There you are, biking along and enjoying your ride, when suddenly you hear the telltale hissing sound of air escaping from your tire. Maybe it was a piece of glass that punctured the tube. Or maybe you just ran over a rock. Either way, unless you have one of those fancy new self-sealing tubes, there's no getting around it: you have a flat tire.

Biking with a flat tire will never be fun but you can always walk or call for a ride, but the truth is that with a little know-how, fixing and inflating your bike tires is pretty simple.

Can you ride a bike with a flat tire?

The short answer is yes. A flat tire won't immediately stop the wheel from turning, it will just become much harder to turn. So, if you're going very slowly and don't mind an extra workout, then you can ride a bicycle with a flat tire. However, if your bike has rim brakes (as most bikes do) then you should not ride for too long with a flat because using the brakes will cause the rims to heat up and damage them. If you have disc brakes (which are much less common), this isn't an issue and so you can ride for as long as you like.

If the cause of the flat is a puncture due to a nail or other object in your tire then there's some good news: since the hole is small, it shouldn't get bigger when riding at slow speeds for short distances on dry surfaces (so long as nothing else gets stuck in your tire). Plus, it'll be easier to spot where the problem is when getting off your bike and inspecting it because air should still be slowly escaping through any holes or tears in your inner tube.

Best ways to avoid a flat bike tire

To avoid flat tires and a long walk, there are some important things to remember

• Choose the right tire for your bike

Choosing the right tire for your riding surface is key in avoiding flats. For example, you wouldn’t want to ride your road bike on rough terrain because it is not equipped with the right tires. The wrong tires can be susceptible to punctures and creating friction between the tire and road which can cause a blowout.

• Check brakes regularly to avoid skidding and blown out tires

Whenever you skid or have to brake harshly, it puts extra pressure on your front wheel and can cause a blowout as well as wear down the rim of your wheel faster than normal braking would do so. There are many different factors that affect how often you should check your brakes but doing so on a regular basis helps keep everything running smoothly and prevents issues that could lead to flats or worse.

• Keep your bike clean

If you notice debris has gotten into any part of your bike, it is important that this gets cleaned out immediately before anything else gets affected by it (such as gears). If left unattended, this debris could potentially lead to more serious mechanical problems including flat tires!

Here is a list of other ways you can avoid a flat bike tire.

• Avoid running over things that could puncture your tire.
• Check tire wear regularly.
• Adjust your riding style.
• Check your tire pressure regularly.

Different types of flat tires

There are four main types of flats

1. Puncture flats

These are the most common type. They occur when a sharp object (such as a nail or thorn) penetrates the tire and inner tube, causing air to leak out.

2. Pinch flats

These are also known as "snakebites," because they involve two small holes on opposite sides of the inner tube, caused by the tire being pinched against the rim by a hard impact. Pinch flats occur more often with low-pressure tires and underinflated tires.

3. Valve stem damage

The valve stem is the small black rubber piece attached to your inner tube that allows you to pump air into it. Valve stems are made from rubber, so they can be damaged if some part of your bike hits them hard enough (for example, if you're riding uphill and you hit a rock or pothole). And they can just wear out over time due to repeated pumping or exposure to the sun's UV rays.

4. Tire tears or sidewall failure

The sidewalls of tires (the parts between the tread and rim) are fairly thin and can be damaged by hard impacts with curbs, rocks, potholes or other debris on the road.

Know when to repair or fix a flat bike tire

Biking with a flat tire is never fun. It slows you down, it can make a long trip unbearable, and it forces you to deal with the hassle of finding a place to fix or replace your tire. It's pretty easy to tell when you've got a flat: the ride feels different, and when you look down, you'll see that there's no air in your tires. But the question remains: what do you do now? Fix it or replace it? Both are options, but one takes time and money, while the other takes time and patience.

If you have time to fix it, meaning, if it's not going to take more than half an hour, then go for it. If your tire is just punctured, then fixing is pretty simple. You'll probably just need some bike tools (like a wrench and a small screwdriver), some patches (they're small pieces of rubber that will cover the hole), and plenty of water (to clean off the area before you apply the patch). The process involves removing the damaged part of your tire, cleaning the tube inside (so that no dirt gets pushed into it), applying the patch (this involves cutting out the damaged piece of rubber and applying the new patch overtop), putting everything back together, then putting the wheel back on.

Removing and fixing a flat tire

Traveling with a flat tire is no fun. Whether you're out on the road to find your way home, or just riding along, you want to make sure that your bike is safe and that everything turns out fine.

• Before you get your bike on the ground and crank it up, make sure it's not going anywhere. Make sure there are no loose parts or wires hanging off of your bike that could fall off and get in the way of the wheel spinning when you take it off.
• Once you have made sure that your bike is stable, remove the wheel from the bike so that you can remove the tire from the wheel and wheel rim easily. When removing tires, you'll notice a spoke protruding from one end of the rim, which will need to be removed before taking off the tire itself from underneath it. You've probably already noticed this, that little white piece in front of where a hole has been drilled into your wheel? That's called a quick release mechanism: it lets you attach or detach wheels with ease when required (read "in case of emergency").
• To remove this spoke, place a flathead screwdriver between it and its spot on for leverage, then give it a bit of wiggling until it pops right out. Remove all loose parts first with an eye-dropper bottle so as not to create more work for yourself while trying to figure them out during repair time without much light available (make sure they are all secure in some kind of container though before throwing them away).
• The inner tubes are attached by means of a valve near the bottom of their component part: once removed, be prepared for anything!

How to patch a bike tire?

First, you must find the leak. Inflate the tire and put it in a tub of water. You can hear that your bike tire is leaking air, but finding the actual puncture point is more difficult. If you just put a little bit of air and you don't hear a hiss, then chances are, there's a bigger hole somewhere and it's not going to seal. Finding that spot is critical if you have to take your tube out to patch it; otherwise, inflating it again before putting it back into the tire will just be putting air right through the hole again and making things worse.

If patching an inner tube isn't working, use new sealant in a tubeless setup, but make sure you do so outside or with plenty of ventilation. Sealant will stink up your house (and everything in it) forever if spilled inside, and this smell won't be pleasant for anyone around you either!

If you get a flat tire while riding your bike, do not panic

If you get a flat tire while riding your bike, do not panic. Move to the side of the road and call the roadside assistance number on the back of your insurance card. If you don't have roadside assistance, look up your nearest bike shop and call them for help. They may come pick you up if it's safe for them to do so. Do not attempt to ride on a flat tire, you will only damage rims and tubes beyond repair.

Most importantly, stay safe by making sure no cars can hit you or your bike as they pass by.

If you are able, push the bike off the road before stopping and checking the tire

Make sure you are out of the flow of traffic and off to the side when you stop. If you are able, push the bike a few feet off the road before stopping. If you can’t push it, get your hands on your bike and move it as far as possible from traffic flow.

If you are in a city with bike lanes and separated from traffic, be mindful of other bikers coming up behind you if they are traveling at higher speeds than your stopped bicycle!

Do not ride on a flat tire! Riding on a flat tire can damage your wheels. It is best to check for damage after removing the tire completely (and getting away from traffic). Call for help if needed.

Getting a flat tire as a cyclist is frustrating, but don't panic - there are ways to deal with it

Getting a flat tire as a cyclist is frustrating, but don't panic, there are ways to deal with it. The best way to fix a flat will depend on the situation, so it's important to know the different options and how to do them before you find yourself stuck on the side of the road.

The most common cause of flats is a sharp object that punctures your tube. You may not notice exactly when you hit something, but once you've stopped pushing down on your pedal for long enough for air to start leaking out, pull over and investigate. To remove your wheel from your bike you'll need to loosen either one or two nuts or bolts depending on what kind of brakes you have (one if they are disc brakes, two if they are caliper). If needed, consult the manual that should have come with your bike.

To fix this type of flat you'll need a patch kit; these usually come with tire levers and glue or some other substance needed for applying patches. It's also useful to take along spare inner tubes in case patches don't work—these are available at most cycling shops and can be bought for each size wheel so make sure you double check which size yours needs before buying any extras!