If you ride a Bicycle, you will get flats. It's a fact of cycling life! This article will have two purposes, the first is to help you repair those flats, and the second is to help you avoid them. We will show you in words and pictures how best to change a flat and make repairs on the road to keep you rolling along. We will also give you some suggestions on how to attempt to ride on after everyone says you should stop. We will discuss maintenance and tire styles and what you can expect from them in terms of performance. All that being said, let's get going!

You're riding along enjoying the sun and the breeze at your back when suddenly it sounds like you have cellophane stuck in your rear wheel, and then the handling gets sloppy and you realize that the cellophane sound was the air escaping from your back tire. OK don't panic! Don't use your back brake (the brake on the wheel with the flat in this example) but slow down and slowly pull to the side of the road. Now dismount and pick your bike up and get to a safe place to work on your bike. Do not work on your bike in the road, it's not safe! In fact one day Dan and I were working on his flat on the sidewalk and a car mounted the curb and only barely missed us. So get to a really safe spot to work! Turn your bike upside down and balance it on your handlebars and seat and let's get to work!