Learning How To Change A Tyre....

[DeepBurn]

So I'm clocking up a few miles a week now with my new bike, but I know that one day I will get a puncture and I have to be honest I wouldn't be able to change an inner tube at this moment. Just wondering how people learnt.

Any advice on learning this essential skill that cyclicts need?!!
Also does it matter which puncture repair kit you carry or are some better than others?

 

[MrJamie]

Practice at home with warmth and light rather than in the dark on the side of a freezing country lane Theres probably videos on youtube explaining it quite well if you watch a few.

I learnt as a child i think, as my dad was quite a keen cyclist. Its rather easy, but there are a few things that you can get wrong, most commonly is that whatever pierced the tube can still be embedded in the tyre or moving round loosely inside the tyre so itll puncture again once you get going. Always worth going round the tyre slowly feeling it from the inside and checking the bottom of the tyre for loose bits. If you mark where the valve was on the tyre (or put the tyre on so that a logo is by the valve) it gives you a clue as to where the puncture happened in the tyre. Also if you have a minipump without a host connector be careful about putting pressure on the valve when inflating, i broke a couple of tubes like that

 

[Rob500]

Deepburn.
As your posting this question shows, you already know the importance of getting the knowledge now instead of waiting until you actually have to do it for real.

So, with this in mind - Practice now at home. Take a wheel off and take the inner tube out and replace at your own pace. Don't rush it.
Take 1 or 2 spare tubes with you and keep the repair kit at home. It's easier to put a new tube in on the road. Mend the old tube when back at home.

 

[Primal Scream]

Pretty simple really just be carful you dont trap the tube when putting the tyre back on.

Better to carry a spare tube or two if you can rather than repair a puncture when you are out although I would still carry a repair kit as well. Just buy a Halfords basic kit.

For how to do it info try youtube.

 

[DeepBurn]

Deepburn.
As your posting this question shows, you already know the importance of getting the knowledge now instead of waiting until you actually have to do it for real.

So, with this in mind - Practice now at home. Take a wheel off and take the inner tube out and replace at your own pace. Don't rush it.
Take 1 or 2 spare tubes with you and keep the repair kit at home. It's easier to put a new tube in on the road. Mend the old tube when back at home.

Well I often ride in the countryside, where there is no phone signal, so all that runs through my head is 'what if something goes wrong?!'

Thanks for the advice though - good tips from yourself and MrJamie

 

[Pauluk]

When I first learnt to do it I found the hardest bit was getting the tyre on and off and putting the tube back without it twisting.

After watching a few youtube videos and practicing at home I now find it easy. A puncture now is a minor inconvenience not a catastrophe.

By all means carry a puncture repair kit, but its best to carry a couple of spare tubes as Rob500 says.

 

[Rob3rt]

Well I often ride in the countryside, where there is no phone signal, so all that runs through my head is 'what if something goes wrong?!'

Thanks for the advice though - good tips from yourself and MrJamie

Then you walk to the nearest village and use a payphone to call yourself a taxi or someone to come get you. Ride over, not a lot of fun, but you won't die out in the wilderness!

 

[DeepBurn]

Then you walk to the nearest village and use a payphone to call yourself a taxi or someone to come get you. Ride over, not a lot of fun, but you won't die out in the wilderness!

I know I won't die. I'd sooner learn a basic skill than have to walk to the next village that's all!!

 

[Rob3rt]

I'm talking about more serious issues than a puncture.

Changing a tube is simple, go get a wheel off of your bike and practice. Don't just take the front wheel, do the rear since that one takes a bit more effort (marginal) to get out and you could do with the practice.

 

[Rob500]

Regarding the question of which repair kit. It's easier nowadays just to buy the self-adhesive patches rather than go through the whole sandpaper, glue & chalk routine.

 

[MrJamie]

Regarding the question of which repair kit. It's easier nowadays just to buy the self-adhesive patches rather than go through the whole sandpaper, glue & chalk routine.

Any brand recommendations for these, ive seen the scabs ones Slime make? I dont puncture a lot with Marathon+ tyres and keep a spare tube in my bag, but repairing with glue in winter always seems something id like to avoid.

I also really could do with getting some decent levers that are upto the job of the M+

 

[Hebe]

I booked a basic maintenance skills training class at my LBS, then practised at home and replaced a tube for the mister when he had a flat. It made such a difference to my confidence, I carry a spare tube and some tyre levers now and know that I can get myself going again.

 

[Rob500]

Any brand recommendations for these

I've used these in the past. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/self-adhesive-patch-kit-id_8176479.html

Also have a pack of these though never used them. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7206
Picked them up one day that I was in CRC cause I can't walk out without buying somethng. %$£&( ers.

 

[RWright]

I just had another &$**%#ing flat tire this evening,not sure what I hit but I heard it when it happened. Two in the last week, I can normally be back up and running in about 10 minutes but this time I was using a spare tube that I had patched (not very well I should add), because I ran out of new tubes and just ordered 8 this weekend but hey have not yet arrived. The patched tube would not hold air and I was about as far away from my house (8 miles) as is possible on this route. I did not have my cell phone with me either.

While I was changing the tube I noticed a red sport utility vehicle was pulled off the side of the road about 50 yards past me. In a minute or two a very nice lady walked back to ask if everything was ok and if I needed a ride. Being the macho idiot that I am said thanks but everything is fine, I have a spare tube. She looked again at me all greasy and sweating and said...are you sure. She was a very fit nice looking lady that I suspect was a cyclist, runner or triathlete type person and me looking like ...well..let's just say that I look like I am more in the early stages of looking like a cyclist, runner or triathlete type person, very early stages. She looked a little hesitant about leaving but I assured her I was fine. She had not been gone 3 minutes or so when i realized my patched tube wasn't going to hold air.

I decided that with my SPD SL cleets on that I would be better off walking away from my house to a convenience store about a mile away, there are no stores between where I was and my house. As soon as I started walking I noticed a pick up truck pulled off the side of the road a few hundred yards up. I crossed my fingers. When I was about 50 yards away the truck starts and takes off, I immediately put out my thumb.
The young man driving pulled over and asked me where I was going, I told him I had a flat and wanted to go to the end of the bypass. He said sure, throw your bike in the back. We had a good little chat and he took me all the way home. I offered him some cash for his gasoline and time but he would not accept it.

I was very fortunate this evening. I think it still being daylight out helped but more fortunate to have had two very considerate individuals in my area at that time. It doesn't always happen like that. The moral of this short story is: learn how to change tubes and keep two(good ones) on your bike, along with a pump or CO2 inflator and a couple of tire levers, at all times. If you ride you will eventually have a flat tire, some of us more often than others.

 

[boxer]

I started a thread just like this last earlier in the week as i also dont want to get caught short at the wrong time. Checkout the thread as i got lots of good advice!

One of the links that helped - http://www.totalinnertubes.com/blog/wedite-red-devil-self-seal-patch-howto and also, there are plenty of good tutorials on youtube that a worth looking at. (ill dig some out and post later)