Introduction
Fixing a puncture on a mountain bike is a task every cyclist should be able to do. It's easy to do when you know how, but many people make the job harder by not following the correct steps. Properly seating the tyre in the rim will reduce the need for tyre levers, and adding a small amount of air to the tube will make it easier to fit. Always carry a spare tube or patch kit and hand pump when you are out on your bike. It's also best to invest in a track pump to keep at home so that you can easily get the tyre up to the proper pressure.
This is a long guide, so you can choose to either watch the entire video above, or follow it in smaller chunks by clicking on the individual steps below.
1. Remove A Bike's Rear Wheel With Quick Release Skewer
Removing a rear wheel is a simple task, although the gear mechanism makes it a slightly more complicated than removing the front wheel.
2. Dismount A Bike Tyre
A bike tyre unmounts by getting the tyre bead off its seat and down into the 'well' of the rim, the part of the rim nearest the centre of the wheel.
3. Find The Source Of A Puncture On A Bike
To find a puncture is the only part that requires any initiative or imagination. The rest is just running through the drills. It's important - and reassuring - to trace the source of the tube failure to make sure you don't have the same puncture twice.
4. Fix a Puncture - Patch A Bike's Inner Tube
Even if you only ever plan to fit new inner tubes it's useful to know how to patch a inner tube. You may have multiple punctures on one trip and a patch kit - which only weighs a few grammes - will help get home. It's also useful if you meet a rider without puncture tools whose inner tubes are a different size to the ones you carry. If you want to patch inner tubes for routine re-use the most efficient way is to store punctured inner tubes until you have a few and then process them together.
5. Mount A Kevlar Bead Folding Bike Tyre
A tyre with a wire bead holds a roughly circular shape at all times. It's a little heavier than the same tyre with folding Kevlar bead, harder to pack but easier to fit.
6. Inflate A Bike Tyre With A Schrader Valve Or Auto Valve
The recommended pressure to inflate a tyre to is usually embossed on the tyre's sidewall, often as minimum and maximum figures rather than an exact target. There are a number of factors to consider when deciding how hard your tyres need to be(link to tyrepressurecheck.html)
7. Mount A Bike's Rear Wheel With Quick Release Skewer
Mounting a rear wheel with quick release skewer is simple, although the gears make it a slightly more complicated
Related Maintenance Tutorials
Fix A Puncture On A Road Bike
Find The Source Of A Puncture On A Bike
Fix a Puncture - Patch A Bike's Inner Tube
Bike Chain Wear
Lubricate A Bike Freewheel
Lubricate A Bike Chain
Check A Bike Freewheel
Mount A Bike Cassette
Dismount A Bike Tyre
Replace A Bike Dropout
Check A Bike Pedal
Replace A Bike Cassette