Getting a flat tire while on the road is one of bicycling's inevitabilities. While it is an inconvenience, there's no reason it should spoil your ride. Patching a bicycle tire is easy, requires little in the way of special equipment and only takes 15 to 20 minutes if you know the proper procedure.
Removing Wheel From Frame
Step 1
Turn the bike over and rest it upside down on top of the handle bars and the top of the bicycle seat. Use an old rag to clean the grease, dirt and oil from the bicycle chain. If you're repairing the inner tube on the rear wheel, a clean chain is easier to handle.
Step 2
Loosen the axle by releasing the quick release skewer or loosen the nuts on the end of the axle using an end wrench. Hold the frame with one hand and pull the wheel away from the frame using the other hand. If you're removing the rear wheel, pull back on the rear derailleur to free the chain from the rear gear cassette.
Step 3
Let the air out of the tire by pressing down on the end of the valve stem.
Step 4
Inspect the outside of the tire and the sidewalls for nails or other sharp objects that may have caused the flat tire. Use a pencil or a Sharpie to make a mark on the side of the rim where the puncture is likely to be.
Step 5
Remove the tire bead from the wheel by inserting a tire lever between the tire bead and the inside edge of the wheel rim. Press down on the other end of the tire lever, prying the tire bead over the edge of the rim. Insert another tire lever between the tire bead and the inside of the rim a few inches away from the first tire lever and press down on the other end of the tire lever. Continue working your way around the wheel until the entire tire bead is off of the rim.
Step 6
Remove the inner tube by pulling it from the inside of the rim, making a mark with a pencil or Sharpie at the approximate location of the puncture or leak. Refer to the mark you made on the side of the rim.
Step 7
Pump up the inner tube using your hand pump. Hold the inner tube up against your cheek to verify the location of the leak. If you're repairing the inner tube at home, fill a large pan with water and immerse the inner tube in the water and look for bubbles coming from the leak. You may want to check the entire inner tube for leaks–you may have more than one. Once you have located the site of the leak, let the air out of the tire.
Step 8
Roughen the site of the leak on the inner tube using a small piece of sandpaper or other abrasive material. Some patch kits have abrasives built into the lid of the kit.
Step 9
Apply a liberal amount of glue to the abraded area and allow the glue to dry for several seconds before applying the patch.
Step 10
Peel off the protective backing from the back of the patch and apply the patch to the inner tube. Press firmly on the patch to ensure that it has properly sealed the leak. Wait a few minutes before putting the inner tube back inside the wheel
Replacing the Bicycle Tire
Step 1
Inspect the inside of the tire and rim to ensure that there are no sharp objects that could repuncture the inner tube. Look all the way around the rim.
Step 2
Insert the inner tube inside the tire and rim. Press the valve stem into the the hole of the rim and work your way slowly around the wheel. Take care not to twist or kink the inner tube. It should lie flat against the inside of the rim.
Step 3
Push the tire bead inside the wheel rim using your finger tips. Start with the area next to the valve stem and move around the tire from there. You may need to use the tire levers to pry the last few inches of the bead onto the rim.
Step 4
Cup the tire with the palms of your hands, with your finger tips on the sidewalls of the tire. Gently rock the tire back and forth to ensure that the tire bead is seated properly inside the rim. Work completely around the wheel.
Step 5
Inflate the tire approximately 50 percent using a hand pump. Using the technique in the step above, rock the tire back and forth to ensure that the tire bead is completely seated against the inside of the rim. Continue inflating the inner tube according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
Step 6
Mount the wheel onto the the bicycle frame and tighten the axle skewers or tighten the nuts on the end of the axle. Spin the wheel to make sure that it is correctly centered.
Tips and Warnings
- Locate the site of the puncture before you begin. Work slowly around the rim. Allow plenty of time for the glue to dry underneath the patch.
- Do not fully inflate the tire until you've made sure the tire bead is completely seated. Avoid using patch kits that are old. Replace them annually.
Things You'll Need
- Tire levers
- Tire repair kit
- Hand pump
- Old rag
- End wrench (optional)
Member Comments