Bicycle Flat Tire Repair

The most difficult type of punctures to repair can be the dreaded slow puncture. In this article you will discover trade secrets that will help you fix punctures inexpensively, quicker and with less stress.

			Bicycle Tires: Slow Leaks Fixes In this free instructional video you can learn the secrets to easy puncture repair. Pros and beginners alike will learn some useful repair tips. Click to Play Video (29Mb)

How to Locate the Puncture

What you will need:

• Tyre levers (set of 3)
• Large bowl of water

1. Turn the bike upside down, standing it on the handlebars and saddle (if you don't want to scratch your gear levers do this on your garden lawn).
2. Remove the tire being very careful not to damage the inner tube. Tire levers make this job a whole lot less stressful - you can buy them from most bike shops in packs of three. They often are included in puncture repair kits too. In an emergency teaspoons can sometimes be used, but they often get bent in the process. If your tires are really difficult to remove, turn two levers simultaneously around 3 spokes apart. That works for me most times. Also, its common for the inner tube to be punctured again when using levers, so make sure the inner tube doesn't get pinched.
3. Next take the inner tube completely off the wheel and inflate it just a little.
4. Next fill up a washing up bowl or other large container with water - best to fill it up outside if possible for obvious reasons.
5. Finding a leak under water is real easy - just find lots of small bubbles and that's where the air is coming out.
6. If you can try and remember which part of the tire was next to the puncture the chances are that there is some glass or a thorn still stuck in the tire. If you don't get rid of it then another puncture will happen straight away!
   

Patching up the Inner tube

Most puncture repair kits contain instructions on how best to use that particular kit. If you are stuck without a puncture repair kit you can often get away by cutting an old inner tube into a patch (1 inch across) - but you will need some rubber solution. First smear the glue around the puncture so that the hole is close to the middle. Try to match the glue smear to the patch size as best you can. Let the glue become touch dry by leaving it for five minutes. Then stick the patch using what used to be the outer surface of the inner tube - the inner surface is dusty and doesn't stick so well.

Putting it Back Together

Deflate the inner tube and place it inside the tire - make sure it is not twisted. Then put the valve into its hole on the rim. From the valve side, work your way across the wheel putting the tire back on until you have just a small bit left opposite to the valve. Use the tire levers to finish the last bit. It is a good idea to get one edge of the tire on first and then get the second edge on after.

Pitfalls to Avoid

A really common pitfall people fall into is re-puncturing your newly repaired inner tube. This happens when using the tire levers without due care or failing to remove the cause of the puncture.