FATBMX Kids: How to fix a flat. Step 1 to 10. By Philip de Jong

Sep 11, 2013

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 7199 times

A few days ago I got a flat tire. I hit a huge nail. My tire was flat fast. I walked home. I had never fixed a flat tire before so this was my first time. When I took the tube out, I saw a small hole on the top and a big hole on the bottom. This tire could not be patched up any more. That's when a visit to Paul's Boutique was made to get a new 18" inner tube. Back home I was ready to put the new tube on the bike. Here is the step by step on how I did it. Maybe it helps you fix your tire next time.

Step 2: Pump up the tire just a little bit. Make the tire round but keep it small enough so you will be able to fit it inside the tire.

Step 3: Put the inner tube into the tire. Start with the valve.

Step 4: Try to get that tube in there. All the way around. The last part is a bit tricky.

Step 5: Keep pushing. It's difficult the first time, but it will get easier after a few flats.

Step 6: Put the ring back on the valve. Don't screw it all the way down. Do that once you're finished with everything.

Step 7: Now it's time to put the tire back on the rim. Start on one side of the valve. It doesn't matter which way you go.

Step 8: Once the tire is on the rim, start pumping up the tire. I made a mistake by doing this before putting the wheel back on because it did not fit through the brake. But that way fixed by unhooking the brake, and putting it back on afterwards. If you want to avoid dealing with the brake, put the wheel in first, and then pump up the tire.

If you are patching up your tube (not recommended, but it's cheaper and sometimes the best and only option), make sure the tube is actually sealed up properly. It just sucks to put the wheel back in first and then find out that the patch didn't work.

Buy a spare tube and take it with you, or save one at home. You don't want to be stuck not riding on a Sunday when the shops are closed.

Step 9: Put the wheel back in. The chain was all tangled up but there's a way to get the figure 8 out. Make the circles as big as possible and the chain will go back into the right form. If your chain is greasy, you'll end up with dirty hands.

Step 10: Put the valve cap back on. This tube came with a tricky clear one. Flat fixed. Time to ride again. Watch out for the nails in the streets.

Thanks to Uncle Paul. Buy your tubes at www.paulsboutique.nl