| Next to a road bike's chain, another common problem | | | | release you will need a box wrench to release the |
| often experienced by bikers is a flat tire. Fixing a flat | | | | nuts on the wheel. You might also need to release |
| tire is not really as complicated as it may seem. Once | | | | your brakes in order to get your wheel move through |
| learned, fixing a flat tire can be done in just minutes. | | | | the brake pads. |
| Probably the best approach to learning how to fix a | | | | Next step is to remove the tire. You can use a plastic |
| flat tire on a bicycle is by understanding the parts of | | | | tire lever to move the lip of the tire over the rim, on |
| the tire and how they go together. If you have a junk | | | | one side of the wheel. Simply slide the lever to pull the |
| bicycle stored in your garage, you can examine the | | | | lip over the rim all the way around the tire. In case the |
| parts of its tires probably even disassemble and | | | | tire keeps popping back into the groove, you could use |
| dissect the parts. | | | | two levers instead - that is, Use the first lever around |
| The tire, of course, is the black round rubber that gets | | | | a spoke, and then use the other lever to pull the tire lip |
| into contact with the road. The wheel, on the other | | | | over the rim. |
| hand, is the metal frame that holds and provides shape | | | | At this point, you should now be able to pull the tire and |
| to the tire. The rim is that part that the brakes grab on | | | | tube altogether off the rim. |
| to. The tube is the rubber thing that gets filled with air. | | | | The next thing to do is to pump up the tire like balloon. |
| In essence, when you experience a flat tire, what really | | | | This way, the air will be able to leak out of the hole |
| happens is a "flat tube." | | | | faster and you'll be able to hear it. The tube will not |
| So, the moment you experience a flat tire, the best | | | | pop so there's nothing to worry about. The reason for |
| move is to get off your bike and carry it to the safest | | | | keeping the tube in the tire while pumping it up is so |
| side for further inspection. Riding on a flat tire will only | | | | easily find where the leak is. You'll also easily see if a |
| damage the rims and may cost further problems. | | | | nail, thorn or pin is still stuck in the tire. |
| The next thing to do is to empty the tube by pressing | | | | At this point, you can now decide whether to patch |
| the valve on the tire to release the left air. Once done, | | | | the tube or replace it, depending on the size of the hole |
| turn your bike upside down and remove the wheel. | | | | or puncture. |
| Chances are, if you have a wheel that's not quick | | | | |