How to Fix a Puncture

How to Fix a Puncture 

Getting a puncture isn’t ideal, trust us we get it. On the bright side, a puncture isn’t the end of the world. All you need is just a few simple tools and our step-by-step guide to be back on the road in no time!  

Firstly, you need to start with the wheel. Remove the wheel from the frame by unfastening the screws that hold the axle in place. Once these screws are unfastened, the wheel should just pop out from the frame. (Be sure to keep any screws you remove close by as you’ll need those later!)

Next up is the tire. (That's the rubber bit that goes around the wheel.) Using a tire lever, insert the lever between the tire and rim. Move the tire lever the entire way around the wheel - removing the tire from the wheel. When the tire is detached from the wheel, remove the tube from inside the tire. 

Once the tire and the tube are removed from the wheel, you will need to inspect both, to find what caused the puncture. By running your fingers along the inside of the tire, hopefully you will find debris that caused the puncture, such as a torn or a nail. Also check the tube, by running your finger along the surface of the tube, to find any debris that may still be lodged in the tube. Clear any debris found from the tire and tube to ensure that they do not cause further punctures. 

Next, you need to find the hole/puncture in the tube. If the hole is not clearly visible to the eye, you’ll need to use a basin of water to find the hole. Pump the tube up as best you can, and place the tube under the water in the tube. By doing so you will be able to inspect where the bubbles are coming from, therefore locating the puncture. You should mark the location of thwith a sharpie/pen. 

With the puncture located and marked, you will need to prepare the area for the patch and glue. Sand the rubber around the hole, this will help the glue to adhere to the surface of the tube. Next you need to apply the glue to the sanded area around the hole. Squeeze a small amount of glue into your finger and rub it around the hole.

With the glue in place, the hole must be patched. Align the patch over the hole and then press it down. Hold the patch over the hole for 1 minute. This will help ensure the patch adheres to the glue. 

Once the patch has set to the glue, you can begin to pump air back into the tube. Pump the tube up sufficiently and leave for a few minutes. After a few minutes, check to see if the tube is the same size. If the tube has deflated, the patch may not be set correctly or there is another hole in the tube that you may have missed. If the tube has kept the air in, the tube is repaired. Well done!

Now that your puncture is repaired, you will need to reassemble everything!

First you should start with placing the tube (deflated) into the lining of the tire - trust us this will save time and hassle. With the tube placed inside the tire, the tire must be placed around the wheel. Make sure the valve for the tube is placed through the valve hole in the wheel. Using a tire lever, work the tire around the wheel, placing the tire behind the rim of the wheel. 

With the tire now placed nicely around the wheel, pump the tube up to your desired tire pressure. The wheel can then be reattached to the frame of the bike. Once that is done, you are good to go!