Flat tires happen every now and then. It’s part of life on bike, but it doesn’t have to be a huge hassle. In the video below, we’ll walk you through the whole process.

Note: if you’re getting flats frequently, it might be time for new tires. You can also take your bike to a shop and ask them to install tubeless tires, which use a sealant to self-repair flats while your riding. It’s a bit more fiddly and expensive, but can drastically reduce the risk of flat tires.

Materials You Will Need:

  • Tire levers
  • Pump
  • Marker
  • Patch kit

 Finding the hole in the tube:

  1. Inflate the inner tube and look for leaks
  2. Listen and feel for air escaping the inner tube
  3. In some cases, immersing the tube under water will help you identify where the hole is (look for the bubbles).
  4. Once you identify the hole, assess whether or not the patch repair kit is the best way to fix your flat. If you have a flat, always inspect the tire, tube, and rim to figure out where the flat originated from. Here are a couple different types of flats that you might find:
    1. A pin hole in the tube may be from a thorn, glass, metal etc (inspect the tire and remove the object if it’s still there)
    2. A pinch flat (holes on either side of the tube) usually means you hit a bump and the tube got pinched hard enough between the tire and the rim that it broke. It can happen if you don’t have enough air in your tires.
    3. A blow out (they’re pretty loud, usually) is the result of the tube escaping the tire, either from a tear in the tire or the tire not being fully seated on the rim. If the tire is torn, replace as soon as possible (in the meantime, you can use a tire boot patch)
    4. If there are no holes, see if the valve caused the leak. Put some soapy water on the valve and inspect for bubbles. If it bubbles, then tighten the valve)
    5. Inspect the rim – see if the rim strip is damaged or an spokes pole through. These can puncture your tube.

Once you’ve found the hole(s) in your tube, it’s time to get out the patch kit.

Patching

  1. Mark your hole with a marker
  2. Use the sandpaper from the patch repair kit to clean the area, make sure you use the sandpaper on the surrounding area of the hole.
  3. When possible, use a cleaning solvent, such as alcohol, to clean the area. You don’t want to use a solvent that leaves film.
  4. If you are using a pre glued patch (honestly, we don’t recommend these, they don’t last. But they’ll get you home in a pinch), peel the backing off and lay the patch directly over the hole, making sure the hole is in the center of the patch as best you can.
    • Apply pressure to seal the hole.
    • The tube is ready to put back in the tire. Do not test the tube by blowing it up outside the tire. You may blow it up past its capacity, which pulls on the patch and weakens it.
  5. If you are using a “vulcanizing patch kit,” open the liquid, dab some on the area of the hole, and use your finger or a clean piece of paper to spread the liquid around the area of the hole.
  6. Allow the fluid to dry – don’t rush! Test by touching the edge of the fluid.
  7. Once dry, peel off the back of the patch. Place the patch on the tube centered on the hole. Apply the pressure to the patch, especially the edges, for a few minutes.
  8. Leave the clear plastic cover on the patch.
  9. After a few minutes, inspect the patch and ensure that the edges are bonded to the tube.
  10. You’re done! You can place the patched tube back in the tire!