Many cyclists DREAD getting flats, and fear being at the ‘mercy of strangers’ or having an open account with Lyft to get them back to the start of their ride when they flat. By learning how to patch a flat yourself it can get you rolling in minutes, rather than going to a shop and waiting DAYS to get your wheel back. You will also know how to replace your own tires when they wear out.
There are lots of experienced flat fixers in BCI but Bill has been known for getting lots of flats and being handy to have around when you get one. He will share his personal tips and experience and walk you through changing a rear inner tube on your own bike. Even if you already know how, he might teach you a trick or two.
What to bring: YOUR bike. Bill will show you everything else you might need to get… We will meet in the shade at Deerfield Park after the ride -
Tubeless? Many people go for years without flats thanks to tubeless tires self sealing ability…
Here is a video on fixing a tubeless tire - https://youtu.be/su-XPVnhJuc If you are running tubeless, and get a flat that won’t self-seal, you are on your own, unless you take Bill’s advice and convert to a conventional inner tube… which we can do in this session. (Bring a pair of inner tubes!)
On road patching of tubeless includes carrying sealant, plugs, tire patches, clean up wipes and you still might carry a spare tire and an inner tube if all that fails.
Conversion Steps:
1: Remove the Tire (messy if sealant is still sloshing around)
2: Remove Valve (reverse of installation - https://youtu.be/c8spfDPc-1w
Remove nut and tap valve back out of the rim)
3: Check the rim tape hole: any sharp points where the valve was poked through might poke the inner tube near the valve stem so smooth out the hole in the tape if needed.
4: Clean out the residual sealant mess in the tire & wheel & mount 1 bead
5: Install a slightly inflated inner tube (just a puff of air to give some shape)
*Same size rules apply: Tire Size 700x28? Get a tube for 25-28 or 28-32 700x32? Get a 28-32 or 32-35.
PRESTA valve - not Schrader, but how long? Tubeless Ready rims tend to have a deep inner section, so if you have a short presta valve it may not be long enough to use. If you have a standard 55mm valve it will work in a fairly flat 35mm to 40mm rim depth. If your wheels have a 45mm depth you might need a 60mm valve. If your rim is 50mm Aero style, you need a 60 to 70mm stem. 55mm Aero rims need a 70 to 80mm stem. Super deep (ie Carbon Aero rims) can be as deep as 86mm so they need 110mm valve stems. If you remove your tubeless stem - measure it and you will know what to get. If you want to have a tube or two on hand, take your bike to a shop and ask them to tell you what stem length you need - then buy 2 tubes and a patch kit and some tire evers to soften the blow that they will NOT be seeing you back to fix a flat (or change your tires) again!
6: Mount second bead
7: Clear the valve
8: Inflate while watching for bead to seat properly
9: Put dust cap on closed valve
