in Five Easy Steps
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How to Fix a Flat
in Five Easy Steps |
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The items listed here are just the essentials. A cell phone is always a good idea in case of an emergency. Money is not only good for food, but also for patching tire sidewalls. Before attempting to change a flat, you should already be familiar with how to remove a wheel from your bicycle. |
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Insert the tire lever between the bead of the tire and the rim. Fold back the tire lever to unseat the bead of the tire. Gently slide the tire lever around the edge of the rim to completely remove one side of the tire. If you have a stubborn tire, you may need to use two tire levers to unseat the bead of the tire.
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Starting from the opposite side of the valve stem, reach into the tire and remove the punctured tube. Once the tube is completely removed, inspect the tube and the tire for the cause of the puncture. It is helpful in finding what caused the flat to run your fingers gently along the inside of the tire in search of any sharp objects.
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Once you have found the cause of your puncture, it is time to install the new tube. First start by inserting the valve stem into the rim and then gently push the tube into the tire. Adding a small amount of air to the new tube to give it a round shape will greatly help with installing the new tube.
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Once the tube is fully inside the the tire, it is time to reseat the bead of the tire onto the rim. Again, starting at the valve stem, use your thumbs to gently roll the bead of the tire onto the rim. Try to work the tire onto the rim from both directions, until you are opposite the valve stem. Take great care to not pinch the new tube between the tire and the rim.
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Once the tire is completly seated onto the rim, inspect between the bead of the tire and the rim to be sure the tube is not pinched. Partially inflate the tube making sure the tire remains seated. If the tire is seated properly, fully inflate your tube and ride away happy. When it comes to changing flats, always remember, practice makes prefect
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For
more help with bicycle |
CycleMania |