If you've got a flat bike tire, you can try patching it. But patches tend to leak, and eventually you're going to need a new tube. Replacing a bicycle tire tube is a simple matter. Your hands will get dirty, but you can perform this repair yourself relatively quickly. If you're on a long ride, carry an extra tube so you can fix a potential flat and get right back on the road. Once you know how to perform this repair, you'll never let flats stop you again.
Remove The Existing Tube
Step 1
Flip the bicycle over so it is standing on the handlebars and the seat.
Step 2
Unscrew the valve stem cap of the inner tube. If the tube is still full of air, press on the center of the valve stem to release some air, making the tube soft and easier to remove.
Step 3
Loosen the brakes. On a road bike, do this by pulling up on the lever where the brake cable is bolted down at the brake arm, just above where the brakes contact the wheel. On a mountain bike, push both brake arms in by hand until the pads touch the wheel, then use the slack in the brake cable to disconnect it from the brake arm.
Step 4
Pull the tire's quick-release lever so it's perpendicular to the tire. Hold it with one hand and use the other hand to loosen the nut on the other side of the tire hub.
Step 5
Remove the wheel. The front wheel will come off easily. If you're working on the rear tire, shift to your smallest gear, then use your rag to hold the chain out of the way while you pull the wheel straight up.
Step 6
Insert the curved end of a tire lever inside the wheel rim and under the edge of the tire. Pry it upward, then hook the other end of the lever over a spoke of the wheel.
Step 7
Insert the curved end of a second lever under the edge of the tire right next to the first lever. Slowly move it around the wheel so it pops the tire out of the wheel. Detach the tire levers.
Step 8
Pull the inner tube out through the gap you've created.
Installing The New Tube
Step 1
Insert the new, flat tube into the tire just as the old tube was. Be sure not to let it twist. Place the valve stem in the existing hole, so it protrudes toward the center of the wheel.
Step 2
Attach the bike pump to the valve and pump so the tube is partially inflated. Be sure it is positioned correctly on the wheel.
Step 3
"Pop" the tire back into place using your thumbs and the tire levers.
Step 4
Finish inflating the tube, and screw the valve cap back on.
Step 5
Replace the wheel, tighten the hub and reattach the brakes.
Tips and Warnings
- If your bike is very old, it may not have quick-release hubs. In that case, you'll need a wrench to remove the wheel.
- Never overinflate a tire. Use a hand-pump instead of compressed air, so you can tell when the tire is full.
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