In a previous video we've already show you how to replace or repair an inner tube
when you're out training if you puncture, but what if you're out training you've got
a pump with you but you've run out of inner tubes, and you've got no patches?
Well, there are a couple of methods that you can use to try and get you home.
Hi, there. Yeah, can you come and pick me up, please? First thing's first,
find yourself a safe place, away from the road and away from the traffic.
Then of course, you're going to need to take the wheel out.
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Just like any other time that you change a punctured one, I'm going to check inside
the tire, as we did in the other video, just do it gently just in case.
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Next thing, we've got to find out where the hole is on this inner tube.
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Make sure you keep your finger exactly where it is if you don't
want to lose the exact point that the whole is. All we're
going to do is cut a knot in the tire, so the hole is just up here, to try and
isolate the hole and stop any air getting to that particular part. That looks
a bit crude. You want to get that knot as close to the end of the tube as possible,
because, of course, you're shortening it but there is quite a lot of stretchiness
in these inner tubes, so it should still fill the entire tire. Just a simple knot
will do, just trying to get this one up right towards the end. Now, if it looks
crude, that's because it is, but the idea is that this bodge will hopefully get us
back home. Let's give it a go.
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As you can see, that seems to work okay. There's no actual air in that end part
where the hole is, and it's staying up. All good so far.
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Here we go, it's on. Now we don't want to put it up to 100 PSI like we might do
ordinarily, because that's a weak point now. This is simply a bodge job to get you
home so don't carry on with 100 mile ride either, you just want to take the
most direct route back to your home or wherever you're staying. Well, what do
you do if the single knot bodge doesn't work? Well, it should do if it's just a
small hole, but if you find that you've got a rip and, of course, you go into
GCN's bodge number two. So, I think I've managed to isolate where the hole is in
my tube. As you can see, this is a big gash, so that single knot might not work,
as it's more difficult to isolate this hole and stop the air coming out. So, what
do you do in this situation? Well, we're going to make two knots, but first of all,
we need to rip the inner tube into two parts. The aim is to rip the inner tube
and not to rip your hands. There we go. Now what are we going to do?
So, now we're ready to make the two knots. So, starting at one end of the inner tube,
let's put a simple knot in it. Now, you want the knot to be fairly close to the
end but of course, not too close so there's less chance of the air coming
through. Once you've got it roughly like that, around about an inch to spare at the
end, just pull it as tight as you can get it.
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But what do you do if the single knot doesn't work, and the double knot doesn't
work? Well you go on to GCN bodge number three which is grass. Now, I always take
some out with me in my back pocket, and we're going to stuff that in the tire.
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I have to be completely honest at this tire is at the moment, I don't think I
could ride home on it, but I can feel I've been riding along the bits where I've got
that folded over pieces of grass in there, it is a lot more solid.
So if I had more time and pretty more inclination because I'm freezing cold
here, I pretty could get away of it, but it's a last resort, and remember, if you
do do it this way, be very very careful on the way home, particularly when you're
going around corners. It's not going to have the same strength.
There's a likelihood that the tire might roll off the rims, so just be very careful
on your way home. But if you do get away with it, let us know in the comment
section below, we'd love to hear from you.
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Okay, so once you've found the offending hole which is leaking the air out of your
inner tube, you need to take your patches.