Dealing with flat tires on a bicycle ride can be handled rather quickly and easily if you have the right tools and a little bit of know-how. Faced with a flat tire, you can patch the tube on the spot or replace it. Patches take time and are not always guaranteed to hold. Your best and safest bet is to replace the tube.
Step 1
Insert one tire lever between the tire and the wheel rim and pry the tire over the edge of the rim. Leave the lever there or lock it in place on a spoke if the lever has a hook.
Step 2
Insert a second tire lever four inches from the first lever and pry the tire over the rim. Repeat every four inches or so until the remainder of the tire edge can be pulled over the rim by hand. Only one edge of the tire will be off the wheel.
Step 3
Remove the tire levers, unscrew the valve nut on the wheel and remove the tube. Carefully run your fingers over the wheel tape and the inside of the tire to check for the source of the tube damage. It could still be there and, if it is, you'll be replacing a second tube in short order unless you get the source of the puncture out.
Step 4
Gently inflate the new tube just to the point of it taking a circular shape.
Step 5
Insert the new tube on the wheel, pushing the valve stem halfway through the hole in the wheel. Make sure the tube is not twisted or pinched once it is in place.
Step 6
Tuck the tire edge back into the rim, working your way around the tire. The last part gets a bit tricky so use two hands, spaced about 10 inches apart, to work the remaining bit of tire onto the wheel . Avoid using the tire levers at this point as they could tear the new tube.
Step 7
Pull the valve stem the rest of the way through the wheel and secure in place with the valve nut.
Step 8
Inflate the tire, with the air pump or CO2 cartridge, to the recommended pressure.
Tips and Warnings
- Once the tire is inflated, check the valve stem again to make sure it is secure and examine the tire for any bulges. Always make sure to carry at least one, preferably two, spare tubes in your bike tool bag.
- After installing the new tube, listen for any hissing sounds that indicate you didn't find the object that caused the tube to be replaced in the first place.
Things You'll Need
- Tire levers
- Replacement tube
- Air pump or CO2 cartridge and dispenser
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