These processes can vary depending on your style of bike, so be sure to refer to specific instructions or follow-along videos, and practice the procedure(s) prior to going out on the road. Remove the wheel and be sure it is free from the chain.Pull the derailleur gently backwards to free the wheel.Many wheels today have a quick release axle system, if this is present on your bike, you’ll have to open the lever to release the wheel.Then, as with the front wheel, open up the brake pads by using the release lever.Start by putting your gears to the smallest cog (gets the chain out of the way).Rear WheelĪ little more tricky, but easy to master with just a bit of practice. This allows more room between the tire and the brake pads, making it easier to remove the tire. It can also be helpful to release the brakes by looking for a caliper lever up near the top of the forks and opening it. On modern bikes, the front wheel usually has a quick release lever that can simply be opened to free the front tire from the forks it sits in. Regardless of which one, it will be easier to place the bike upside down resting on the saddle and handlebars so you don’t have to worry about balancing it while working. Step 1: Remove the Wheelĭepending on whether it is your front or rear wheel with the flat will vary this step a little bit. Here is how to fix a flat, step-by-step, using the tools above. Once you have these items, the next step is learning where and how to use them. Spare inner tube (same size as your tire).The following items should be carried with you so you’re prepared to fix a flat on your bicycle at any time in any place: (Image credit: Andrei/Adobe Stock) Things to Carry With You So let us train properly! And learn one of the most fundamental skills any cyclist should know, one with the potential to get you home in any variety of sticky situations anytime out there on the road or trails. “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.” While it may be intimidating at first, a few practice run-throughs of the steps involved can make all the difference when you have to do it in an unfamiliar environment, perhaps tired from the journey, or even after a resultant spill or injury.Ī saying, attributed commonly to the Greek poet Archilochus, could be most appropriately referred to in our preparation: A sure way to mitigate the stress of this inevitable situation is by familiarizing yourself with your bike and learning how to fix a flat all on your own. Seldom will you come across a more frustrating and annoying problem than the sudden deflation of your bicycle tire while out on a ride.

How to fix a flat tire