Learn to fix a flat bike tire like the pros — Avoid the dreaded walk of shame

Remove the bike wheel

Remove the tire

Working the bead off with one lever

Remove the tube

Start by removing the valve stem

Find the cause of the flat tire

Check the rim

Inspect the rim tape for holes or damage

Check the tire

Check inside the entire interior of the tire for anything sharp that could puncture your tube

Check the tube

to find the leak, overinflate the tube and search for the hole
Submerging an inflated tube in water can help in finding small leaks
A damaged valve stem caused by the tube not being properly aligned
A silver Sharpie is great for marking holes once found

Common causes of tire and tube failures:

  • A single puncture or small hole is commonly from a thorn, wire, or small nail. These may be repairable.
  • Double slits are commonly the result of a rim pinch. These are also called snakebites. They can also happen to only one side of the tube. The root cause here is that the tube was underinflated for the type of riding. Adding more tire pressure or changing the tire and/or rim size will prevent this in the future.
  • A complete blowout causing a large shredded hole is usually not repairable. Check tire and rim as well for damage. These can be caused by overinflation or old tubes.
  • A long cut or rip may also indicate a tire blow out. Typically this is not repairable. these can result when the tube gets trapped between the rim and tire on installation.
  • A hole in the rim side of the tube indicates a problem inside the rim, such as from rim strip failure, a protruding spoke or other sharp objects inside the rim.
  • A cut at the valve core can result from misalignment of the tube in the rim. This is more common with Schrader valves that don’t have valve stem nuts. Riding with low pressure can also cause the tube to rotate inside the wheel. Be sure tube is mounted straight in the rim and check your tire pressure before rides.
  • A leaky valve core can be a hard-to-find leak. Tighten with a valve core tool such as the VC-1. These leaks are more common with Schrader type valves, but also happen with Presta valves on occasion.

Repair or replace the tube

Repairing your tube

Scuff the tire to prepare it for the glue
Spread the vulcanizing fluid around the hole
Vulcanized
Foil backing peeled off
Apply the patch with firm pressure
Finished patch job

Replacing your tube

Reinstall the tube

Reinstall the tire

Reinstalling the Bike Wheel

Rear Wheel

Front Wheel

Conclusion

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Hi, I’m Chris. I started Adventure School to help you get out on more adventures. Follow us and learn the skills you need to get out on your next adventure.

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Chris Allen

Hi, I’m Chris. I started Adventure School to help you get out on more adventures. Follow us and learn the skills you need to get out on your next adventure.