Almost didn't happen. Have had big plans all week to get out riding after abdominal surgery on Monday. The doctor didn't restrict any activities except weight lifting but the weather had other plans. Finally, it got sunny and nice so we pulled out the trikes to take a ride around the hood. My husband was distracted by a mirror problem and didn't notice my rear tire was flat. I was puzzled because it has a brand new tube, installed just before the HOT and, while I didn't make the rally, my trike did. It wasn't ever ridden that weekend and has been sitting in our garage since it returned to Austin. When I went to inflate it, nothing happened. We have a new pump and I thought it might be the problem but a closer look at the tire revealed a blow out in the sidewall of the tire. I was completely mystified as to what would make an unridden tire explode while sitting in a garage but there it was. I know I have a spare tire in the garage but was unable to locate the correct box so it was off to the bike shop. Dallas Bike Works told me they didn't have a tire in the correct size. I was unconvinced but didn't quibble. It is a 26x1.5 - not exactly a rarity. Next stop was White Rock RBM. They didn't have anything good - the young man wanted to sell me a Serfas tire because it was puncture resistant but it was a 65 psi tire and looked like it would have the performance of a sloth. I mentioned the psi and he was genuinely surprised that I might want a higher pressure tire. I settled for a Vittoria Street Runner, at 75psi, just because I still wanted to ride today and didn't want to haggle about tires anymore. I expect it to have the durability of a slug in a salt mine but if it just holds up until I can get tires shipped (or find the missing one in the garage) I'll be happy. Anyway, after wasting most of my ride time on tires, I finally got out for an easy ride around the neighborhood. While I don't think I will want to do any climbing for another week or so, riding around here was really nice and not too painful. We only did about 4 miles but that felt like enough for starters. While it certainly isn't the very best ride I've ever had, it was probably the one I appreciate the most. It certainly feels good to be back in the sling mesh.

Same deal for me after cancer surgery.  I had three large drainage tubes running down from my upper back, each had a receptacle (bulb) the size of a small potato to catch fluid which I had to measure every day.  What to do, I had to get out and ride.  Ahhh, fanny pack!  Strapped that on and stuffed the bulbs in it and did a lap around the neighborhood.  That is the moment the real healing started, I was functional to ride!

Yay!

Good luck Patti,   I had to quit riding a long time because of medical issues, those recovery rids are so sweet    Keep it up!  
 
I really get frustrated with RBM (and others) for never stocking what we need.    I keep thinking to open a 'bent shop just because of that.  
 
 
Quote from Action Lad on Mar 25^th, 2015, 8:06am:

Well, I was planning to take the trike to the doctor's office this morning. The rear tire was dead flat again. Wow. I knew it wasn't a great tire but seriously a flat in less than 4 miles? Fortunately it wasn't another blow out, just a hole. I got it patched and then found a clearance sale on some Marathon Racers online. Ordered those and looked at a Durano but just cannot bring myself to order one of those monsters for my back wheel. Its a great tire but I've never experienced anything so difficult to change. I had to buy new tire tools (all metal) today to replace a Quick Stik and set of Spin Doctor tire tools that broke when trying to change a Durano.  
 

Quote from Patti on Mar 25^th, 2015, 5:02pm:

 
Patti, are the Spin Doctor levers you broke this steel core product: http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1168344_-1___000000. I use these levers for removing and installing slightly undersized, pain-in-the-neck tires. Never have broken one. The tough exterior plastic on the levers protects the rims. I've damaged rims when I've used bare steel levers and had to apply a lot force to remove or install a tire.
 

I love Schwalbe Marathon Supremes, but they don't make them in 20" tires. So I use Schwalbe Marathon Plus, and this guy from the UK on youtube made it easy for me to put them on and take them off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4 . It works on any beaded tire. Congrats on your post surgery ride. The doctor had me up and walking 2 miles 12 hours after kidney cancer surgery, and within a few days I was out riding again. It helps the mind and body!

http://amzn.com/B001BIZARI
 
Fastest way to get a tire on or off that I've found