Re new cyclists and punctures etc?

Question

I have recently bought a mountain bike for fitness reasons. although there are cycling clubs in croydon where I live i need to go to somewhere local in order to know how to do basic maintenance of a bike esp re punctures of which I have had two so far. no other friends know anything about bikes and i wondered where i can go to sort this out so i can be self-sufficient with regards to this a kind of local class or bike scheme which covers this would be helpful. Anyone know of a place locally. I now hav a puncutre so cant use my bike!

Answer 1

Main things you need to know are fixing a puncture/replacing inner tube and keeping your drive-chain well lubricated.

I strongly suggest you visit:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/

+1 for the Specialized Armadillo tyres - You'll probably never have to worry about flat tyres. I've never had one since getting them.

I'd also suggest you invest in a set of allen/hex keys. All modern bike maintenance basically relies on these. Get them for a couple of quid from Halfords, or any DIY shop actually.

Answer 2

You might want to focus on puncture prevention.  These two things have kept me puncture-free for the past 3 years:

- Keep your tires properly inflated.  Underinflated tires often get pinch flats, where the flattened tire pinches the inner tube against the wheel rim and ruptures the tube.

- Use puncture-resistant kevlar-lined tires.  The ones I've been using are Specialized Armadilloes.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I tend to keep a spare tube on the bike. I have a little seat bag I store my tube, tire iron, and CO2 inflator. It's faster than patching and I can resume the ride. Once I'm back home I will patch the tube up and test it out. I take that tube and use it as a spare.

ps: remember to use a tire iron, not a screwdriver

If you need a "how to" try this website":

http://www.parktool.com/repair/byregion....

Answer 4

In addition to Trevor i would say that many British councils have basic cycle maintenance as part of furthur education (evening classes). Be wary of cycle clubs - they're rife with snobbery. you will either be laughed at or totally ignored as a novice.

Try the library for books and take your time. Once you take the plunge, the satisfaction of maintenance well done makes it all worthwhile!

Good luck.

Answer 5

Changing a tube/patching a tube is not that hard.With a bit of practise it's less intimidatng ------ All you need is patch repair kit ,a bicycle pump and if at home a bucket.

Remove the wheel. Quick releases wheels are a bit easier to do.

Release the brakes, depending on the type of brakes you have (v-brakes are quite easy to release).

The back wheel removal is a bit tricky, since there is the chain to worry about, but the wheel should soon come out.. Maybe have a rag/tissue handy to stop your hand getting covered in grease.

Using tyre levers, lift one side of the tyre of the rim, the other side should be easy to pull off now.

Remove the inner tube & check the tube.

By submerging it in  a bucket of water, and pumping some air in the tube, any air bubbles should be seen.

Dry the affected area & mark it with some chalk.

Using the metal buffer, rub it over the affected area.

Put some of the glue around the hole.

Let it set for a few minutes so the glue feels tacky.

Put on patch, hold it down firlmly on the tube & then let it dry and set for a few minutes.

Check the inside of the tyre, for any shards of glass or anything else which could cause another puncture.

Once done inflate the tube a bit , to give it a bit of shape.

Fit it into the tyre.

Place tyre with tube inside, over the rim & squeese it  in the edges of the tyre back into the rim. (Being careful to make sure it's in properly, other wise you might get a "pinch" flat).

Re-inflate the tube to required psi (air volume)

Put wheel back onto bike (being careful of the chain if doing the back wheel).

Reattach/tighten brakes if necessary.

Tighten up quick release or bolt.

GO RIDE YOUR BIKE

If it's a puncture near the valve, or a large puncture, it's easier to just change the tube though. Same instructions, just not the patching part.

If I could have learnt to do it, and I've always been not very good at mechanical stuff,it can't be too hard to learn.

Answer 6

firstly, carry a spare tube with you.  Make sure that you check the inside of the tyre before putting the new tube in (Club record is a changed tube in 2 min 27 sec).  Carry tyre levers and a minipump with you.

I tend to put Slime in my tubes.  You can also get Slime inserts.  Basically, this is a self repairing gunk that should sort out the minor stuff.  If you do get a flat with these, it is easy to look for where the green stuff is leaking from to do the repair.

Self sealing tubless is the way forward though.

So are scewers.  If you are still having to take a spanner to your wheel to get them undone, pop to your local bike shop and buy some skewers for you bike.

For the actual how to fix a puncture, go to:

www.parktool.com

There is an online how to manual that you might find useful.

Luck

Answer 7

Every experienced cyclist I have ever met would gladly show you for free how to fix a flat. They'd do that because they love the sport. It's easy to find experienced cyclists. They hang out at bike shops. They are easy to recognize. They're the ones drooling over the most expensive bikes in the place.

HTH

Answer 8

Most councils now have a cycling officer or something similar, and organise escorted rides, if you can,t find on their website ring them and ask.

When you can afford it have your bike fitted with puncture resistance tyres such as Scwhalbe hardliner and tubes filled with puncture sealant, Slime or Dr. Sludge, you should certainly do the back wheel as soon as you can.

You can also try the Cyclist Touring Club, CTC, they may have something in your area.