Brompton Roadside Rear Wheel Puncture Repair

How to remove your Brompton rear wheel to fix a puncture
So, you're out riding your Brompton folding bike and get a puncture, worse still it's the rear wheel / tyre
We show how to:
Remove the rear wheel and chain tensioner
Remove the tyre / tube and check that there's nothing that will cause an instant re-puncture
Install a new tube (lucky you always carry a spare - right?)
Re-install the tyre
Re-install the wheel
This may just save you an Uber fare
Yes - we were lucky and it was a Schwalbe One - but the same principles apply to all Brompton tyres
We were also going to show how to adjust the hub gears but ....
The video was getting a bit long and (the real reason) the battery went flat on our camera and we forgot to take the spares (so much for preparation)
This video shows how to set up the hub gears
• Brompton hub gear setu...
Worst case - you can just ride home with a singe gear

[@dpacyau]

I've been watching your tire repair videos. I had so much anxiety about commuting to work and getting a flat tire. Wouldn't you know it, yesterday while riding to work I ran over something and got a flat rear tire. I actually said, in my best British accent, "Oh, dear! I've got a puncture! And in my dreaded rear wheel!". As a 200 lb Hawaiian man, it sounded very funny. After a chuckle, I got to work with my Brompton toolkit and repaired it and kept going! Thanks much!

[@petercallaghan4718]

One other option to repair a puncture on a Brompton I’ve used at home and while out on the road, is to use vulcanising fluid (sometimes it’s in a repair kit or can be bought from Halfords) and the feather edge patches you get in most kits. It’s partly sticky and works in cold weather. I usually identify the hole in the tyre first, and if can’t see it, I just pull the tyre off one side of the rim only, without removing the wheel - I then pull most of the tube out just leaving it connected to the rim by the valve. I then put a little air in the tyre so I can spot the puncture, mark it, roughen the area with a bit of coarse sandpaper, then apply the patch when the vulcanising fluid is part dried. I feather outer edges on the outside of the patch so they stick to the inner tube. The patch has an outward facing thin plastic film, which I score corner to corner with a small penknife, so I can peel if off from Centre to outer rather then lift the stuck feathered edges of the patch. I then put the tube and tyre back and pump it up using a non Brompton pocket pump which has a capability of 120 psi. This sounds more difficult than it is to do, and I find it much quicker to do, as I don’t have to remove the wheel ( same for a front puncture). I use this method on racing cycles as well, replacing the tube when I think it has more patches than if should. The lubricant I use for the chain is a wax based one, which doesnt attract dirt. In the old days we washed and lubricated chains with diesel as it is waxy. Thanks.

[@lcf34]

Now with Marathon+ - insulting my bike, Schwalbe and every of their family members and ancestors, bleeding fingers, two destroyed tubes and 1 hour to cool down afterwards :)

[@spsallidas]

Useful video thanks. But your hand was blocking the view of what you were doing putting the chain tensioner back on!...

[@greghilliard7641]

Rule 49. Rubber side down. Velominatis rules of the cog

[@fernandomagalhaes2957]

Repairing a flat tire in a Brompton is slightly easier than in a normal bicycle, considering the sise and the weight of the parts, including the compactness of the brand specific tools; I am almost convinced to buy Brompton. Thank you for the wonderful "performing" video 😊 excepting the bench that could give more stability ....😁

[@jonathanmellish4439]

I felt sorry for you being out in the cold. The studio would have been much more comfortable. The first time I tried removing the rear wheel I got in a terrible muddle.

[@jonathanleach3914]

Well done. I had a rear puncture a couple of weeks ago so I know how cold it is on the hands. My “top tip” is to carry a pair of disposable gloves to prevent you getting your hands filthy!

[@MultiGraham]

Just successfully fixed a rear wheel puncture, thanks to this video. I brought my Brompton indoors in front of the computer and with much use of pause and play I followed it every step of the way until it was done. Thank you!

[@miffachan123]

I just love how these videos have no music. So relaxing.

[@19camo68]

Watched & used a few of your videos and … whilst ‘other videos are available’ yours are my ‘go to’ … well shot, clear, easy to follow step-by-step instructions, light touch humour and no unnecessary fluff or muscle.

[@nagatasan_21]

just got fixed a flat tire on my Brompton thanks to u. rlly appreciate all the vids

[@MrAndrewjdavis]

Changed the front tyre - no problem. Looked at the rear assembly of my 2 speed and thought hmmm - KZbin!!!

[@trolleyob]

Got a rear wheel puncture on my B75 recently- luckily at home- and I found this video on my tablet and just followed it step by step, and my first Brompton puncture repair was a breeze. Thanks for posting the easy to follow instructions.

[@frankhooper7871]

1st puncture on my e-Brompton today - rear-wheel, of course LOL. I didn't bother doing a roadside repair; just walked it home then did it in comfort. Just under 900 miles in 6½ weeks.

[@timothymuldoon]

Love love love my Brompton. Hate hate hate this maintenance piece. I sell bikes for a living. Spoke with a Brommy rep and was told their biggest plan for Brompton innovations is getting this a lot closer to replacing a tube on a "normal" bike. Hope so.

[@happyhome41]

I've had my Brompton -- 15 years ??? (old shifters and so on) Original Schwalbe Marathon Plus had a sidewall separation yesterday -- haven't seen that in a bicycle tire in a long time, and my first for a Schwalbe. Your videos have been a life saver.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

And I like that You take off all the tyre and tube, for more efficient work on it!

[@terencechipchase1761]

Absolutely brilliant. Nice pace and super thorough and easy to follow. The right voice too for doing something that can be stressful. I've just got a Brompton. Forewarned is fore-armed

[@N.i.l]

Excellent video! Must see for all lucky Brompton owners. A huge thanks!