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Guide

Fix a flat by the roadside.

A puncture is the one breakdown that strands people — and the one that's easy to fix yourself. Carry three things, learn the steps once, and you're never stuck.

Last updated · 2026-06 See something off? Tell us →

Of all the things that can stop a ride, a flat is the most common and the least deserving of panic. With three small items and one practice run at home, you’re rolling again in ten minutes, and the fear of being stranded mostly disappears.

What to carry

The whole kit lives in a saddlebag, so it’s always with you:

Spare tube (your size + valve) Two tyre levers Pump or CO2 inflator Patch kit (backup)

The steps, in order

  1. Get the wheel offOpen the brake if needed, undo the quick-release or axle, and lift the wheel out.
  2. Lever one side of the tyre offHook one lever under the bead, the second a few inches along, and run it round.
  3. Remove the tube, then find the causeFeel carefully round the inside of the tyre for glass or a thorn. Miss it and the new tube flats too.
  4. Seat the new tubeA little air so it holds shape, tuck it in, then work the tyre on by hand (levers pinch tubes).
  5. Inflate and refitCheck the tyre is seated evenly all round, pump it up, and put the wheel back on.

Practice once at home

Do it once on the kitchen floor, unhurried, before you ever need to do it in the rain. The first time is fiddly; the second is easy. That single practice run is the difference between confidence and a long walk.

This is a durable, universal repair — the steps are the same on almost any bike. Carry the kit below and you turn the most common breakdown into a minor pause.

The roadside flat kit

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