Flat tire is the commonest problem during riding. A cyclist should be able to fix a flat tire by himself. This is really easy, but you have to carry some handy tools :
1. A small portable pumper: This has multiple ports for pumping football, normal bike tube and tubes most of the good bikes have eg. motorcycle tubes ( Believe me this is a lifesaving tool if you have a flat tire in a remote road and if your bike has tubes that can't be pumped with normal cycle foot pumps)
Where to get : Stadium ( 250-350) , Body&Sports ( 450)
2. Rubber solution: 30-40 taka ( Any hardware shop)
3. Sand paper (any hardware shop)
4. Patches: 10-20 taka (depends on sizes & shops) - You can get them at any motorbike parts shop. try to keep some of them in your wallet all the time, theyre just like stickers.
5. An Extra tube : Who knows, maybe you can get a BURST tire ??!
NOTE: Please don't ever use part of a cycle tube to repair your leak. This will cause your tire bumping.
NOTE: Sometimes you may need a TIRE LEVER, but most of the tires can be retracted without a lever, even a small MINUS screw driver can retract the tires quite perfectly.
So these 5 things make your "LEAK FIXING KIT" - ALWAYS Carry them in your backpack wherever you go.
OK...SAY YOU'RE IN AIRPORT ROAD AT 11PM AND YOU SUDDENLY GET A FLAT TIRE..AND THERE IS NO MECHANIC IN THE NEXT 5 MILES..BUT YOU'RE SMART AND GOT YOUR KITS ;)
- Put the kickstand down or place your bike upside down .
- Get the tube out of the tire... first get the nozzle out of the hole then just pull the tube out .
- Pump the tube to find out the leak : If it is a moderate to large leak, you'll see it obviously. Minor leaks ( চোরা লিক) can be undetected sometimes, then you will have to feel with your hand through the surface of the whole tube. REMEMBER there may be multiple leaks.
- Check the tire : It may be a fragement of glass or a pin which may be still stuck in the tire. Get it out by RUBBING the inner portion of the tire with your fingers. Also check the outer portion of the tire because sharp glass fragments can be stuck there and may puncture the tube again . So check this things.
- Take the sand paper and rub the area over and sorrounding the leak to make it smoother for the patch kit.
- Take the glue and apply it to the tube
- Take the patch : These patches are thin like paper and available everywhere. Motorbike shops has them mostly. You need to peel of plastic cover from both the surface before applying it. The surface with the blue plastic cover will go with the tube surface. The surface with the brand logo ( OMNI) will be placed outside. It is advisable to peel of the blue cover only right before you apply it over the glue. And its important that you patch it in the first shot...otherwise the glue will become dry and the patching may not be useful .
.
8. Put the patch on the leak and press firmly for 10-20 seconds. Pump the tube again to confirm that its fixed.
9. Put the tube inside the Tire.
10. Put the tire inside the RIM
11. Pump the Tire : First give a little pump, then place the tire edges in accurate position, then give full pump. If you don't place the tire edges accurately, your tube will come out through the gap while riding.
12. Turn your previously upsided down bike to normal riding position.
13. Youre ready to go :)
PROBLEMS REGARDING WITH TIRE FIXING :
Starting with one Cyclist's post:
"Turjo Ongshu Karavan :
গতকাল আমার hero ranger max এর পেছনের চাকা লিক হয়ে যায়, পরে সারালাম সেটা ...এখন দেখছি একদিনের মধ্যেই চাকার হাওয়া অর্ধেক নাই। একদম ধপ করে বেরিয়ে যাচ্ছে তা না... কিন্তু আগে তো ১০-১২ দিন হাওয়া না দিলেও হতো। should i search for another leak and repair....or should i buy a new tire. "
SOLUTIONS from the comments of BDC members:
- I think you should search for another leak. It happens time to time and I had similar issues too. Careful searching for 'chora' leak saved my tube and didn't need to purchase a new one. General idea for tires and tubes is you need to change your tires in every 5000 miles you ride and tubes generally last longer around 15,000 miles for a good one.
- If you are using a normal tube, it has a VALVE TUBE inside ( Also called BALL TUBE by the local mechanics.....don't get confused) , which is a small yellow tube about 0.5inch which creates a one way valve mechanism so that the air can't come out of the tube . If it is out of order, you'll tire will frequently go flat. Replacing it costs 5 BDT :)
