Cycling UK has produced a series of easily accessible video guides on maintenance and road safety. In this guide, we cover what to do if you’re unfortunate enough to pick up a puncture.

    Punctures are one of the most commons problems you’re likely to encounter when cycling.

    But with a little preparation, and the correct tools, they are easy to fix.

    Make sure you take with you on your ride:

    • tyre levers
    • a replacement inner tube
    • or patches
    • a pump

    First, you’ll need to find somewhere safe to pull over.

    And if you have V-brakes, you’ll need to release them to remove the wheel. The video shows you exactly how to do this.

    You’ll need to squeeze the tyre to release the seal between the tyre and the rim of the wheel, and use levers to lift the tyre off the wheel.

    Remove the inner tube, check the tyre for the cause of the puncture, and insert a new inner tube.

    Once you’re refitted the tyre, use a pump to reinflate it – and you should be good to go.

    Don’t forget to keep hold of your old inner tube – you may be able to repair it with patches and use it as a spare.

    You can also check out our five handy written guides on bike maintenance. Fixing punctures is covered in the third guide, ‘Repairing a Puncture.’ It also contains useful information about quick release skewers and how to remove your wheel.

    Packed with instructional diagrams and handy hints, it’s been designed to download on your phone as a reference guide you can take wherever you go.

    Check out the Cycling UK website for more wheelie handy advice and the latest news: https://www.cyclinguk.org/

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    14 Comments

    1. I would add – make sure the valve is straight and , if the tyre is difficult to get back on, push it down into the well of the rim and it will give you more room to get the tyre over the rim edge. Oh and you don't need to twiddle the rear skewer undone, just the front to clear the safety tabs!

    2. Thanks for the reminder, great easy to follow video. Good advice to simply replace inner tube if out then repair tube once home, when the source of the puncture can be more identified.

    3. Although it isn't about repairing the punctured tyre, I was meaning to watch a video about the inner tube too lol, so thanks 😂.

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