How to Repair Cycle Tires
Flat or damaged tires are an inevitable part of cycling. When you get a flat tire you may very well be on the trail and need to fix it there. You should carry a spare tube or a tire repair kit with you or plan on walking your bike back home. It is not hard to fix your tire while cycling.
Items you may require:
- Tire pump
- Replacement tube or repair kit
- Tire tool
- Wrenches to remove wheel
- Use the wrenches to remove the wheel from the cycle. If there is any air remaining in the tube release it until it is completely flat.
- Gently using the tire tool lift one side of the tire out completely around the rim and beginning at the valve stem, remove the tube. Take the tube completely off of the rim. Leave the tire on.
- Visually inspect the tube for a leak by inflating with the pump until you can hear air escaping. Check the entire tube. Once you locate the leak (or leaks) repair them with the kit. You can just replace the tube with a new one and fix it once you are back home again.
- Place the tube against the tire with the valve stem where is should go and check the tire inside for damage (you can tell from the patches you put on the tube). If you replaced the entire tube you still need to check the inside of the tire for problems that could affect your new tube. Fix any areas of the tire that need fixing now.
- Put the tube back inside the tire and carefully position the valve stem in the correct location with the stem pointing straight down. Use the tire tool to help tuck it in the rim again.
- Replace the tire in the rim the same way making sure not to pinch the tube inside.
- Slowly inflate the tube with the pump keeping your eye on both sides of the tire so as not to pinch the tube between it and the rim.
- Inflate to the pressure listed on the side of the tire. If you do not have a gauge just make certain it is firm on both sides by squeezing it with your hand.