How to Fix a Flat 1. Take the wheel off the bicycle

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For the rear flat, shift the chain to the smallest rear cog. Loosen the quick release on the brake calipers. Open the quick release skewers on the hub and remove the wheel. If you have nutted-on wheels undo the nuts and remove the wheel. Lay the bike on its left side on stand it upside down. 2. Remove the tire from the rim and remove the tube

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Insert one lever under the tire bead on the opposite side of the valve. Insert the other lever 3-4” away. Pry up a section of tire bead by holding one lever stationary and pushing the second lever along the rim, keeping the hooked end under the tire bead. Work around the rim to completely free one side of the tire. Leave the other side seated on the rim. To avoid damaging the valve stem, remove it first by pulling up from the rim, then pull the tube from the tire. 3. Inspect the tire

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Visually inspect the inside and outside of the tire casing for debris. Run your fingers along the inner casing of the tire to detect thorns or glass. Check and adjust the rim strip so it’s centered and aligned with the valve hole. 4. Replace tube and reseat tire

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Inflate the new tube to about 15psi, so it has some shape. Insert the valve stem into the valve hole, and tuck the rest of the tube into the tire. Starting at the valve, work the tire bead back onto the rim using your thumbs. If the last section is difficult to get on, hold the wheel horizontally against your body with the unseated section out in front of you (at 12 o’clock) Grab the tire with your hands and roll it onto the rim using your palms. If that doesn’t help use your tire levers like shoe horns to work the bead onto the rim 5. Inflate and examine bead

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Position the chain over the smallest cog and pull the axle back into the dropouts. Centre the rim between the chain stays and tighten the quick-release (or the nuts). As you inflate the tire, check that the bead remains evenly inserted in the rim and the valve stem is straight. If the tube or tire creeps up over the rim, stop pumping, and let some air out and work that section back in. Inflate and spin the tire and look where the bead meets the rim; if you see any bulges, deflate and reseat the tire. Spin the wheel and check brake pad clearance.

Contact Ted Higgins: [email protected]

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