Changing your flat tire                                                                             

 Your bicycle seat or handlebar bag should have the following in it… a spare tube, a patch kit, a set of tire levers and an axle nut wrench if you do not have quick release wheels. A packet of hand wipes will help you clean up afterwards. You’ll need a pump. For use while riding, mini pumps are convenient for emergencies but for at home for regular maintenance, the bike experts at Emerys recommend a good floor pump with a gauge build in. To remove the wheel from the bike, you may have to widen your brake pads. Most bikes have a simple brake cable release mechanism to do this. Before removing your rear wheel, shift the chain to the smallest of the gears. This makes it significantly easier to get it out and back in. Use the tire levers to remove only one side of the tire. Remove the tube. Check the tire inside and out for the cause of the flat. It may still be stuck in the tire. If you patch your tube be sure to not get finger print oils on the patch or the tube. Place the tube on a smooth surface, place the patch on and press as hard as you can to secure the patch. Put the tube valve back into the rim first. Then carefully stuff ALL of the tube up into the tire. Try your best to force the tire back onto the rim without using any tool. If you do need to use the tire levers, be sure not to pinch a new hole in the tube. As you inflate, you’ll need to check the tire to be sure there are no high spots where it attaches to the rim. If there are high spots, let the air out; be sure the tube is not stuck between the rim. Re-inflate and check as before for proper tire seating. Inflate to the maximum pressure printed on the side of the tire. It will ride easier, and protect the tire and tube from undue damage. By the way, bicycle tires loose three to ten pounds of pressure weekly, so re-inflation should be done regularly.

Milwaukee’s Best Bicycle Store…. That's Emery's Super Fitness Stores, holds free bike care clinics where you can learn to change your tires and much more.