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Bicycle tires are the biggest problem when it comes to going flat. We cannot pull out a can of fix-it-flat and have it repair itself. You will need to do this yourself and for most people, this is a chore. To locate the cause of the flat, rotate the wheel slowly and inspect the tire. If you find a cut or puncture, mark it on the tire with chalk. Its position relative to the valve will help you find the leak in the inner tube.
Remove nails from the tire with pliers and pry out glass with a screwdriver. If there is no obvious puncture in the tire, test the valve. If the valve is ok, remove the inner tube to locate the leak.
First, remove the wheel. Unseat the tire with bicycle tire irons, or with spoon handles. Sharped-edged tools such as screwdrivers may cause more punctures in the inner tube.
After removing the tube, check the rubber around the valve. If it is torn or cracked, replace the tube. Do not patch over it. You can patch other types of leaks using a patching kit sold in bicycle shops. Before remounting the tire, inspect it to make sure there are no glass or metal fragments that remain inside.
If tire is still partially inflated, deflate it.
Unscrew valve holding nut, if any, and carefully push the valve stem up inside the wheel rim. With a spoon handle, pry a 9-inch section of tire over the rim. Leaving first spoon as a wedge, run a second spoon around entire rim to free tire.
With one side of tire clear of rim, carefully work the inner tube out. Check valve stem for damage. If none is found, partially inflate tube. Pinpoint leak by passing the partially inflated tube through water, stretching it slightly to enlarge any small holes. Look for telltale bubbles. Mark the puncture with chalk. Deflate inner tube and clean the area with emery cloth or sandpaper. Apply a light even coat of adhesive and let dry. Peel backing from the patch and press patch, sticky side down, over the puncture. Rub edges of patch firmly with spoon. Inflate after 5 minutes. To reapply the inner tube when repaired, ispect the rim to see that no spoke nipples protrude and that the rim band is smooth and perfectly centered. Pull back the tire's free edge to expose the valve opening. Insert valve stem and draw tire back over that section of
tube. Inflate the inner tube until it just begins to take shape. With your thumbs, tuck tube under tire and onto rim. Then, begin to press the tire's free edge inside the rim lip. When about 9 inches of free edge remain outside the rim, use your fingers to work this final section tightly into place. Check that both tire edges are properly seated. Replace valve-holding nut, if any, and inflate tire to correct pressure. One way to avoid a flat tire in the future, is by making sure the tires are probably inflated.
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