What’s in Your Bike Bag?
By Dennis Tate

Picture yourself riding along an extended stretch of road on a brisk autumn day. Each pedal stroke is drifting you into a daydream. Suddenly, the scenery morphs to stone walled
vineyards on a tree canopied road. The aroma of fresh bread wafts through the air. PSST!!! Is that some French person trying to get your attention or air rapidly escaping from your tire? You realize it is the latter and immediately pull to the side of the road. You whip out your cell phone to call… wait a minute… there’s no AAA for bicycles. It’s time to take off the gloves and learn how to change a flat tire.

Before undertaking this task, ask yourself this question. What is in your bike bag? Do you have only old cue sheets and a half eaten energy bar? A bike bag should carry tools and supplies for minor repairs. Here is a minimal list of contents for a bike bag: tire irons, spare inner tube, patch kit, chain connector link, multi tool (tool should contain at least 4, 5, 6 mm Allen wrenches and a mini chain tool), mad money. Except for the mad money, all these items can be found at your bicycle shop. Let’s get back on the side of the road and fix that flat tire!

After opening the brake calipers, unlock the quick release and remove the wheel. If this is a rear wheel, make sure the chain is in the smallest rear cog before removal. Inspect the
outside of the tire for cuts and the villain that caused the flat. If you find it, remove it and get the tire irons. Starting at the opposite side of the rim from the valve stem, here are the steps to fix your flat:

• With one hand, pull back the tire and with the other hand insert the spoon end of the tire iron under the tire bead.
• Push down on the iron and secure the hook to a spoke.
• With a second tire iron; repeat the above steps around the entire wheel until one side of the tire is off the side of the rim. You do not need to hook the second iron to a spoke.
• Remove the inner tube and gently feel the inside of the tire with your fingers for any protruding objects. If you find any, remove them.
• With your air pump, inflate the spare inner tube with enough air to give the tube a limp form.
• Inserting the valve thru the valve hole, push the inner tube inside the tire cavity.
• Starting at the valve stem and with your thumbs, push the side of the tire up allowing the tire bead to move over the top and into the middle of the rim. Repeat this procedure until the entire tire bead is secured to the inside of the rim. Depending on the tire size, you may have to release some air from the tube to aid in the tire mounting. DO
  NOT USE ANY TOOLS TO MOUNT THE TIRE. This may cause a pinch of the tube and another flat.
• Make sure the valve is straight. Lock the air pump to the valve and start pumping.
• Pause on occasion to check the tire for proper seating to the rim. You don’t want to see the inner tube peeking out from under the tire. If it does, unlock the pump, let out
  some air, reposition the tire, lock on the pump, and inflate to the desired air pressure.
• Insert the wheel into the frame, lock the quick release, close the brake calipers, and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

dennis@hhracinggroup.com