The Puncture Part 2 of 2 - Never Fear a Puncture Again

Many people are put off from riding reasonable distances due to the possibility of punctures. To others, punctures are the last thing in the world they think about as they go zooming out into - the wilderness. The latter often face the long walk home, such a shame when with a small amount of pre-ride preparation the walk could have been prevented.

With a bit of practice most people will be able to "repair" at least one puncture during a ride, more if you are very prepared. They say you should never leave home without a certain plastic card - a cyclist should never leave home without at least one spare inner tube, tyre levers and a means of reinflating a tyre. These can easily be stored in a small pouch under your saddle or even a bum bag (never understood why they call them that when you wear them at the front).

To show how easy the job is. At the risk of being sexist we asked a lady cyclist to perform the task for us. And we asked her to do it with the rear wheel, on her bike which is a fully equipped Dawes World Tour and without the aid of a safety net and nail-file.

Part 2 - Replacing a tube.

Step 1 - Starting at the opposite side to the valve, insert a tyre lever between tyre and rim and push downwards lifting the tyre rim over the edge
	Steps 2  - You can lock the tyre lever in place by hooking the lever around one of the spokes as shown. This leaves you both hands free for the next lever.
Step 3  - You simply insert the second lever as shown and gradually work your way around, lifting the tyre over the rim.
	Step 4 - Now the potentially dangerous bit. Having removed the inner tube you must then check the tyre to remove what may have caused the puncture but PLEASE BE CAREFUL. Your fingers are the best tools for this job but go carefully if the cause of the puncture was a fragment of glass it could slash your finger. We even heard recently of a guy who was "stabbed" by a syringe needle.
Step 5 - having replaced the new tube re-seat the tyre starting again at the opposite side to the valve.. Usually thumb pressure is all that is necessary but if you find it necessary to use a tyre lever, be careful not to knick the new tube between lever and rim.
	Step 6 - re-inflate the tyre. As mentioned earlier gas cyclinders like the above make light work of the task of inflating your tyres. Most CoBR members will stock these items.
Types of Punctures There are two basic types one caused by an article entering and puncturing the tube, a thorn, glass etc or what are referred to as Snake Bites. The former are the most frequent unless you happen to ride with your tyres under-inflated. A snake bite is caused when you hit a rock. kerb or similar and because your tyres do not have sufficient pressure the tube is "jammed" between the tyre and the rim causing the double hole where the rim hits the tube which gives this puncture its name. previous