| If you ride a bicycle the chances are that some day at | | | | the inside. If you feel anything check to make sure it is |
| some point it will break. In fact I received a program | | | | not the cause of the blowout, glass or a tack can get |
| the other day on a CD called Ride it Break it Fix it | | | | stuck in the tire, if you put the new tube in a tire that |
| which is all about repairing and maintaining a good | | | | has some sort of foreign object going through it then |
| functioning bicycle. | | | | the new tube will get flattened also. |
| There are those people that ride bicycles that have no | | | | Also before you put the new tube in, blow it up and |
| desire to learn how to repair them, but even those | | | | make sure there are no kinks. You don't have to blow |
| people should know how to do some simple | | | | it up too much, just enough to get the kinks out that |
| maintenance, fix a flat or do other minor repairs. | | | | are there from it being folded up in the box, or |
| I personally have ridden a bicycle as much as 120 Miles | | | | wrapped in a bag. Check also that the new tube has |
| in 1 day. I put between 2000 and 3000 miles on my | | | | no leaks. I have had a few brand new tubes that had |
| bike annually, so I need to be able to do some minor | | | | bad valves, or even holes in them. I have also had |
| repairs with minimal tools when out away form my | | | | tubes literally explode after they were placed in the |
| home base. Many recreational riders will not need to | | | | tire. The exploding tube can often be avoided by |
| have as in depth knowledge as a person that rides as | | | | making sure the tube is not twisted inside the tire. The |
| often or as much as I do, however they should still | | | | narrower tires that use the Presta Valve are the most |
| know a few things. This report will help you decide | | | | likely to have the problem. Install them carefully and |
| what you should know based on your mechanical | | | | make sure that there are no foreign objects in your |
| ability and riding style. | | | | tire. |
| Anyone that rides alone should know at least how to | | | | If you have quick release hubs on your bike then you |
| fix a flat tire. If you always ride with a group or you | | | | won't need any wrenches to remove the wheel from |
| always ride with a partner, especially if your ride with a | | | | the bike. For most bikes you will need a wrench to |
| partner that is very mechanical you may be able to | | | | remove the wheels from the bike itself. A set of tire |
| get by without this knowledge. You should still know | | | | removal tools are invaluable for changing a tube. I have |
| how to check the tire pressure and what it should be. | | | | one that I bought in Arizona back about 20 years ago. |
| Most of the time you will find the recommended tire | | | | It does not need to be fancy, the best one I have |
| pressure right on the side of the tire. Check the tire | | | | looks like a plastic screwdriver with a strange head on |
| pressure with a tire pressure gauge, not by the feel of | | | | it. I also have some Maxxis Tools that my grandson |
| the tire. Some tubes have Presta Valves, some have | | | | Jason won at McDonough Georgia at a BMX Race. |
| Schrader Valves, and make sure you know which one | | | | He picked up some Maxxis tires that day too. |
| you have. Most of the pumps in the US are made for | | | | Once you have replaced the tube and repaired the flat |
| Schrader and unless you have an adapter with you or | | | | and have put the tire back on the bike you should |
| your companion does, you may be out of luck even if | | | | check the wheel for True. That simply means that |
| you have a new tire and tube. | | | | when you spin the wheel does it wobble back and |
| You can purchase at most bike shops and at most | | | | forth or does the brake pads or the fork stay the |
| online bike stores such as Bike Nashbar, Bikmania, and | | | | same distance from the side of the tire all the way |
| Performance Bike a small device that pumps up bike | | | | around? |
| tires using a CO2 cylinder. These take a while to get | | | | Some of the causes of wobble can be a broken or |
| used to using, so buy some extra cartridges, you are | | | | weak spoke. It also can be that the tire is not centered |
| very likely to drain the first few without getting anything | | | | or that the quick release has not been tightened |
| in the tire itself. | | | | properly. You can ride a bike for a while with a wheel |
| It is best if you always carry an extra tube, or at the | | | | that is out of true, but you should have it checked and |
| very least a patch kit. I have found that patching a | | | | repaired at a shop very soon after finding the problem. |
| Mountain Bike Tube seems to work, patching a road | | | | If you have a broken spoke or a bent spoke, you |
| bike tube appears to be an exercise in futility. Your | | | | should have the bike checked by a competent shop |
| best bet if you ride a road bike is to carry an extra | | | | ASAP. If it is a matter of the wheel is incorrectly |
| tube, and unless you are very good with the CO2 | | | | seated or the quick release not being tightened simply |
| inflator, get a frame pump. I have had to carry my | | | | re-seat the wheel or tighten the quick release. |
| road bike for a few miles one time and now I always | | | | I plan to make a series of these reports on various |
| carry a new tube. | | | | aspects of bike repair and maintenance and will |
| Here's something no one ever tells you that could | | | | possibly be doing some videos that relate to these |
| save you a real headache. In order to replace the tube | | | | reports. |
| you need to take the old tube out of the tire and after | | | | For updates check back here or subscribe to my blog. |
| you do check the tire itself by running something along | | | | |