CyclePig

It is the most common bicycle repair and unless you like walking, it is the probably the first that you should learn. So how do you go about fixing a flat tire?

In this four part series we will look at:

• Part 1 - The basics of removing your wheels and fixing a tire
• Part 2 - Dealing with stiff and stubborn tires
• Part 3 - Fixing a flat tire on the road
• Part 4 - Flat tires on a bicycle tour

Photo by Estro

Basics of Fixing a Tire

For the basics of fixing a tire the best resources available are over at Bicycle Tutor. I suggest as a starting point you check out these two videos:

• How to remove and install your wheels
• How to fix a flat tire

I can’t over emphasise the importance of checking the inside of your tires and rims as mentioned in the video. Nothing is more frustrating than thinking you have repaired your tire only for it to go flat again a few miles down the road.

I learned this lesson during a cycle tour in Norfolk (England) when in a stretch of about 2 miles I punctured 4 times before finally finding the offending sharp rock embedded in my tire. Those of you that remember the intro for the Incredible Hulk TV series will have an insight into how this made me feel.

Presta & Schrader Tire Valves

Confused about the difference between a schrader and a presta? Every tube has a valve on it with the common types being a Presta or a Schrader. You will likely be familiar with a Schrader valve which are on the wheels of cars and some bicycles. Presta valves are designed to take a higher pressure and you will often find them on road bikes. The video below will help show the difference between a Presta and a Schrader valve.

Join us tommorow for a look at how to install a really stiff tire.

This is Part 1 in the series on fixing a flat tire. The full series is Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.