When Mountain Bikes Go Flat

There’s more to mountain biking than just mountain bike helmets and mountain bike clothing. Together with the exercise that it gives and the scenic views one gets upon reaching the peak comes the responsibility of looking out for oneself and the bike itself.

Mountain biking is a tad more dangerous than road cycling in the fact that the terrains are uneven, unpredictable and rough. Mountain bike tires are more susceptible to damage than most bike tires are. This is why a mountain bike gear is not complete without the basic tools and skills in repair and fixes necessary – an example of which would be a flat tire.

If you encounter a flat tire, remove the wheel with the flat tire from the bike. Check for any object that may have caused the deflation and remove it. You have to remove the tire from the rim by using tire levers to make things easier. Take out the tube and find the hole. You can either feel the air leak by hand, by ear as it hisses and the most popular way of dipping the tube in the water and looking out for bubbles. This is where your kit from your mtb gear comes in handy. Apply a thin piece of adhesive to that particular area and let dry by adding pressure for a couple of minutes. After making sure that the holes have already been sealed shut, place the tube back into the rim and re-seat the tire. Add air to your tire by the use of a pump and your tires are as good as new.

No matter how complete your bike gear is, if you don’t know how to fix your tires, you’ll end up getting stuck.