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How To Fix A Flat Tire
Sooner or later, you'll ride over some glass or perhaps hit a rut or hole and
get a flat tire. When this happens, don't panic! As long as you carry a few
basic tools (photo), flat repair is easy -- even fun! Here's how it's done:
You'll need: a pump (carried on your bike or in a pack),
a spare tube (to replace the flatten one) and tire levers (for removing the
tire).
First Open the Brake:
 As soon as you get that
"sinking" feeling or hear the hiss of escaping air, let your ride partners know
you have a flat (so they won't disappear over the horizon) and stop. If it's a
rear flat, shift onto the smallest rear cog. The first step in wheel removal is
opening the brake (photos), which makes it easier to get the wheel out.
Open sidepull brakes by fully rotating the little lever on the brake upwards
(a).
Open linear-pulls (also called "V-brakes") by lifting the end of the "noodle"
out of its holder (b).
Some sidepulls are opened by pressing a button on the lever. Look for this if
there's no lever on the brake.
Open cantilever brakes (these feature a cable that runs over the top of the
tire) by lifting the cable end on one side out of its holder.
Tips
Be safe! Work off the road/trail so a semi doesn't flatten you!
While it's possible to get the flat tire through the brake without opening it,
it won't be so easy reinstalling the wheel when it's fully inflated. That's why
we recommend opening the brake first.
If you have disk brakes, there's nothing to open. The wheel will come right out
of the brake with no muss, no fuss. Cool.
Remove the wheel:
 Open the quick release (or
loosen the axle nuts) on the wheel with the flat and lift the bike to remove the
wheel. To extract rear wheels, it helps to pull the derailleur back slightly to
clear the axle parts as the wheel passes through (main photo). For fronts,
you'll probably need to hold one side of the quick release and turn the other
counterclockwise to create clearance to get past the wheel-retention tabs on the
fork (inset photo).
Tips
Never force the wheel out! If it's stuck, determine what's holding it in place
and free it.
Lay the bike on its left side so you don't damage the derailleur or get dirt in
the drivetrain.
Remove the tire and tube: Remove the valve cap and nut (sometimes found on
Presta valves: inset photo). For Presta valves, unscrew the tip (inset photo)
and press down to let all the air out. For Schraders, poke the end of your tire
lever into the valve to release all the air. Starting directly opposite the
valve, wiggle a tire lever beneath the tire's edge and pry down to lift. If
possible, hook the lever on a spoke (many levers are made to do this), or hold
it in place. Place another lever about 6 inches away from the first and pry here
(main photo). Continue with your third lever until you can get one side of the
tire off. Then reach inside and extract the tube. Pull the other side of the
tire off the rim or pry it off with your levers.
Tip
If you have trouble getting the tire off, make sure all the air is out of it.
Even a little air can make the tire a lot tighter.
Some cyclists prefer to remove only one side of the tire to ease reinstallation.
The disadvantage is that it's harder to check inside the tire to find whatever
popped the tube.
Inspect the tire: It's important to find whatever caused the flat and remove
it. If you don't, the sharp item might still be in the tire where it'll just pop
your new tube. To find it, remove your glove (or use a rag), and run it around
inside the tire in both directions (photo). If something sharp is still stuck in
your tire, it'll snag the glove. Remove the nasty. If you can't find anything,
it's likely it got knocked out during the disassembly procedure.
Tips
Be sure to check inside the rim, too. The rim strip covering the sharp spoke
holes (and sometimes the spoke nipples), can move, which allows the tube to be
cut. Make sure that the rim strip covers completely.
As long as the hole in the tire is about 1/4-inch long or less, you'll be okay
reusing it.
If the tire has a large gash in it, you'll need to patch it somehow before
reinstallation. Paper money works great. Simply place it over the hole as you
install the tire and tube. It'll reinforce the tire at the hole and get you
home. Replace the tire ASAP.
 Install the tube & tire: 4
Easy Steps
1. Inflate the new tube just enough to round it out and remove any wrinkles, and
place it inside the tire. Stand the wheel up (rest it against your shins) with
the valve hole on top and hold the tire/tube over the wheel so that the valve is
on top (inset photo).
2. Place the valve partway into the hole and simultaneously push the part of the
tire edge (called the "bead") that's at the valve and closest to your legs onto
the rim. With both hands moving downward away from the valve, finish working the
bottom tire bead (the one closest to your legs) onto the wheel all the way
around. If it won't fit onto the rim, check that the valve is inside the tire,
not trapped beneath the bead.
3. With one bead in place, tuck the tube fully inside the tire and on top of the
rim, which will cause the other bead to rest flush against the rim. Work this
bead on starting at the valve as you did with the first. You may have to push
the valve into the tire to provide clearance for the bead. Once you've got it
started, work your hands away from the valve pressing the bead onto the rim
around the wheel.
4. With a few inches of bead left to pop onto the rim, the tire will resist. Let
all the air out. Crouch and rest the wheel on your knee to have something to
push against. Now, hold the bead in place with one hand and with your stronger
hand, push down to roll the stubborn section onto the rim with the heel of your
hand (main photo). But don't try to pop it on all at once. Install an inch at a
time, moving your hand along until you've fully installed the tire. Got it? Good
job!!
Tips
Make sure that your spare tube's valve is the right type for your wheel.
Tubes that are slightly narrower than the tire fit fine and are easiest to
install (for example: a 700 x 20c tube in a 25c tire and a 1.5-inch tube in a
1.9-inch tire).
A trick to create slack and ease tire installation is to go around the rim
squeezing the tire beads into the rim's center (the deepest portion).
If you locate the tire label at the valve, you'll have a reference point when
searching the tire for what popped the tube.
 Inflate and seat the tire:
Place your pump on the valve and inflate the tire. To prevent valve damage,
brace it by wrapping a finger behind a spoke (photo left) so you're pushing
against your hand, not the valve. Inflate the tire until it's just firm (not
fully inflated). At this point, inspect the tire to make sure it's "seated,"
which means that it's sitting correctly on the rim.
If the tube gets trapped beneath a bead (photo top), inflating further may blow
the tire and tube off the rim! There's a bead line on the side of the tire
(photo bottom) that should be equidistant from the rim all the way around on
both sides of the tire. If it's not, or if you see a section of tube peeking out
from under the rim, let the air out, work the tube back into place, reinflate
partway and check the tire again. When it's seated correctly, inflate it fully.
Install the valve nut (if your tube uses one) and cap finger tight (overtightening
the valve nut can damage the tube and make it difficult to loosen it when you
need to fix a flat). Reinstall the wheel in the frame, close the brake quick
release or reattach the noodle or cable and you're ready to ride!
Tips
Not all portable pumps have the power to fully inflate all tires. But that's
okay. You only need enough air to make the tire firm enough to ride on. If you
can't get it hard enough to finish your ride, find a bike shop or head home to
fix it properly.
The first time you fix a flat it may take 30 minutes to an hour. But, with
practice, you'll get much faster. Experienced cyclists can easily repair one in
10 minutes.
If you ride regularly and haven't fixed a flat yet, practice at home to build
your confidence.
If you have trouble just come by the bike shop and let us do it for you. 75 &
Tuxedo Bartlesville Oklahoma (918) 333-9222
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