How to repair a bike tire

Nothing ruins a good ride quite like a busted tube. If you do get unlucky and wind up with a flat bike tire, fixing it is easier than you think. Don’t worry, you got this. 

1. If your bike has brake pads, disconnect the brake from the wheel using the wrench. 

2. Now take the wheel off the bike.

3. Unscrew the valve cap and deflate the tube. Empty it right out.

4. Pinch the tire and insert the tire lever. It should come off pretty easily. 

5. Now hook the tire lever to flip the bead of the tire outside the rim.

6. Now use the second tire lever in there and work around the tip, flipping the rest of the bead outside the rim. 

7. Once you’ve got it outside the rim, pull out the inner tube. 

8. If you don’t have access to a spare tube, you can patch up the tube you’ve got. Find the hole, and use the abrasive pad to smooth out the rough surface, and then use the alcohol pad to clean the area. 

9. Let it dry for 30 seconds. Then apply the glue and patch, and leave that for about 30 seconds. 

10. Now, run your fingers along the inside of the tire to make sure there’s nothing in there that could cause another puncture. 

11. Put a little bit of air in the tube to give it some shape.

12. Now insert the valve stem into the hole of the rim, and begin to gently place the tube back inside the tire. 

13. Using only your hands, begin to work the bead back into the rim, moving from one side to the other. 

14. Once you’re sure the tube isn’t caught in the bead or the rim, inflate the tire to proper pressure and reattach it to your bike. 

And that’s all there is to it. Now you’re ready to hit the trails. We told you, you got this.