Originally Posted by Machka
Go get your bicycle right now. Remove the rear wheel. Take off the tire, remove the tube. Then put it back together again. Repeat.
That's how I learned to do it. And guess what ... it's really EASY!!
Of course there are different people who have different techniques and you might want to experiment with those too. Some don't remove the tire completely - they just remove one side and pull out the tube. Others (like me) remove everything.
Don't forget to pretend to check the inside of the tire for pieces of broken glass or wires or whatever ... ah, but do not run your hand around the inside!! You could end up with the glass or wire in your finger. Look carefully instead.
And one tip ... you might want to have an extra tube on hand while you're going this just in case you happen to pinch your tube in the process.
hell yeah! do it yourself.
i always just run my fingers around the inside. but i don't rub them along, i sort of pat my way around the tire. you can't always see the tiniest little piece of whatever that got your tube. i've noticed that most of the time, whatever punctured my tire isn't sharp enough to cut my hand, especially if i'm not hap-hazzardly running my fingers around the tire. i also kind of work the tire around between my fingers, and look at the outside to see the offending bit of debris. i usually see it before i feel it. i also carry a pair of needle nose pliers with me to pull anything out.
as far as pulling the tire all the way off, or leaving it halfway on, when i'm at the shop and it's a customer's bike, i pull it all the way off to check for glass and things. if it's mine and i'm on a ride, or on my way to work, i just do half of it, unless it's my second or third flat in a short period of time, or it's dark and raining. i'd rather only stop once and get it right than have to stop again 4 minutes later.
for the original poster: it's really not difficult at all, and there's no need to be phobic about damaging a tire while repairing a flat. the beads are practically indestructable, and if your levers are plastic, it's real hard to tear the sidewall. changing flats, and doing your own repairs is all part of riding a bicycle. know your bike, know yourself, and be a better rider.