With practice and focus, you can bring your time to swap out a road bike tube from 30 minutes the first time, to 15 minutes the second. Eventually, you may reach three minutes or less, putting yourself into the realm of bike messengers and racing cyclists. Preparation and a sound strategy will allow you to change a road bike tube quickly and continue on your way.
Step 1
Stop your bicycle at the first sign of a flat, recommends cycling expert Ken Kifer. Settle into a comfortable spot off the road and out of the sun. Flip your bicycle upside down and stand it on its handlebars and saddle.
Step 2
Rotate the deflated tire slowly with the palm of your hand gently against the edge feeling for a nail or piece of glass.
Step 3
Insert the thin curved end of two tire levers between the tire bead and rim on either side of the puncture to pry the bead outside the rim. Work the levers farther apart until you have room to pull out the tube.
Step 4
Roughen the area of the puncture with a piece of sandpaper from the patch kit. Apply rubber cement in the shape of the patches in your kit around the puncture. Allow it to try for minute.
Step 5
Unpeel the backing from the patch. Place it on top of the glue. Press on it with the tire lever. Work the patched tube back into the tire, snap the tire bead back on the rim and continue riding to vulcanize the patch, which heats the rubber and completes its seal.
Tips and Warnings
- If you can't spot the puncture by visual inspection, fix the tube the slow way. Unlatch the quick-release lever or unscrew the axle nut and remove the wheel from the bicycle. Remove one side of the tire from the rim with the tire levers. Pull out the punctured tube from the tire. Run your fingers on the inside of the tire carefully to find the source of the puncture and remove it. Partially inflate the tube until you find the puncture, rotating the tire held to your lips until you feel the air rushing out. Patch the tube as described in Step 5. Carry one or more spare tubes to minutes off your time if you have to remove the tube anyway. Inserting a fresh tube takes more time than patching a tube with the wheel left on but less time than patching a tube with the wheel off.
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