How Do You Patch A Bicycle Tube?
Bicycle tires flatten when the tube gets punctured either by a foreign object or a ‘pinch flat’ (a flat caused by under inflation of tires). A tube can be easily replaced, and patching up the punctured or pinch-flatted tube can be a cheaper way to replace a future flat. There are two kinds of patch kits: glueless and glue. • Locate the hole that’s causing the leak. This can be done by inflating the tube until it expands as big as a car tire. • Listen for any hissing noise or feel for any air coming out of the tube. You can also plunge the tube in a bucket of water and look for bubbles coming out of the tube. • Once the hole is located, check if it was caused by a foreign object (a piece of broken glass, a thumb tack, etc.) or a pinch flat (a snake bite looking puncture). Check the inside of the tire for any protruding foreign objects and remove. • Mark the hole in the tube, use a piece of chalk to do this. • Open up a patch kit. There should be sanding paper, glue, and the patch for gl
