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The Fuss Free Guide to Puncture Repair
Author: Cycling Deal Date Posted:15 September 2016
If you ride a lot – or even if you don’t – it’s likely that you’ll experience a punctured tyre at some point. I don’t know about you, but most people don’t ride around with a bag of spare inner tubes, which means you need to know how to repair the tube on the spot.
What You’ll Need
You’ll need a little kit with you. This should include a couple of tyre levers, a small piece of sandpaper, some tube patches and rubber solution along with a tyre pump. This should all fit easily into a backpack.
Step 1: Removing the Tube
To remove the tube, let out any remaining air to make it as thin as possible. Next, put your first tyre lever under the bead of the tyre and push down to lift it away from the rim. Keeping that lever in place, put the second lever under the tyre bead and repeat the process. This should allow you get about half the tyre out of the rim and then remove the inner tube
Step 2: Finding the Problem
After the tube is out, check it over to see where the hole is. There are various methods to do this. The easiest way to do it is to pump air through the tube then listen, look, and feel for air escaping. Another way is to submerge sections of the tube in a tub of water while pumping air through the tube. That way you can see the air bubbling out of the hole when you reach the damaged section. This last method is most useful at home, but if you’re near a service station you may be able to do it there.
Step 2-and-a-Bit: Check the Tyre Too
If the puncture was caused by something penetrating your tyre, the offending object may still be there. Make sure you check the tyre thoroughly and carefully for glass, metal, and other objects while you have the tube out.
Step 3: Preparing the Tube
Use a small piece of sandpaper and lightly rub around the damaged tube in the area of the hole to provide a better surface for the rubber solution to grip.
Step 4: Apply the Rubber Solution
Next, apply the rubber solution to the tube. You need to apply only enough to cover an area the size of the patch. Once applied leave it for around 30-60 seconds. You want the solution to go tacky – don’t apply the patch until the solution is just the right consistency.
Patching the Hole
Now you're ready to carefully apply the patch to the tube. Make sure the patch covers the entire damaged area and then hold it against the tube for 30-60 seconds to make sure the whole thing is securely stuck down. Once the patch seems secure, pump some air through the tyre and check the patch has done its job properly. Then you’re ready to ride away.
