Your On-The-Go Bicycle Tire Repair Kit

One of the best things about using a bike for a vehicle, besides the fact that it's better for the environment and provides you some great exercise while you travel, is that a bike hardly ever breaks down if it is kept maintained.  You don't have to worry about it over heating or blowing a gasket.  At worst you may get a flat tire.  If you bring a long your On-The-Go Bicycle Tool Kit, you will have all you need to repair your bike tire tube in case of this emergency.  You do not need many tools, they are all lightweight, and if you ride often enough, they may very well come in handy one day.

Here's what you need inside your kit:

1. Hand Pump

If you bring absolutely nothing else with you, a hand pump may be able to help pump enough air back into your flat tire to get you home.  Some people prefer to use a CO2 cartridge because it's much easier, however you need to be careful that it doesn't get exhausted.  There is nothing worse then having a flat, you actually having a tool kit to replace it, but your CO2 cartridge is empty.  Hand pumps are lightweight, portable and they don't ever go empty on you.

Make sure you get a pump that fits your valve.  This isn't usually a problem but it can be in rare cases, so it's better to check before you leave the house. 

2. Tire Levers

These cheap plastic tools are very handy.  They are used to break the seal between your tire and the rim of your wheel.  Basically, you insert the end of it between the rim and the tire, and pull it along the rim so that you can take the tire off.  Easier if you use two.  Use one, then insert the other a little further down and break the seal a little more as you guide them along the rim.  Keep going and you'll get the tire off. Some people can  do this without a tire lever, but much easier if you use them.

3. New Tire Tube

If you're at home and you have a flat tire, then just prop your bike up on your work stand, take the tire off and try to patch the tube with your patch kit.  But if you are out on the road, I recommend you forget the patch kit and bring a spare tire tube so you can replace your whole tube as opposed to trying to patch it on the side of the road.  You can always try to fix your old tube once you get home if you want to try and salvage it. 

Make sure you have one that is the same size as the one you are already using on your bike.  Also make sure the valve type matches. 

If you really want to be prepared, it also can not hurt to bring two new tire tubes, in case the first new one turns out to unluckily have a hole as well.  That would be...frustrating.

Hand pump, tire lever and a new tire tube.  That's all you need.  As mentioned, home tire repair can also involve a patch kit (the glueless patch kits work fine for mountain bikes, but the regular kind with glue is better for urban bikes) and your repair stand, but you won't have these out in the jungle of the world.  You might even want to try and practice at home before having to do it on the road.  Either way, it's not that difficult, and personally I think it kinda fun.  it's great to be able to fix your own vehicle.

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About the author

Sam Walker has written numerous articles on bike repairs and reviews on quality bicycle tools. His latest review is on the Park Tool PCS-10 Home Mechanic Repair Stand, and has provided pictures and some great information with this bike stand review.

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