If you're riding along and you realize that you can't go as quickly or your balance is off because one of your tires feels lower than the other, then you might have a flat tire. This can be frustrating for a cyclist because you probably don't have the room for an extra tire on your bike. Instead, you will have to repair the hole using tape and then put more air in your tire as soon as possible. In order to make sure that you are using the right repair process, you will need to be able to correctly identify the type of flat tire that you have.

1. Slow Leak

A slow leak is when you realize that your bike is slowly losing air pressure over time and you find yourself having to constantly be filling up the tires. This is the type of leak that will cause you the least amount of trouble on the road, providing that you filled up your tire with air before you left the house. In order to fix a slow leak, you will first need to find it. Because the air is not leaking out quickly, you will need to cover the entire surface of the tire with water. Then, squeeze the tire and watch for air bubbles. Cover the entire area where the bubbles were being formed with repair tape. If you can't find the source of the leak, you might have to replace the tube.

2. Puncture

A puncture is when a hole is stabbed in your tire by a sharp item on the road, such as a piece of glass from a broken bottle. This is usually a faster leak and will need to be repaired immediately. If you sense that your tire is losing air, all you have to do is locate the item that poked a hole in your tire, remove it, and patch the hole using tape or special bike repair gum.

3. Pinch Cut

The last type of flat tire is one that is caused by a pinch cut. A pinch cut is when you hit a hard surface with enough force to push part of your tire underneath the rim so that the rim punches a hole in it. In this situation, the rim of your bike is usually bent, so you will need to take it to a bicycle repair shop in order to make sure that your bike is restored to full working order as soon as possible.

For more information, talk to a professional bike repair shop.