| from the website www.howto.tv Firstly, make sure that it's not your valve that's leaking. The best way to test this is to immerse the valve in water. If you can see bubbles, that's the problem. Repairing a puncture is easier at home than on the road, and you'll need the following tools and materials - tyre levers, a spanner, a puncture repair kit, a bike pump, a spare inner tube, and a bucket or bowl full of water. Locate the puncture by rotating the wheel and checking for sharp objects, which must be removed. To repair the puncture, first remove the wheel by loosening the wheel nuts with a spanner, and if you have a modern bike, operate the quick release bolts or mechanisms on your brakes. Take the wheel off. Check that the inner tube is deflated, push the side wall of the tyre away from the rim - this must be done on the opposite side to the value. Insert the flat end of a tyre lever into the gap, and push the lever down to hook over a spoke. Insert a second tyre lever next to the first and repeat the process. Place a third lever carefully under the tyre wall, and run it all the way round the tyre wall. One side of the tyre is now free, so you can reach in and pull out the inner tube a section at a time. Unscrew the valve and push it out carefully. Give the inner tube two or three bursts of air with your bike pump. Place the tube in a bucket or bowl of water, and look for bubbles. Mark your puncture with a crayon. Take the sandpaper from the puncture repair kit, and ... |
