Video: How Do I Fix a Flat Bike Tire?

Editor's Note: Ask Me Anything runs every Wednesday.  Know an expert in Golden Valley who's got some secrets of his/her craft to share? Let us know.

If you looked out your window in the past week, there's a good chance you've seen someone whizzing by on bike.  The trails at Theo Wirth are hopping and the bike lanes through the city have been busy.

But once you get out onto the road or bike trail, are you prepared for a flat tire?  Before you plan on walking your bike home, plan to fix that flat first.

For more than 15 years, Rich Sherman, store manager for has been helping people buy, maintain and fix their bicycles. He took a few minutes to demonstrate some key techniques for changing a bike flat on the road. 

In addition to the basics of removing the wheel, tire and tube, Sherman emphasized how important it is to carry a bike repair kit with you while biking, especially a replacement inner tube.

During the replacement process it is critical to examine the inside of your tire for objects or damage, as this can cause the replaced tube to flatten immediately. Examining the wheel after reinserting the inner tube for areas where the tube is bulging out from the tire can also save your from repeating the repair in a short time. Filling the tube to the correct air pressure will also protect the new tube and tire.

Sherman suggested that an inexperienced bicyclist can repair a tire in around 20 minutes, while a more advanced biker can do this in five minutes.

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