Got a flat tire and no tubes or patches? No matter how prepared you think you are or how many spare tubes and patches you pack in your bag, there comes a time when you end up facing a long walk out of the bush. It could happen on the quick after work spin where you forgot to throw another tube in your bag, or maybe during that epic death march that saw you and your friends make your way through every spare tube in the group - but all hope is not lost. By removing the flat tube, cutting it in half at the puncture and then tying it in a tight knot you may just be able to take a pass on the walk of shame. Keep in mind that this trail side repair is strictly designed to get you home and no further. Sure, it may hold air for days, but pedal carefully and be sure to replace the knotted tube with a new one once you get home.
What you'll need:. While this emergency repair doesn't require a new tube or patch kit, you'll still to get back up and riding. The 'repaired' tube will now have a much smaller diameter, making it a bit trickier to install than when you first put it in. Put one side of the tire onto the rim and then work the tube up and onto the rim. The tube should stretch enough that once it is onto the rim it will stay there on its own.
Now install the other bead and pump up the tire to a bit less than your usual pressure. Remember that this repair is only to get you out of the bush - go around any jumps or drops that you would usually hit and ride well under your limits, stopping frequently to check the tire's pressure.
This is especially true if you've repaired your front tire. Have you used this technique to get out of the bush? Have your own tips to add?
Put them down below! Past Tech Tuesdays: Visit to see their entire lineup of tools and lubes. Like I said, it was my pal Vish who came up with this stroke of genius, and we've lost touch (dude doesn't even ride anymore sob, and certainly is not on pinkbike). It was a long ago and my memory is a little foggy, but to my recollection it was pretty much a straight application of the rollup. Them suckas are sticky enough that I doubt you'd even need to lick it - I would guess a good approach would be to slap it directly on the tube, or alternately on the inside of the tire.
You might lose a little air until the magic combination of fruit-like substance and red dye #5 bonded to the tube/tire interstices, but after that I think you'd likely be solid for another lap. To all the people commenting on this technique only being used by people that were too stupid or cheap to pack a spare tube.Me and my buddy both had spare tubes with us and we both suffered flats, using up our tubes. On a Gnarly downhill section, he blew his spare riding a bit beyond his skill level. Thank god for the spandex clad lad that came riding by and offered us his spare. Its very odd that we would ever go through that many tubes in a run (sometimes dont use that many in a year). The point is though.This is a cool little trick that could get you out of the bush faster, and alot better than riding on the rim, or filling the tire with trash/leaves.which I have done both of before lol Reply.
I have used this method a few times, but I do it a different way.rather than tie the two ends together I tie each end in its own over hand knot that you can get really really tight and uses less tube to do so.then it is also easier to put the tube back on the rim and in the tire because it is not a smaller circle now.works well.I have used it when riding in arizona and all our patches got used up because of the bull head thorns, also in the rockies when the guys I was riding with were not prepared and my limited supplies soon ran out. In the bush?! - Uhm, excuse me mister tree, would you get me a dh tube for my bike.
Just wait here, i need to check with my staff. Hey, bear, do we have any tubes left? - Nah, bro, we're sold out. On topic: Last weekend my buddy got a flat and since we didn't have anything to do about it we just filled the tire with pine tree branches, it held long enough to get out of the bush without the need to push the bike down and walk beside it. Adobe flash cs4 full crack vn-zoom. But if you have a pump that sounds like a real trick.
Negative Pants, it isn't just about fixing a flat. The majority of riders that I know weren't aware of this trail side repair, but all know how to swap out tube. I always carry multiple tubes and a patch kit, but have actually run out during a few long and eventful rides and this job has got me out of the bush a few times in the last 15 years.
How To Patch A Bike Rear Roadmaster Tire
If it has helped me, it will help others. I'll give you a bit of cred though and assume that you were just having a bad day when you said that this TT is 'insulting'.
How can you find a helpful article that we took the time to put together for you insulting? I have no idea. +1 to brule and levy - I've used a similar technique on the trail when I've either given away my last spare tube, or just forgotten to restock my pack. The method I've used though, is to tie 2 tight overhand knots in each end of the cut tube, so you end up with a long 'hotdog' tube. It's a bit easier to get 2 tight knots this way. When you stuff it back in your tire, you end up with a small flatspot but it's good enough to get out and off the trail. And 98% of the riders I've told this to had never heard of it, and thought it was ingenious.
It works amazingly well if you take the 2 mins to do it properly.
Show the world just how resourceful you are next time you get a flat bike tire. With the help of some local plant life and some gusto you too can ride your bike to safety without the help of a standard repair kit. You're miles from home with a flat and reach for your trusty patch kit, but it's not there. Use these in-a-pinch tricks. You Will Need. A sunglass strap.
Leaves or grass Step 1: Remove the wheel Turn your bike upside down and remove the wheel. Then use your hands or a bike handle to separate one side of the tire from the rim. It's possible to fix a flat without removing the wheel, but much more difficult. Step 2: Take out tube Take out the deflated tube and determine the location of the hole. Step 3: Use a sunglass strap Wrap the strap from your sunglasses around the hole in the tube like a tourniquet, tying several knots around and next to the hole to create an airtight seal.
Step 4: Fill with leaves Fill the tire with as many leaves as possible if you don't have a strap. If there are no leaves available, fill the tire with grass, molding the grass to the outer part of the tire and working inward.
Make sure to fill the tire completely and evenly with the leaves or grass. Step 5: Replace wheel Put the tire back onto the rim and replace the wheel. Step 6: Ride home Ride directly and slowly home to avoid damaging your rim.
Remove all the leaves or grass before putting in a new tube. Cycling has been an Olympic sport since 1896.
Three Parts: Picture this: you're seven miles into a 15-mile bike trek through the wilderness when you hit an old, rusty nail and blow your front tire. What do you do — walk all the way back to the start of the trail and head home or fix your puncture and finish like a champion? If you know how to identify and patch holes in your bike's inner tube and you take the precaution of carrying a simple patch kit with you any time you take a serious bike trip, you have the luxury of being able to make this choice (rather than having it made for you).
Remove the wheel from the bike. The first thing you should do for any flat is to remove the affected wheel. Check the side of the wheel at the center of the spokes. If you have a quick release (which looks like a small lever), flip it over and spin it counterclockwise to loosen. If, on the other hand, you see a nut, you will need a wrench to loosen it. After this, disconnect the brakes, move the brake pads out of the way, and remove the wheel. If you're dealing with the rear flat, you'll also have the chain and gears to deal with.
Put slack in the chain by shifting into the smallest set of gears. Loosen the quick release or unscrew the nut holding the wheel in place as normal. If necessary, use your hands to pull back on the rear derailleur (the 'arm' that the chain passes through containing the small pulleys) and/or maneuver the chain out of the way as you remove the wheel.
Use tire levers to remove the tire. When you've successfully removed the flat wheel, take the outer tire off.
To do this, it can be helpful to use a sturdy prying tool. Some bike shops will sell small, specially-designed tools called tire levers for this purpose. Whether you use a tire lever or another tool, be careful not to pinch the tube and cause further damage as you work the tire away from the wheel. You can leave one lip of the tire over the wheel rim when you're done to make re-installation easier.
To be clear, you don't specifically need tire levers here. Any sort of prying tool that's strong enough for the task can work well. Even unconventional solutions like screwdrivers or butter knives can do an admirable job.
The Way of the Innertube - aka - How to fix a flat tire with your shoelace When it comes to fixing a flat tire I suggest first contemplating your philosophy towards life. The theory of the flat tire is simple, the reality can be maddening to the unprepared. Yet, there are many paths to your goal. In this article I hope to guide your journey and help you to learn The Way.
How To Patch A Bike Tire
This article is a complete guide to flat tire repair for anyone from the beginners to experts. There is no 'one size fits all' method here, instead I have brought together a wide range of best practices and some ideas to help you decide what is best for you. Even if you already know how to fix a flat, there is much here for you:. How to fix a flat tire - the standard method - videos. How to fix a flat tire - with only a smile. Understanding how flats happen on real bikes, not brand new $3,000 bikes.
How to remove a tire without levers. How to patch a tire without patches. How to inflate a tire without a pump. How to check tire pressure without a gauge. How to fix a rim without rim tape - This article is sponsored by and. An edited version of the article appears in Momentum Issue 49. The Responsible Rider – this upstanding member of society believes in full preparedness at all times.
They know how to fix a flat tire and always carry their Trusty Toolkit. For the budding Responsible Rider – follow the 3 handy steps below. For the rest of you, I suggest learning about the Responsible Rider and their Trusty Toolkit, then later we’ll see how other life philosophies might approach this challenge. Becoming a Responsible Rider: 1. Around the web there are hundreds of videos and instructions about fixing flat tires written by Experts.
I spent about 5 hours weeding through the endless fuzzy, grainy, mumbling amateur videos so that you don't have to. Here's the 5 best ones. IF YOU HAVE NEVER FIXED A FLAT BEFORE, GO WATCH THESE VIDEOS FIRST! Always carry your Trusty Toolkit when biking. I recommend the following: 2 plastic tire levers, innertube patches, a mini-size pump and a bike multi-tool. Your bike shop can hook you up with all this stuff and it will fit easily into any backpack or handbag.
You may prefer a spare innertube instead of patches – its bigger but you don’t have to spend any time finding holes in a popped tube. Carry patches even if you have a spare tube. If you have an old or beat up bike, i'd also recommend a roll of fabric sports tape. This can be used to repair flat-causing problems in the rim and the tire - both of which commonly cause flats on a junker bike. Practice changing your innertube and using patches a couple times at home before venturing out into the world beyond. Use the videos above for help. Try both front and rear wheels.
There is nuance to this process. You don’t want to be figuring out what does and doesn’t work in a rainy bus stop late at night. Ok, so that was great right?
You and your Trusty Toolkit and problem solved! After thinking about all the flat tires I’ve seen in the past 20 years, I keep remembering all the times that theory and practice just didn’t see eye to eye. All those videos in the last step might lead you to think that the only way to get a flat is from a piece of glass or a nail. Common ways a tire can get flat: 1. Sharp thing in the road.
Under-inflated tire: Slamming a curb or pothole with an under-inflated tire causes a “pinch flat” which breaks the innertube even without any hole in the tire. If you ever got a flat and couldn’t figure out why – this is likely the reason. Rim tape failure: This tape, plastic or rubber strip normally protects the underside of the innertube from sharp bits and holes on the inside of the rim. The rim strip may wear out after 5 or 10 years, especially on cheap bikes.
Mechanical failure of the rim: This mostly happens on junkers. Spokes can poke through the rim and into the underside of the tube, or the wall of the rim can get cracked so a sharp part gets against the tube or tire.
Valve leak: Sometimes they leak through the nozzle, which may be fixed with a little oil. Other times the valve may separate from the tube at the base, which is usually not fixable. The flat is not even on your bike! The Zen rider takes life as it comes. She has the confidence of the Responsible Rider, but she knows that being totally responsible every hour of every day is a burden to living life to its fullest. Knowledge, Technique and Creativity are the tools in her kit. The Zen Rider does more with less, and finds joy in the occasional unexpected adventure life throws her way.
As you grow on your own path to innertube enlightenment, I will provide you with my thoughts on the Way. We’ve covered the basics – what remains is a vast store of situational methods to help you solve any problem with whatever is at hand. The following steps assume you already know the traditional way of changing a flat shown in the earlier videos.
Stick-on patches are so small and light you can easily tuck them into every bag you own, or tape them to your frame tube. Even so, the Way of the Innertube guides us with other options since we can never predict what life will bring. You CAN fix an innertube without patches, but doing so is more for emergencies. You’ll want to fix it properly later. What are your options? Using only a shoelace or innertube (and maybe bubblegum):.
If you have a large hole squish some bubblegum, pine sap or other tarry goo over the hole. This isn’t even needed for small holes. Fold the innertube 1 or 2 times on top of the spot with the hole, keeping the hole facing inwards and squashed against another fold of the tube. Wrap the area tightly with either a shoelace, or a strip from another broken innertube. When you replace the tube, you must fold over the patched area so the inflatable portions touch. If you don’t the ends will blow out as soon as you inflate.
This method will hold 60 psi, I wouldn't push my luck going higher. Done well this method will not leak air, however I would not trust it for long term riding. Replace your innertube as soon as possible. Using only trash: Remove the tube and pack your tire as tight as possible with dirt, grass or rolled-up newspaper. The idea here is to give enough padding to protect your rim and also keep the tire from falling off. If you have tape, tape all around the tire and rim to help hold the tire onto the rim. Using 'fix-a-flat' for cars: Most gas stations will have this.
I have not tried it, let me know if you have. Using tent patches: The identical material used by the brand name stick-on tire patches is available in bulk rolls here:. Its also great for fixing tires, panniers, rain jackets, backpacks and other waterproof gear. There are some really tiny mini-pumps out there (as little as 6' long), but if you don’t have one seek out a gas station. Many gas stations have an outdoor coin-op pump available 24 hours. Your bike shop can get you a very small Schraeder-to-Presta valve adapter that will let you use the gas station pump on any type of innertube.
Gas station pumps will fill a bike tire in just a couple seconds – keep your hand on the stick and be ready to pull out fast! In more remote areas, locals with pickup trucks often have a tire pump. There is also the, but I can't recommend it both due to impracticality and immorality. Its just as large and heavy as a mini-pump, but it won't fill your tires to full pressure and if used carelessly will leave its host in a dangerous condition. Many gas stations also have 'fix-a-flat' made for car tires. This is a combination glue + pressure aerosol that should work on a bike too, although I have not tried it myself.
The Pump Challenge: do you know any other way to pump a tire without a pump? Assume you are at the side of a road with a flat tire, not in your well equipped shop. Can you figure out how to connect a 2 liter soda bottle you found in a dumpster to your valve, and stomp on it to pump up? One or two layers of fabric sports tape ('friction tape') is a good replacement for rim tape.
Duct tape can be used, but avoid the cheapest stuff which is weak and gets melty in heat. With a couple layers of fabric tape you can keep a sliced outer tire together at pressure - just apply wide strips of tape on the inside of the tire, this will last a long time. If you have a severely damaged rim with sharp cracks or spokes sticking out - you can probably use a bunch of tape to layer over these problems. If you don't have any suitable tape: On the rim-side, Any tight-woven fabric or even cardboard can be used to protect the tube from sharp bits of the rim, just be careful it doesn't get out of place when putting the tube in. If you have a rim strip but it's a bit worn and has holes: you may be able to just rotate the strip 1 inch along the rim, so that fresh bits of the strip are now covering the rim holes, and the worn-out bits are in non-critical areas.
Never, Ever use Fix a flat in your Bicycle Tire. The tube in the tire flexs way to much and will never let the gel/glue set. All you end up with is a Real mess, as a 10+ year bicycle mechanic I have had to repair more than a few flats where people thought they would try fix-a-flat. It smells very bad, hardens all over the rim and has to be sanded off (could cost more in labor time at bike shop). A better way to go would be; Check them out on u tube.