First Puncture. Help needed

[chrisb1357]

Hi all,

Was cycling to work this morning on my Giant CSR4 Hybrid which i only got last weekend and have had my first puncture. There was no hiss sound when it happend but was on the cycyle path crossing over a road

Can anyone give some tips for me to repair the tyre and tube as its been many years from when i last done one.

Having to get someone to give me a ride back home tonight with the car as my repair kit is at home

Chris

 

[Rob3rt]

If you can take the wheel off easily, do it. If its not quick release, I wouldnt bother unless absolutelly necessary, I'd fix it in situ.

Atfer flipping the bike upside down or otherwise securing it in a possition ready to be worked on:

1) Deflate fully and if removing the wheel, slacken the break calipers using the quick release mechanism on the caliper (most modern brakes seem to have them) to allow the wheel to be pulled out.
2) Slacken the nut holding the valve to the rim
3) Pop tyre off one side (can be done in situ)
4) Pull the inner tube out (it will still be attached to the bike if you didnt remove the wheel but you can still manipulate it enough to do the fix)
5) Pump it up
6) Locate the puncture by either running the inner tube near your lips to feel the air, or by dunking it into a tub of water, you will see bubbles where its leaking
7) Mark the puncture location
8) Dry the tube
9) Rough up the spot with puncture using glass paper or a file (sometimes come with puncture repair kit)
10) Apply the patch glue
11) Wait 5-15 mins (read time on your kits instruction)
12) While waiting inspect the tyre inside and out for a sharp object that may be stuck in there, remove any sharps
13) Apply the patch
14) Wait a bit longer
15) Remove the backing form the patch
16) Re-align the valve and put back through the rim, put the nut on
17) Pump it up ever so slightly (so its less likely to get snagged when putting the tyre back on)
18) Push it back into the tyre onto the rim
19) Carefully pop the tyre back on taking care not to snag the inner tube between bead and rim
20) Pump it up to rideable but not full pressure (this will get you to where you need to be)
21) After a day or so (to make sure patch is fully set and stuck), pump it up to pressure

Good to go!

 

[potsy]

Also it is a good idea to practice in the comfort of home,so if you do need to fix on route you will have a an idea as to what to do.
If you get them regularly you might need to upgrade the tyres.

 

[chrisb1357]

Hi,

Its on the back wheel and i think that has quick release so i will take it off.

I keep my bike when i get home inside the house in the spare room so i have plenty of room for working inside.

Someone suggest use a powder when putting the tube back in but as i dont have any is it ok to install without this.

Yep i am thinking of getting new tyres and tube once i get my first pay slip as only just started work last week.

The cycyle route i use is fall of stones and bits from the road and is not great and i think thats where i picked it up from. Should i contact the local council to get this clean up.

Chris

 

[swee'pea99]

It'll never be the same again. Throw it away and get a new one...

 

[chrisb1357]

Will try and repair as i dont have the ££ for a new tube. Can anyone point me in the direction to get tubes from that will do ok for now

Chris

 

[Rob3rt]

Hi,

Its on the back wheel and i think that has quick release so i will take it off.

I keep my bike when i get home inside the house in the spare room so i have plenty of room for working inside.

Someone suggest use a powder when putting the tube back in but as i dont have any is it ok to install without this.

Yep i am thinking of getting new tyres and tube once i get my first pay slip as only just started work last week.

The cycyle route i use is fall of stones and bits from the road and is not great and i think thats where i picked it up from. Should i contact the local council to get this clean up.

Chris

Personally, I never take the back wheel off even if its quick release, unless I have to, but I'm lazy. I find it just as easy to do it while its on the bike with a bucket of water.

When putting the tube back in you can use some talc powder (stops tube and tyre, rim etc sticking together at any point), but to get you moving again you can do without, just dry it off properly.



The council wont give a toss, you will be wasting your time. Learn to dodge items in the road and fix punctures fast and it will become nothing but a minor inconvenience. Proper tyre pressure and decent tyres will minimise flats. I'd advise you buy 2 spare tubes, and carry them with you, this way if you get a puncture, you can just swap tube and carry on with your journey, then repair the punctured tube when your at work or at home. This tube will then become your spare for next time you get a puncture.

 

[swee'pea99]

Will try and repair as i dont have the ££ for a new tube. Can anyone point me in the direction to get tubes from that will do ok for now

Chris

Not the tube man - the bike!




(Sorry...I was just pullin' yer leg. Repairing a puncture's easy peasy - just follow the instructions above. Oh, and I generally do it with the wheel still on the bike too...saves faffing around & gettin dirty.)

 

[gbb]

Roberts instructions are pretty comprehensive, but i'd add a couple of helpful hints..
Carry a spare innertube. Once in a while you'll get a puncture you struggle to find out on the road. Also you may get a few holes from the same thorn etc. A spare tube saves a lot of time.

Get a saddle bag (if you havnt already got one)...i always have a pair of disposable gloves in there, it can be a messy business repairing a puncture. Keeping all your gear together makes sure (hopefully) you dont forget anything.

I never use talc etc when refitting the innertube...but i suppose a piece of rag or similar to dry a possibly wet innertube prior to repair may be useful.

Practice, practice...

 

[gouldina]

One other tip, make a chalk (or pen or something) mark on the sidewall of the tyre next to the valve. Then when you've located the puncture on the inner tube, you can work out where on the tyre to look for the thorn, glass, nail, stone or whatever that's caused the problem in the first place. Otherwise, you can sometimes search for ages and end up missing it and then you'll get another puncture fairly sharpish (sharpish, geddit?).

 

[nigelb]

Another tip.

Once you've got the inner tube out, and found the hole, it isn't always easy to spot the "sharp" that is still embedded in your tyre, waiting to puncture the tube again.

You can search for such things by running your fingers along the inside of the tyre, but if you do you'll then prob have to mop up the blood. Look carefully, might well be a thorn or a sliver of glass, don't blindly run your fingers round the inside of the tyre.

Nige

 

[gouldina]

Another tip.

Once you've got the inner tube out, and found the hole, it isn't always easy to spot the "sharp" that is still embedded in your tyre, waiting to puncture the tube again.

You can search for such things by running your fingers along the inside of the tyre, but if you do you'll then prob have to mop up the blood. Look carefully, might well be a thorn or a sliver of glass, don't blindly run your fingers round the inside of the tyre.

Nige

I actually managed to quite badly cut my finger but not on the sharp, on the edge of the rim of the tyre - a sort of nastier version of a paper cut. Got infected too unsurprisingly.

 

[Davidc]

You shouldn't be paying more than a couple of pounds for a normal inner tube.

I normally have one go at a repair, and if it doesn't work perfectly first time the tube gets used for other things and the bike gets a new one.

 

[chrisb1357]

Cheers for all the tips today people.

Got home this evening found the puncture stright away. was a couple mm long so must have been glass which sliced thew tyre and the tube. took me over an hour to repair the dam thing and now its back on the bike. cannot here any air comeing out but will wait until monring i guest.

I think i need to find some better tyres i think

Chris

 

[rh100]

The big tesco near us do cheap inner tubes - I presume most big branches would do them. Make sure you get the right size for the width of tyre - 700x35 etc. Also the valve type, presta or schraeder as the hole in the rim is a different size for either.

A couple of tips to add to the others - try to always line the valve up with the main graphics/label of the tyre on the sidewall - helps locate the valve quickly and assists when checking the tyre for glass bits comparing it to the tube as already suggested.

when the tube and tyre are refitted - but before inflation - push the valve back into the wheel a bit then pull out again, helps prevent it being pinched by the tyre.