here’s one of the more bizarre videos we’ve seen recently. Not for its content, which is a reasonable attempt at showing you how to change a tube, but because it features Lance Armstrong.
You’d think after being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and other race wins, Armstrong woud be keeping his head down. He’s still the subject of several lawsuits and his testimony from one of them recently became public and implicated several prominent figures as being involved or aware of his doping.
But no, here’s Armstrong in bike mechanic mode, showing the world how to change a tube, courtesy of Outside magazine. We’d award Outside this week’s 'What Were They Thinking?' prize if US Airways hadn’t already hit it out of the ballpark for all time.
It's obvious what they were thinking, anyway: ‘Let’s get some publicity by doing a video with the man everyone loves to hate’. And here we are falling for it, so there’s that.
Twitter reactions to the video have been darkly funny.
Blogger the Broom Wagon @broomwagonblog said: “Surely Lance is fixing punctured tubes now, not simply throwing in a new one every time. Every $ counts.”
ESPN writer Bonnie D. Ford @Bonnie_D_Ford said: "Next installment: How to fix the last 20 years."
CBS Sports producer Charlie @charolyn_ said: “Good heavens… more hot air? Guess barista job is out. #beans"




















62 thoughts on “Video: Lance Armstrong shows you how to change an inner tube”
I don’t recall ever getting
I don’t recall ever getting so all-over manky when changing a tube. Black hands yes, and maybe a smear under my nose from when I forget and have a pick. Perhaps the makeup person went a bit overboard.
you see, just a regular bike
you see, just a regular bike enthusiast… he wasn’t encouraged to do this by a swanky PR consultancy, no sir! Next week, LA is releasing a new concept in cycle clothing – the hair-shirt jersey.
He did a good job of changing
He did a good job of changing the inner tube. He’s welcome to be team mechanic on the ON THE RIVET VELO CLUB road racing team. http://ontherivet.ning.com :))
Lance brings up an important
Lance brings up an important environmental issue ! How many of us actually put the dust caps on the valve when fitting an inner tube. I know I don’t :S Should inner tube manufactures be leaving out the dust caps to help save the environment ? 😕
No, because they serve a
No, because they serve a purpose when the tube is rolled up.
Ah good point lc1981, could
Ah good point lc1981, =D> could the tube be rolled up in a different way ? or could there be a way of returning the valve ?
Quote:How many of us actually
I thought we were supposed to put the dust cap on to, you know, keep out dust from the valve mechanism?
In other news – anyone know
In other news – anyone know what type of tyre (or tire) that is?
Been looking about for one of those old skool type tyres (are they called gumwall?) but not having much luck – the ones ive found are mainly tubs or very expensive.
Also – back on topic. Im no apologist and he has been a massive dick but isnt it time we gave Lance a break?
We revere other ex dopers and some of them are even still winning races – time to let bygones be bygones?
Some Fella wrote:In other
For your first question, Challenge Tyres do gum-wall, i’m also a fan, look for the challenge open tubs, they are not cheep but are hand made and ride nearly as good as a tub from all reports
For your second question, Challenge Tyres do gum-wall, i’m also a fan, look for the challenge open tubs, they are not cheep but are hand made and ride nearly as good as a tub from all reports
http://www.challengetech.it/products/road/strada-026/en
Halo do a black / skin
Halo do a black / skin (gumwall) version of their Courier Twin Rails.
http://www.halowheels.com/products/part/TYHAT79N
Accidently bought a pair once for the Single Speed, dunno about clearance and whether you’ll get them on your Genesis though.
Joselito wrote:Halo do a
Got long drops on the Genesis so lots of clearance.
May treat myself for summer. B-)
And you may appreciate the
And you may appreciate the Stymie Bold Typeface.
Just’a good ol’ boys
Never
Just’a good ol’ boys
Never meanin’ no harm.
Beats all you never saw
Been in trouble with the law
Since the day they was born
Staightnin’ the curves
Flatnin the hills
Someday the mountain might get ’em
But the law never will
Makin’ their way
The only way they know how
That’s just a little bit more
Than the law will allow.
….
….
Interestingly it seems to
Interestingly it seems to have taken Lance 30 seconds more to change the tyre than he did in 2007 😕
Is that just because he is older or because he now changes tyres ‘clean’ 😕
Interestingly it seems to
Interestingly it seems to have taken Lance 30 seconds more to change the tyre than he did in 2007 😕
Is that just because he is older or because he now changes tyres ‘clean’ 😕
Cool video but this is
Cool video but this is cooler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWCDEAYn8rQ&sns=em
Tom Amos wrote:Cool video but
Yep! Way Cooler and Hector Picard is way cooler than Lance Armstrong!
I saw this video when it first came out and my opinion of it hasn’t changed. It is still one of the most inspirational videos ever put on YouTube.
Should I run and remove the
Should I run and remove the dust caps from my Spesh?
Super Domestique wrote:Should
remove the Spesh, leave the caps 😉
themartincox wrote:Super
😉
Top tip for Lance – go
Top tip for Lance – go tubeless.
It works for me.
I really must protest on two
I really must protest on two counts:
The mechanic did not leave the tube on the tyre after removal and do a test inflate to ID where the hole is in relation to the tyre, therefore making the job of finding the cause 99% easier – or if the penetrating article self-extracted, of being sure you didn’t miss it with the ‘random sweep of death’.
The Random Sweep Of Death itself. Shows you don’t have a clue as didn’t follow the above, and are doomed to re-flat in a few hundred yards as you missed the tiny, razor-sharp protuberance that snuck under the breaker belt. Try that in the North Hampshire Downs of an autumn/winter and you’re likely to loose a finger. I’ve seen blood drawn.
and yes: valve caps are pointless.
Cool. I’m glad to see he’s
Cool. I’m glad to see he’s cultivating his sense of humour…
Why isn’t he changing a flat
Why isn’t he changing a flat on the Enve rims that are fitted to his Parlee? 😉
To boost performance did he
To boost performance did he inflate the tyre with air he had sucked out of it a couple of weeks earlier
mrkeith119 wrote:
That video really made me
That video really made me feel sad for some reason.
Dear Mr Armstrong,
Fuck off
Dear Mr Armstrong,
Fuck off into obscurity, there’s a good chap.
Yours,
Everybody.
allez neg wrote:Dear Mr
why watch it then?
I didn’t!
I didn’t!
allez neg wrote:I didn’t!
of
of course you didn’t 😉
allez neg wrote:Dear Mr
Is that a genuine sentiment, albeit a mistaken one, or are you just trying to be popular?
A greater Problem is people like you.
Keep that your opinion….
Keep that your opinion…. Not mine .!
Keep that your opinion….
Keep that your opinion…. Not mine .!
Throw the dust caps away –
Throw the dust caps away – good to see the champ* doesn’t break the important rules!
Of course, you’re more likely
Of course, you’re more likely to get a puncture if you leave sharp objects around – e.g. needles.
the cheekiest bar steward out
the cheekiest bar steward out there ….
Is this video
Is this video tongue-in-cheek? Honestly can’t say.
Lance who?
Lance who?
This is obviously a new skill
This is obviously a new skill Lance has had to learn since his fall from grace. If you will remember, he had to finish the Leadville 100 on a flat tire because he did not know how to change a flat at that time. Funny how you are forced to learn new skills when you no longer have a pit crew. =))
Gotta Ride wrote:This is
Shortly after I bought my first road bike I went on a basic maintenance course at Evans Cycles. A fellow attendee claimed to be an international triathlete and when it came to the bit about mending a puncture he said he didn’t know how to get a tyre off, “because I have a mechanic to do that”.
Its a genuine sentiment. I
Its a genuine sentiment. I think he’s a cheating, bullying conniving cunt and I wish he could just fuck off into obscurity, get a normal job and forget cycling and let cycling forget about him.
Not a very christian attitude, but I’m not a christian, so fuck him.
Has that clarified things?
allez neg wrote:Its a genuine
Just LA or should anybody else in cycling’s past or present join him to rot in obscurity?
Perhaps a few lessons for you
Perhaps a few lessons for you in expressing your feelings in a less than colourful way might allow us to warm to your feelings about the man. Whilst I would agree with your sentiments, the manner in which you make them puts you a little behind the very man you speak of! Now I know why cyclists get a bad name in so may places. Perhaps cyclists don’t need the likes of you also?
US Airways? Surely you mean
US Airways? Surely you mean BA? I even tweeted them that a poster of escaping the commute to the Indian Ocean (no fishes – just water) was in bad taste at any time. No response
I’m still waiting for “Dodgeball:The no cheaters allowed cut”…
Loved it…!
Loved it…!
Loved it…!
Loved it…!
Is this not a family friendly
Is this not a family friendly oriented comments section?
His lawyers are apparently
His lawyers are apparently Widdicombe and Pump.
Come on guys leave him alone,
Come on guys leave him alone, Doper so what, everyone doped. Da think Brad Wig was sitting forth wheel in the mountains clean, behind lance and Contador, you guys are funny!!!
Very F’kn funny! I don’t
Very F’kn funny! I don’t hate the guy at all for doing this skit; Heck I think he can have a career in non athletic entertainment if he so desired.
I still feel that he has huge presence and not diminished at all by doing something like this. But I guess if your near bottom, there’s only one way up.
Can a Dave Z (who I thought was quite funny ) have done this video? Tyler Hamilton ~ no way.
By the way; I would have taken off the tire and inspected it mm by mm . That finger sweep would have missed the tiniest near invisible , glass or what not.
Joestralia wrote:Very F’kn
His Radioshack and Dick’s Sporting Goods TV ads (before the downfall) were actually very funny at sending up his persona, don’t know if they’re still on YouTube but made me laugh at the time….
‘Just LA or should anybody
‘Just LA or should anybody else in cycling’s past or present join him to rot in obscurity? ‘
I can’t speak for allez neg, but I am unaware of any other dopers, current or past, who tried to destroy others’ lives and bullied, perjured and sued their way to millions whilst hiding behind a ‘charity’. So, until I hear otherwise, just him.
andyp wrote:’Just LA or
The problem is the unique circumstances that LA found himself in. As the story continued to write itself, the need to protect his position got greater, until he was at the point where his and stakeholders’ losses would be so great they would say and do anything. Never in cycling has so much rested on one man’s shoulders. So to compare his actions to the actions of other dopers (of which there are many) is wrong.
Well I thought it was
Well I thought it was funny
Curse me for having a sense of humour eh?
He looks a bit sad at the
He looks a bit sad at the end. Like he’s trying hard to please but inside he’s dying.
For all that Lance did with
For all that Lance did with regards to be caught using illegal methods/drugs for enhancing his performance, I still regard him as one of the most influential cyclist in his time, he is probably responsible for 100’s of thousand people to take up road cycling if not millions!
I believe he was one of many cyclists cheating, but one of the few that got caught!
A lot of people and companies made a lot of money out of Lance, perhaps they should hand back their profits too!
One way of looking at Lance,
One way of looking at Lance, is that he was the best at cheating.
That’s the optimistic view!
Also a proven sociopath, the Lemond and Andrieu stuff is utterly unforgivable and above and beyond any cheating, this guy would have done similar stuff had he chosen a career other than cycling.
Flying Scot wrote:One way of
I find it amazing that people think that LA had little natural talent. One of the youngest road world champions, but no talent? Regarding the doping, there were teams with just as ‘sophisticated’ programmes as the USP team.
daddyELVIS wrote:Flying Scot
I find it amazing that people think that LA had little natural talent. One of the youngest road world champions, but no talent? Regarding the doping, there were teams with just as ‘sophisticated’ programmes as the USP team.— Flying Scot
Absolutely, lots of talent, don’t disagree on the doping at other teams either.
This is fantastic, great to
This is fantastic, great to see a former world champ hasn’t forgot about the little guys. I for one, think the sooner all this brouhaha about who said what and stuff blows over, the better.