Operation Manual

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11.4 Repairing punctures
Tire punctures can happen to any cyclist.
As long as you have the necessary tools for
changing tires and tubes and a spare tube or
a tire repair kit, this need not mean the end
of your cycle tour, however. For bikes with
quick-releases, all you need in addition, are
two tire levers and a pump; if your wheels are
secured with nuts, you also need a suitable
spanner for removing the wheel.
11.4.1 Dismounting wheels
If your bike has V-brakes, you first have to
disengage the brake cable from the brake
arm. To do this, grip around the wheel with
one hand and press the brake pads and arms
together. In this position, it should be easy to
disengage the outer cable.
11. The wheels
With U-brakes, dismounting the wheel is
more complicated due to the brake lever
arms which lie close together. The possibility
to simply disengage the brake cable at the
brake pad is only given in the case of a few
brakes.
If this is not the case, the easiest way is to
deflate the tire, in order to be able to pull the
tire without tool through the adjusted brake
arms.
If you have road rim-brakes, open the quick-
release lever at the brake (Shimano) or shift
the pin in the combined gear-and-brake-lever
unit mounted to the handlebars (Campagno-
lo).
If you have disc brakes, you should first
check the exact position of the brake pads,
i.e. the wear indicators. These are ear or
nose-shaped metal protrusions. In this way,
you will be able to tell later whether the brake
pad is still in its proper position. Read the
brake manufacturer’s operating instructions.
Do not pull on the brake lever with
the wheel belonging to that brake
being dismounted.
Brake discs can become hot, so let
them cool down before you dismount
a wheel.
In the case of drum brakes, i.e. multi-speed
hubs, you also have to release the coaster
brake bracket which fixes the rear axle to the
frame.