CyclePig

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

Fixing Flat Tires on a Bicycle Tour

So you have decided to leave the big city and take your bicycle on a multi-day tour. That’s great news, but what should you do if you happen to get a flat.

Fixing a puncture on tour is the same as fixing a puncture during any cycle ride. But the following tips will help ensure you trip goes smoothly.

Photo by playhockeyeh

Take More Tubes

When riding a long distance over multiple days on a loaded bicycle there is a much greater chance that you will get a flat tire. Therefore you will need to take more tubes. I suggest taking at least 2 tubes and a puncture repair kit. If you are touring with other cyclists you don’t each need to take 2 tubes as you can share equipment and therefore save some weight - the chances of everyone flatting multiple times on the same day is small. Note: Check that your bikes use the same size tubes.

Make Sure Everyone Can Fix A Puncture

Before embarking on your tour make sure that every person is capable of fixing their own punctures. Often when cycling in a group you may get slightly separated on the road, particularly when cycling up mountains, and it can be very unpleasant if you are at the back of a group when you puncture and you don’t know how to fix it.

As mentioned above, often when on tour a group may share equipment in order to carry less weight. If you extend this principle to bike pumps and tubes you need to ensure that at least the last person on the road has the equipment so they fix their own bike or play a sweeper role if necessary. Another way around this is to have a set of walkie talkies on tour meaning you can communicate even if separated.

Pump Up Your Tires at the Gas Station

Generally on a tour your tires will require extra air every 2 or 3 days. It can be a little demoralising when you THINK your tires are not pumped up enough and you are riding on a long hard day, so it is worth the effort to check them every morning.

When cycling long distances every day, you won’t really feel like expending energy pumping up tires with a hand pump. The answer is to stop at the gas station whenever you see one and use their car tire pumps to fill your tires up to the maximum recommended pressure.

If you have a Presta valve you will need to get a Presta/Schrader converter so the car tire pump will work properly. These are just a small screw on device that you can even leave attached to your Presta valve. Just ask at your local bike shop and they should be able to help.

That’s the end of the series on everything you need to know about fixing a flat tire. Please feel free to submit your own tips for dealing with punctures and flats in the comments area below.

The full series for everything you need to know about fixing a flat tire:

• 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