As it’s easier than using tyre levers, use your fingers to go around the inside of the tube and ensure anything that caused its puncture (thorn or piece of glass) has been extracted – this gives peace of mind when reinserting and prevents further punctures.
1. Remove the Tyre
First, loosen the central nuts securing the wheel before sliding it off with your hands or using tire levers.
Once the tyre has been taken off its axle, visually inspect it for possible sources of puncture. Most often a piece of glass or thorn becomes lodged within the rubber, necessitating removal from within it.
Rubbing some emery paper over the surface of the tube helps glue to adhere more efficiently, and should be included with puncture repair kits.
2. Inspect the Tyre
Before attempting to repair your puncture, it’s essential that you ascertain its source. Finding and extracting glass, nails or thorns may not always be easy – however it’s essential that they be removed immediately as any could lead to another puncture further down the road.
As tempting as it may be to run your hand around the tyre, be wary – as doing so could expose sharp objects that puncture your skin! A better approach would be to pump some air into the tube and monitor for air leakage; alternatively submerge sections in water and look out for telltale bubbles; at this stage roughen up any flat spots using sandpaper (usually included with puncture repair kits) so that patches adhere more securely.
3. Remove the Tube
Bike puncture repair steps may vary slightly depending on whether or not your bike uses tubeless tires, but they begin the same: remove your wheel from your bike, use one of your tyre levers to run around its edge to break open its bead and expose its tube.
Before doing anything else, inflate the tube and feel for any leaks (you may also listen or observe where air escapes). Once located, remove it from its position in the tyre and run your finger over its surface to determine its source; if necessary use either sandpaper or rubber solution from your kit to rough up any surfaces where air has escaped.
4. Inspect the Tube
First, inspect your tube to locate its hole. This can be accomplished by pumping up and listening or feeling for air escaping; or submerging it (in either a sink or puddle if on an adventure ride) and looking for bubbles as an indication that air has leaked out of a leakage point.
Check for sharp objects such as glass shards, thorns or gravel that could have entered and punctured the tube – such as glass pieces, thorns or gravel that you can usually feel with your fingertips – that could have penetrated it. Inspect all around to the valve; pinch punctures often occur here when being pinched between rim and tyre rims.
5. Inflate the Tyre
Once one side of the tyre has been detached from its wheel, check over its tube to locate where its puncture lies. Pump air into it while listening/feeling for places where air has leaked out – or submerge sections of it into water looking for bubbles that reveal themselves as possible punctures.
Before starting to remove your tyre/tube, adjust your bike gears so it is easier for you to remove the wheel – this step is especially crucial if your rear wheel has experienced punctures.
Once you’ve identified the hole, reinsert the tube back into the tyre and pump.
6. Remove the Tube
Once the tube has been deflated, use sandpaper (usually included with puncture repair kits) to rough up the area surrounding where the hole was; this will make it easier for glue to adhere.
After installing the new tube, remove the old tube by using either tyre levers, spoon handles or flathead screwdrivers – these methods work just as well.
Before placing the new tube into your tyre, check that it’s fully inflated and that there are no sharp objects – such as thorns, glass fragments or nails – inside which could puncture it later and lead to another puncture. Doing this will save both time and trouble later on!
7. Inspect the Tube
Prior to removing the tube from its wheel, it is a good idea to pump up and listen for hissing sounds that indicate where the puncture may lie. This may help in pinpointing exactly where a puncture exists.
If the puncture was caused by something sharp like a nail or thorn, you will have to decide between patching it yourself or purchasing a replacement tube – serious cyclists often keep a spare tube with them as part of a mini repair kit just in case this occurs.
With the rubber solution provided, roughen up the area surrounding the hole before leaving it to dry. This makes adhesion of patches easier. Before needing to fix one on the road, practice on an old tube first for best results.
8. Repair the Tube
Hopes are high that whatever has punctured your tube can be located and removed; otherwise, check inside of the tyre to make sure there aren’t any additional punctures from sharp objects like glass shards or thorns that might have punctured it further.
Once your tube is back, light inflated it to make sure there are no additional leaks. If there are, re-inflate and conduct another test until you identify where it lies.
Installing and repairing new tubes at home is often faster and simpler than trying to do it on the roadside, particularly if you are late home for dinner with friends etc.
Conclusion
Fixing a bike puncture is a straightforward process that can be easily mastered with the right tools and a bit of practice. With regular maintenance, you’ll be well-prepared to handle any puncture and keep your bike running smoothly.
