What to do in case of a puncture?
A puncture need not mean the end of your trip. We recommend that for
every bike trip you take a small bag containing the following: necessary
tools, spare inner tube, tire lever, patching kit, and a bicycle pump. The
best way to carry these is in a small bag attached underneath the
saddle.
With V-brakes or cantilevered brakes the brake cable must be
disconnected at the brake lever before the tire can be removed. On
racing bikes, open the quick-release clamp on the brake body. On
hydraulic brakes, the brake body can be fully removed using the quick-
release clamp on the brake mount.
If the bicycle is equipped with a hub dynamo, do not forget to
disconnect the cable!
On bicycles with coaster brakes first undo the screw on the brake lever,
then loosen the nuts on the wheel's axle. On bicycles with an external
gear shift system, shift to the smallest cog before removing the wheel,
to ensure that the derailleur does not get in the way.
If the tire is not fully flattened as a result of the puncture (the rim does
not touch the road surface), the puncture was presumably caused by a
foreign object (a thorn, for example); therefore, before inserting the new
inner tube, you should carefully check the inside of the tire with your
hand, and remove any foreign objects from it; otherwise there is a risk
that the new inner tube will also be immediately punctured.
It is advisable to prise the tire off the rim starting at the valve. You will
need 2-3 tire levers for this. Place one lever approx. 10 cm before the
valve, and use it to remove the tire at that point, then insert the hooked
end of the lever. You can free one side of the tire by running the other
tire lever around the wall of the rim. After this, you can remove the inner
tube for the necessary repair.
Be careful when inspecting the inside of tire, as thorns or shards
in it could cause injuries.
Having repaired the inner tube, inflate it slightly. Push the valve through
the valve hole located on the rim before replacing the entire inner tube
around the rim. To pry the tire back onto the rim, follow the steps of its
removal in reverse order. This means that the last part of the inner tube
to be inserted into the tire is near the valve.
Very important:
before inflating the tire, pull the valve slightly outwards
to prevent it from getting stuck between the tire and the rim. Tighten the
small screw that secures the valve only after this. Check that the lightly
inflated tire runs evenly around the rim before inflating it to the required
final pressure.
Patching
Please bear in mind that patching the tire under extreme temperature
and humidity is nearly impossible, as in these conditions the
vulcanisation process will not take place. In such conditions, carrying a
spare inner tube can be an alternative solution.
First, you must locate the hole. This could be difficult if it is too large (it is
difficult to inflate the inner tube for the check), or too small (the hole
cannot be found). If there is no water available, rotate the inflated inner
tube in front of your lips until you feel escaping air – this is where you
will need to coarsen the surface of the inner tube with sandpaper (if you
have a pen with you, mark the area first). Next, try to apply the
vulcanising material in a uniform layer (not too thickly, but covering an
area larger than the hole). You can check the extent of its drying with
your finger – naturally, do not do this where the patch will be placed.
While the vulcanising material is drying, take the tube repair patch and
remove the aluminium foil from it, taking care not to get any dirt on its
adhesive surface. If the glue has dried, place the patch over the hole,
and press it down tightly. The strength applied is more important than its
duration of pressing down.
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