10 Easy Steps to Fixing a Flat Tire: …and Common Pitfalls to Avoid

[@anthonyg-can]

This is the best video I have seen on replacing a tube. Saved in my favorites.

[@bikesbymike]

Hah! You’re the best. Thanks, Anthony!

[@normwachholz7221]

Another tip taught to me by Glenn G. is to position the tire so the recommended tire pressure indicated on the side wall of the tire is just above the valve. If you own more than one bike it's a quick way remind yourself what you should be inflating to. Also, it's useful to have a small length of duck tape with you to fix a tire that's split, or to patch an inner tube hole quickly. You can leave a length stuck somewhere on the bike on your water bottle.

[@normwachholz7221]

Mike, I'm not sure I'm with you on leaving the cap off on the presta valve and the nut. If you get dust, mud and other stuff in there, it can contaminate the presta valve which can lead to a slow leak. This is my hypothesis, no scientific evidence. The plastic caps weigh less than a gram (didn't register on my coffee scale), thus no impact to performance unless you include not looking like a geek a performance metric. Also, the nut is useful when the tire has no air, try pushing a pump nozzle onto a presta valve on a tire without air, it quickly disappears into the hole. Great video.

[@bikesbymike]

Valve caps only look right on kids bikes :) I would bet in the history of cycling there has never been a single valve failure caused by one not using a valve cap. Possibly 1or 2 failures due to a cap used on a valve that trapped dirt, moisture and salt and then resulted in a subsequent failure. As for the valve retaining nut, a simple pushing down on the tire will prevent the valve from getting lost in the tire--like I did in the video. It's so easy, you didn't spot it. Plus, using them creates its own problems. Like my sister's valve nut on her commuter bike that seized onto the valve due to corrosion caused by all the salt on the roads. Had to grab pliers to pry it off to replace the tube. Try dealing with that on the side of the road. That happened yesterday. You'll need a stronger case to convince me, Norm. Or a personal endorsement from a pro rider, which would help my channel. Seriously, thanks for commenting. It helps the KZbin algorithm! Cheers.

[@KevinBaggs]

One tip. When you remove the tube inflate it to see where the puncture occurred. Then you can use this to see where on the tire the puncture occurred based on the distance from the valve.

[@bikesbymike]

Good tip!

[@user-ik1ni2mw8z]

Remember Mike - for best results stick trailchump stickers around the valve to keep norm’s schnitzel breath away from valve core. Just sayin’

[@bikesbymike]

Mike, the decal has been safely removed from the tire and ready for use in another episode. TrailChump lives on.

[@user-ik1ni2mw8z]

@@bikesbymike Feeling the love mike - more stickers coming your way soon. :-)

[@normwachholz7221]

Mike, you need to sell some merch, like bike tire stickers by some west coast "artist" so they can be prominently displayed on the inside of a tire.