How to fix a flat tire on your Bicycle

We totally understand how frustrating it can be when you're out enjoying the fresh air and your kiddo is eagerly pedaling away, only to have their bike come to a sudden halt because of a flat tire. But don't worry; fixing that flattened tire isn't as daunting as it may seem! I'm here to guide you through the process step-by-step in our friendly chat over coffee, so let's dive right into this fun and essential skill.

Step 1: Gather Your Tools

First things first, we need the right tools. It may seem like a hassle initially, but having your trusty toolkit handy will make this whole experience smoother. You'll need:

• A bike tire lever (or two) for removing the tire from the rim
• An inflator pump with a pressure gauge, or an air compressor if available
• A patch kit containing adhesive patches and glue (if you prefer puncture repair)
• An inner tube replacement, along with a new valve core tool for tubeless tires (for those opting to replace the entire inner tube)
  
  
  

Step 2: Safety First!

Before we get our hands dirty, let's ensure everyone's safety. Finding a flat and even surface away from traffic is crucial. Don't you start fixing a flat tire in the middle of the street, that is the most important rule. Wear sturdy shoes and gloves to protect your hands from sharp objects. If you want to have double caution, use protection glasses in order if a tire blows near your face (it's a little unlikely). Make sure the tire is deflated and there is not much air inside the inner tube.

Step 3: Remove the Tire

Now, let's remove that pesky tire. Using a tire lever, carefully pry one side of the tire off the rim. Start at a point near the valve and work your way around until you can pop the tire fully off.

Step 4: Locate the Puncture

With the tire off, we're one step closer to solving our flat-tire mystery. Examine both the inner and outer sidewalls of the tire carefully for any sharp objects or debris causing the puncture. Make sure there is no nail stuck to the tire or if there is a small rock inside the tire, between the tire inner wall and the inner tube outer wall.

If it is hard to find where the puncture is, there is an amazing trick you could do. Get a bowl of water deep enough for you to deep the inner tube in. Submerge a part of the tube and go around the all tube until you find a bubble stream coming from the hole. Magic, you found your puncture!

Step 5: Repair the Puncture (Optional)

Sometimes, it is possible for us to fix a small hole directly on the tire with patching. If you check and your inner tube is still good, but it only has a small hole do the following:

1. Take your patch kit and open it up
2. Take the sandpaper that they normally comes with the kit
3. Stretch the part where it has the hole and hold the stretched part with your hands
4. Pass the sandpaper on top of the hole just to create a rough surface for the glue to act on
5. Put the patch glue and spread it with your finger (keep that inner tube stretch the whole time)
6. Let it dry a bit (around 40 seconds to 1 minute) and then place the patch
7. Make pressure all around the patch for it to be well glued to the inner tube rubber and wait 1 more minute
8. After that you may release the inner tube from your hands and “voila” you have a fixed inner tube
   
   

Step 6: Install New Inner Tube

If you have a really old inner tube or the hole is to big to be fixed it's now time for some new inner-tube action. If you have the inner tube fixed, just ignore the part of “new” inner tube and continue with the fixed one. Be proud of yourself!

With one tire wall already placed inside the wheel and another out, inflate the new tube slightly to make it easier to maneuver inside the wheel, aligning its valve with the rim's valve hole. Insert the valve first and leave the rest outside the tire. Then you begin inserting one side of the new tube into the tire and slowly work your way around until both sides are in place. After you inserted the all tube place the other tire wall inside the rim, but make sure that it doesn't pinch the new tube (you may need to use the tire levers again).

Step 7: Inflate Tire

Now, let's give that fresh inner-tube a warm welcome! Attach the pump or air compressor to the valve and inflate the tire gradually, checking for any bulges on the sidewall as you go. Do not inflate all the way to the maximum pressure. Make sure you make stops along the way to check for any inner tube rubber poking out of the tire or any bad tire placement on the wheel. Pass two fingers along the wheel side walls, one in each side, between the wheel structure and the tire. If you didn't notice any strange bump or anomaly you may continue inflating the tire.

Step 8: Final Touches

To finalize, re-install the wheel onto the bike frame, making sure it sits correctly and securely in its place. Tight the wheel nuts and make sure everything is well fixed before the Test Run. Clean any dirty or grease spots on the bicycle frame. And if you had to fix the back wheel, you probably had to touch the chain multiple times, so, make sure it has enough lubrication.

Step 9: Test Run

Ready for a test ride? Have a gentle spin around the block to ensure everything feels smooth, checking the pressure and listening for any unusual noises. Be careful, if the inner tube is not well placed inside the tire, it may explode in such a way that the whole neighbor may want to have a look to what happened. Before the test ride, make sure you don't see any black rubber from the inner tube poking out of the tire. Also, make sure all the tire walls are placed correctly inside the wheel.

Step 10: Keep It Clean

Finally, let's keep our tools organized. Properly store your bike maintenance tools to avoid clutter and ensure they are ready for next time. Remember, practice makes perfect! With a little patience and perseverance, you'll be able to handle any flat-tire situation that comes up. Happy biking!