Fixing a Flat Bike Tire
Rob Baur
1Nothing is worse than getting ready to ride your bike and realizing that you have a flat tire. So what do you do if you still want to ride with your friends?
2First, never ride your bike if it has a flat tire. Riding around on a flat tire is not only difficult, but also dangerous—for both you and your bike. Riding a bike with a flat tire can cause you to fall and injure yourself and may damage your bike’s wheel. It’s less complicated and less expensive to fix a flat tire than it is to replace an entire wheel.
3Before you begin to fix the flat tire, you need to make sure that you have the proper materials. You will need a new inner tube, a bike pump, and two tire levers. Once you gather these items, you are ready to get started.
4The first step is to take the affected wheel off your bike and, if necessary, let out any remaining air. To remove the tire from the rim, insert a tire lever under the edge of the tire between the tire and the wheel’s rim. Then insert another lever a few inches away from the first, and push down on the end of each lever to lift the tire away from the rim. At this point, you can use your hands to pull the flat inner tube out from inside the tire.
5Now you are ready to put in the new tube. First, pump up the tube with a little bit of air, so it takes the basic shape of a tire and is easier to handle. Then, gently put the valve of the tube through the hole in the rim and insert the rest of the tube into the tire, being careful not to twist it. Some air could escape from the tube during this step, so you may need to pump a little more air back into the tube to help it keep its shape. With your hands, gently start tucking the edge of the tire back into the rim.
6Once you get most of the way around, you will need to use the tire levers again to assist you with the unyielding tire. Be sure not to pinch the new tube between the tire and the rim during this step because you can tear the tube. Once the tire pops back onto the rim, take your pump and fill the tire completely. After you get the wheel back on your bike, you’ll be ready to ride!
Question
Which would be a good purpose to set for reading this passage?
Responses
A in order to learn how to fix a flat tirein order to learn how to fix a flat tire
B in order to choose a type of bicycle to buyin order to choose a type of bicycle to buy
C in order to be entertained by an exciting storyin order to be entertained by an exciting story
D in order to learn why bicycle care is so importantin order to learn why bicycle care is so important