Bicycle Mechanics - How do I install my rear tire?

I fixed a flat on my rear tire...tire came off easily..i have disc brakes..but for the life of me, i can't get the tire back on the bike. Anybody know the trick? A video perhaps?

Thanks

1. (IMPORTANT) If you have hydraulic brakes be careful not to pull the brake lever while the wheel is off the bike.
2. Work your rear shifter to put the chain into your smallest rear cog.
3. Pull your derailleur back and thread the chain onto the smallest cog. Carefully thread disc into the caliper and the wheel into the dropouts.
4. Retighten the quick release. You might want to shift into an easier gear before you try to ride off.

I fixed a flat on my rear tire...tire came off easily..i have disc brakes..but for the life of me, i can't get the tire back on the bike. Anybody know the trick? A video perhaps?

Thanks

It is not difficult, but there's a few tricks. Rather than write my personal "how to" :eek:, go to the Park Tool website and look up tire and tube service. I think it walks you through every step, including putting the tire back on the rim.

Some people claim you don't need to use tire levers, but I always do, and have since the 70s, just because it's easier for my weak hands.

1. (IMPORTANT) If you have hydraulic brakes be careful not to pull the brake lever while the wheel is off the bike.
2. Work your rear shifter to put the chain into your smallest rear cog.
3. Pull your derailleur back and thread the chain onto the smallest cog. Carefully thread disc into the caliper and the wheel into the dropouts.
4. Retighten the quick release. You might want to shift into an easier gear before you try to ride off.

Don't you think the OP meant how to get the tyre back on the rim?

Don't you think the OP meant how to get the tyre back on the rim?

I really don't know but I took the "disc brake" comment to be a clue. Lots of folks have problems with the gears and rear derailleur too.

Ah, could be!

wow...fast responses. I didn't have enough time to write...i'll give it another whirl now. I do have hydrauilic brakes...the wheel came off okay, but i can't get the wheel into the dropouts, because the derailer is 'in the way'. I'll try again. thanks for the suggestions. I had no problem putting the tire back on the rim..but i think next time, if this thing happens i'll try to pull the tube out in portions so I don't have to pull the tire off.

wow...fast responses. I didn't have enough time to write...i'll give it another whirl now. I do have hydrauilic brakes...the wheel came off okay, but i can't get the wheel into the dropouts, because the derailer is 'in the way'. I'll try again. thanks for the suggestions. I had no problem putting the tire back on the rim..but i think next time, if this thing happens i'll try to pull the tube out in portions so I don't have to pull the tire off.

Naw. You did it right. You just need a little practice to get good at it. The same's true of replacing your wheel on the bike. I can't think of anything I've done in my life that I couldn't do better and faster the second time.

It can be a fumble doing that at the best of times. I find it helps to put a finger around onto the upper chain idler wheel and pull it back so you can get the cog to slip upwards easier. Also with one bike the QR nut by the derailleur is jammed against each other and it's a snap in fit. And shifing to the small cog is a must. If you didn't do that then shift it down before you try to put the wheel back in.

On the other side while you're doing this you need to watch that the edge of the brake disc doesn't catch on one of the pads and lever it into the way.

The whole thing is a back and forth fumble. Holding your tongue in the right way helps a lot as does having a talent for being able to rub your belly and pat your head without getting them mixed up.

All of which is to say that it's practice and trying some different things that don't involve using a crowbar. You'll get it soon enough. No video could capture all the various tricks each bike needs or the subtle little pulls and tugs to get it to fit.

Follow advice above about being in the small cog. I made a video that shows how to do this easily. Use gravity to help you by holding the bike with only one hand, by the seat tube or seat post, other hand on the rim/tire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxHXreuOLFM

OK, so there IS some videos out there.

You cheated though water'! ! ! ! I want to see you do it that fast with a disc brake.... :D

:)

Well... thank you everyone for the responses. I GOT IT IN...lol albiet with some difficulty and help with you. That being said though I had to visit the LBS. I'm an idiot ...even with explicit warnings, I accidently pressed the brake lever with the tire off...:(

I was having trouble getting the tire on...so I decided i'd use my car bike rack (trunk mounted) as a handle to hold my bike. As I was mounting it i pressed the brake... using the rack, made it a whole heck of a lot easier to put the tire back on...but I couldn't get the disc in... :( I decided to use a screw driver to push the pads apart...I slid it in...but there was a lot of resistance.

I gave up and went to my LBS. They were fantastic...they explained to me what had happened when I pressed the brake...he advised me never to pry open the pads as I did with a screw driver, instead it's best to remove the pads and work it from there. He gave me a plastic holder to put in place of the disc when it out of the socket, tuned up the bike gears, brakes and all. (part of the warranty anyway)

So all in all...it worked out in the end. He even advised me to put the chain on the second smallest cog, (not the last one) because of the way my bike is set up, its easier that way. I figure next time the tire needs to be removed, it'll be a bit easier.


Thanks people!!!