| ||
| ||
|
How to Fix a Flat | ||
|
| ||
|
When you ride a bike, it's only a matter of time until you get a flat tire. Don't worry, because fixing a flat is a "breeze." You'll need tools: Be sure to always carry a spare tube or patch kit, a plastic tire lever or two and a small frame pump that fits the type of valve (Presta or Schrader) your bike has. Then follow these steps. As soon as the tire goes flat, stop and remove the wheel from the bike by unlatching the hub's quick release. (Never ride on a flat tire; doing so will damage the rim.) Hold the wheel upright. Opposite the valve, slip the curled end of the tire lever under the tire bead and pop it over the rim, being careful not to pinch the inner tube. With a firm grip, pull the lever toward you and slide the entire bead off the rim. Some levers come in pairs or, for road bikes, sets of three. Use as many as you need. (Terry Bicycles (http://www.terrybicycles.com) sells a "Var Bead Jack Tool," Item #740000 @ $8.50 which I've used and find much easier than the levers. Of course, for us gals, it's even easier if we find a male cyclist who'll change the tire for us!) Remove the tube. Pump some air into it and look for the leak. Then carefully inspect the tire inside and out. Shards of glass or thorns may be imbedded in the rubber and need to be removed. If you opt to repair the tube, use glueless patches; they're cheap and easy to install. Simply roughen the area around the leak with sandpaper and apply the patch. If you replace the flat tube with a new one, coat the spare with baby powder beforehand to reduce friction between it and the tire. Put just enough air in the replacement tube to give it some shape. Install the tube valve stem first. The, starting at the stem, reseat the tire bead under the rim with your thumbs, working clockwise and counterclockwise with either hand. Depending on how tight the bead is, it may take a little extra effort to complete this task - be patient, and resist the urge to use your levers to reseat the bead, as this can damage the tube. Two important caveats. First, make sure that the tube is completely contained inside the tire. If any section is showing between the tire and the rim, gently tuck it underneath the tire before fully inflating the tube. Second, align the valve stem so that it is perpendicular to the rim. This will prevent the tube from pinching at the stem. Inflate the tire, holding the head of the pump firmly so you don't bend the valve; then reinstall the wheel on your bike, stuff the flat tube in your jersey pocket, and get rolling.
|
|
Nancy A. Butler, Student
|
|
|---|