When an inner tube suddenly gives up, the wheel magnet spontaneously flies off the spoke, or the chain breaks in half, even riders with the smartest e-mountain bikes need to refresh their outdoor-workshop skills. Here are some emergency trailside repairs you should be familiar with before taking off for a ride.
We all know that an E-MTB makes you go faster, higher, and farther. However, when pedalling uphill in Chuck Norris mode the components take a good beating. In other words, E-MTBs are prone to breakdowns and defects – but this is not as bad as it sounds. In this article, we will share a few tricks and tips which will help you to fix five of the most frequent breakdowns, even when you are in the middle of nowhere.
One crucial requirement for these five trailside repairs is that you pack a good multi tool. You’ll need all relevant Allen and Torx keys and a chain tool! Below we will tell you what else you have to put in your toolkit.
You shouldn’t even consider leaving the house without these spares:
A classic scenario: you’re happily riding along and the next second you have a puncture! Because E-MTBs are notoriously heavier than normal bikes this is a common and frequent issue.
There are four ways to fix punctures and get your bike back on track: patching, changing the inner tube, using a tire plug or, as a last resort, the Rambo-method.
The quickest and easiest temporary solution is a tire plug, but it only works with tubeless tires. You just fill the hole with the plug and hope the sealant will do its job.
The second option is replacing the inner tube. This is definitely the most effective and longest-lasting option.
Just make sure you’re not packing an ultra-light touring tube – that could mean another flat tire as soon as you hit the next big root section. If you puncture often, and don’t want to sacrifice your energy bars and peanut butter sandwiches to make space for an extra five inner tubes, you should also carry a patch kit.
The good old patch is the cheapest and most environmentally-friendly option to get your tires back to life. You surely know the procedure: roughen the tube surface around the hole, apply the vulcanising gel, wait a minute, apply the patch, and the job is done. In under ten minutes you’re back in business.
And now the Rambo method, the last hope for those who can’t get hold of a patch, a plug, or a new inner tube for another thirty miles: tie a knot in your tube! Yes, locate the hole, cut the inner tube exactly in that spot, and knot the tube back together. With luck, that’s enough to get you going for another few miles.
A tubeless setup significantly lowers the chances of a puncture; this is a very clever upgrade to consider! We show you how to set up the tires on your E-MTB tubeless
Broken chainUuuuhhh… that hurt! If you’re not prepared for a broken chain, you’ll be condemned to a long and painful walk home. This isn’t necessary, as the spares you need to fix this mishap are small and cheap. A chain-link is your quickest, easiest and cleanest option. It only costs a few euros and it connects two chain links without any effort. Just make sure the link is compatible with your chain: 8-speed, 11-speed, etc.
When you are riding, a broken rear derailleur is a nasty surprise. Even if you listen for the signs that a derailleur is about to give up, such as rattling noises and mis-shifts, sometimes a crash or an impact with a rock can bend or even break a rear mech-hanger.
In this case, the best thing possible is that you actually carry a spare mech-hanger in your backpack. The new hanger can be replaced within minutes and with just two or three Allen screws. Let’s keep it rolling!
But what happens if you left your spare hanger on the workbench at home? It’s time for a geek fix. In an emergency, you can remove the entire rear derailleur, shorten the chain, and convert your drivetrain to a single-speed setup. You basically want to shorten the chain in a way that it runs smoothly between chainring and sprocket without the hanger. To prevent the chain from unnecessarily slapping around or even breaking it’s best to keep an even distance between sprocket and chain ring, stiffening up the rear suspension as much as you can. A combination of damper-lockout and/or more air in the shock are a perfect solution. You can forget about gnarly trails, but it’s certainly good enough to get you out of trouble.
The wheel magnet came offA tiny but crucial part. If you don’t want to end up turning over every single leaf on the forest floor, you really want to carry a spare wheel magnet on EVERY tour, just in case you lose yours. Replacing it is very easy and favourable to a long walk home.
“Faster, higher, and farther” also means more braking. When the pads eventually glaze due to excessive heat you have to intervene quickly. Simply remove the pads (make sure you let them cool down!) and sand down the glazed layer with something rough. You can either use the sandy/gritty ground or the sandpaper included in every patch kit (or just put a tiny square of sandpaper in your tool pouch).
Go for it! With these five tips, the right tools, and the appropriate spare parts you are perfectly equipped for the next big ride. And to make it a real “Higher, faster, and farther” tour we have also prepared eleven tips to increase your battery range.
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Words: Sven Günzel Photos: Christoph Bayer
Tyreweld Emergency Puncture Repair is designed to temporarily seal a puncture and get you back on the road without needing to change a tyre. With a specially designed formula, this all-in-one solution repairs and reinflates without damaging the tyre, so you can safely continue on your journey.
No one likes getting a flat tyre and attempting to change the wheel at the roadside can be dangerous and inconvenient. Tyreweld provides a simple solution, sealing and reinflating the tyre in a matter of minutes and allowing you to drive for up to 100 miles.
Holts Tyreweld Emergency Puncture Repair is the quickest and most efficient way to fix a puncture at the roadside and requires no prior knowledge of replacing wheels or repairing flats.
Tyreweld features a water-based foam that circulates through the tyre to seal any punctures, and then the gas reinflates the wheel. The non-toxic foam can be washed away allowing the tyre to be repaired, something that not all tyre puncture repair kits offer.
Thanks to our unique twist actuator that allows you to switch on the can and leave it beside your vehicle whilst the tyre inflates, you can move away from passing traffic and to safety.
Tyreweld is a great alternative to a spare or space-saver tyre, and is small and lightweight enough to keep in your boot all year round.
Holts Tyreweld comes in three sizes to fit different tyre volumes. You can use our Tyre Finder tool to find your tyre size and the right Tyreweld for your vehicle.
Find your Tyreweld Size
Tyreweld requires no jack, no tools, and no previous experience with changing or repairing a tyre. Simply attach Tyreweld to your wheel valve and switch it on.
This allows the water-based foam to go directly into the tyre, and seal any punctures. Once the can is empty, simply remove from the tyre valve and continue driving at a maximum of 50mph, giving the solution time to circulate through the tyre. You can drive for up to 100 miles before getting the tyre professionally checked and repaired.
Take a look at our video below to learn more about how easy it is to use Holts Tyreweld to fix a puncture at the roadside.
Looking for further help and advice on using Holts Tyreweld? Visit our Tyreweld FAQs page, where we’ve answered a range of questions that relate to our emergency puncture repair product.
A:
No. Tyreweld, as with all temporary tyre repair products, should not be used on run flat tyres.
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A:
Tyreweld causes no damage to tyres and can be easily cleaned out prior to a professional repair. However it might be that on inspecting your tyre, the repairer has found other damage which makes it unroadworthy. If this is the case, ask for details so you know why the tyre is being replaced. Read more about the legal requirements for safe tyres.
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A:
Tyreweld is intended as an immediate and temporary solution to get you back on the road.
After using Tyreweld you should ensure your tyre is permanently repaired, preferably by a mechanic.
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A:
After using Tyreweld, you should drive to allow the foam to make it's way round the whole tyre and find the puncture. You will then need to repair the puncture permanently, and we'd recommend visiting a garage for this as they'll check to make sure the tyre's safe, legal and roadworthy. The Tyreweld foam will wash out easily allowing the mechanic to carry out his repairs.
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A:
Holts Tyreweld is available in stores nationwide, including large national retailers and supermarkets.
Visit our Where to Buy page for more information.
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With the advent of summer, mass asphalt re-laying begins on the roads, and the removal of bituminous stains. Construction debris leaves a lot of nails that can cause a tire puncture.
In practice, one out of every five motorway exits results in tire deformation. In addition to loss of pressure, any violation of the integrity of the tire leads to poor control and increased frictional resistance. At low speeds, the wheel of the car increases the area of contact with the asphalt, so there is a "rebalance" of the chassis axles. This leads to loosening of the chassis of the car.
Often punctures cannot be quickly replaced, so drivers have to take emergency measures to seal the hole.
For this, there is a special preparation Liqui Moly Reifen Reparatur Spray.
From the point of view of chemistry, any puncture is a breaking of bonds between polyvinyl and chloride ions. The synthetic material that forms the carcass of the tire breaks and begins to let air through it, which fills the chamber. The essence of all fast means is a reactionary effect with the outgoing air.
Sodium molecules, which are part of the agent, activate oxygen, which actively begins to precipitate, blocking the crack.
The action of more expensive preparations is to bind incoming water. Therefore, such drugs only work when traveling. However, such a tool is more wear-resistant, as it comes into contact with identical substances.
Among the main causes of tire punctures is manufacturing defects. In 60% of cases, the manufacturer forgets to use surface strengthening technology in mass production. The output is a finished tire, but without a protective coating.
Its service life is reduced by 3-5 months.
The remaining 40% is the result of the warrior's negligence. It's all about driving style. The more aggressive it is, the more likely the problem will appear. At high speeds, driver response is reduced. In addition, with intensive wheel speeds, the rubber stretches and thins, which negatively affects the condition of the tire. The only way to save yourself here is through preventive measures.
When choosing a tire, it is better to be guided by four principles:
- the choice of quality material
- tire width
- tire type
- season
The first two parameters are related to the conscience and authority of the manufacturer. But the third and fourth are about driver awareness. Winter and summer tires are similar in terms of quality characteristics, but differ in the way they are used.
In cold weather, rubber hardens and is more susceptible to cuts.
Therefore, such tires are put on more viscous rubber, which is able to adapt to changes in ambient temperature.
Summer - on the contrary - not capable of sudden changes in the structure. This raises the question of higher prices for winter tires.
Despite this, even summer seasonal tires, with their good characteristics, are not resistant to mechanical damage.
The tread also affects the puncture resistance of a tire. The more frequent and deeper it is, the less likely it is to get damaged. If the tire is "naked", that is, it does not have any lines, then it automatically catches any, even small debris. Therefore, in such a situation, it is best to think about replacing tires with new ones.
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Almost every car owner has experienced a flat tire.
The most insidious thing is if it happened on the road, and there is no way to quickly get the car to the nearest tire service. In this situation, any car owner will come to the aid of special tool kits for quick tire repair, which can be bought on Aliexpress at an affordable price. All sets have positive feedback from real buyers, good quality and free shipping.
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Starts the list with a good kit for a quick repair of tubeless tires. Supplied in a plastic case in which each tool has its place. The kit includes: cutter, rasp, awl with a spare tip, rubber bands and glue. Using the set is quite simple and convenient. If a puncture is found in the tire, you need to carefully expand it with a rasp, thread the tourniquet into the eye of the awl, insert it into the hole so that a small piece of thread sticks out of the hole. In conclusion, it remains to remove the tool, and cut the tourniquet with a blade.
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Another very interesting set that will come in handy for every car owner.
Judging by the reviews, the set is really useful and has a good quality. With it, you can quickly install plugs for repairing tire punctures. The principle of operation is simple: first, a rubber plug is taken, which is installed in a vacuum gun, after which the rubber plug is inserted into the puncture with a tool. Everything is very simple. It only takes a couple of minutes and you can move on.
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Effective tire repair kit, which includes: universal patches and a special roller. This method of self-repair of a punctured wheel will require its disassembly, so it cannot be called quick and simple. However, this set allows you to most effectively repair a large puncture. Judging by the reviews, the patches are of good quality, made of thick rubber. The roller is comfortable, has good corrosion resistance. There is expedited shipping, so you don't have to wait for the goods.
Buy here
Every self-respecting car owner should have such a simple but effective kit.
It includes: a spiral file, an awl with an eye, harnesses (5 pieces + 5 pieces as a gift) and glue. The set is very useful, it will allow you to quickly and easily fix a puncture of tubeless tires right on the road. The thing is really worthwhile, and it is inexpensive.
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A very useful set for any car owner, which consists of two special screwdrivers with a screw nozzle. The nozzle has three special hooks that allow you to pull stones out of the tread of car tires. The length of each screwdriver is 320 mm. Supplied in a carry case for easy storage.
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This repair kit is popular among owners of vehicles with tubeless tires. The set includes: a tool with a file tip, a tool with an eye, 5 cords and a special activator glue. The kit will help to quickly restore the integrity of the wheel after a puncture. The reviews are positive, the product is fully consistent with the description, there is an expedited delivery.
The set is inexpensive and successfully copes with its task.
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A very useful set of universal clips that will allow you to remove the rubber from the wheel with your own hands. Size: 16x13x5 cm. Made of hard plastic. Judging by the reviews, the product is worthwhile, made with high quality, does not scratch the disk during operation. However, it is recommended to hold the tool a little, as it can pop out on alloy wheels. The thing is interesting. The seller is responsive, promises to deliver the goods quickly.
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Very interesting kit for quick repair of punctures in tires up to 10 mm in diameter. Allows you to perform quick repairs without removing the wheel on the road, which is very convenient. The kit includes: vacuum gun and special paste. Tool size: 30x5.5x3 cm. Judging by the reviews, the set is convenient and effective. The only thing is that the delivery is not very fast.
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A good set of good quality tire changers.
Includes 24 mushrooms. With its help, it is possible to carry out high-quality and reliable tire repair. Installation work is easy and simple. Fungi fill the puncture channel, protecting the tire carcass from moisture, dirt and foreign bodies, thereby protecting the tire. Allows you to repair damage of a fairly serious size.
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Rounding out the list is a great quick repair kit that every self-respecting motorist should have. The set includes: a case made of durable plastic and 98 essential tools. Its weight: 1.5 kg. In an emergency, the car owner will be able to independently make minor repairs to the wheel without removing it from the car. This set does not take up much space in the trunk, easy to transport. Judging by the reviews, it has good quality and fast delivery.
Thank you all for your attention. I hope the selection was interesting, and for someone even useful. All successful shopping.
Prices for car parts are rising and getting them is becoming more and more difficult.
