Surrounded by forest and a ton of stunning trails, Mammoth Lakes is one of the go-to places for mountain bike riding in California. As any mountain biker knows, a breakdown on your bike while on the trail could easily happen. To ensure you don’t get stuck walking all the way back to civilization, make sure you have a kit ready for repairs. Here are a few tips on repairs you can make to your bike in an emergency, brought to you by the mountain sports experts from ASO Mammoth, your one-stop shop for mountain bike, ski, and snowboard rentals in Mammoth.
Slashed Tire
With the amount of abuse your bike takes, you can expect your tires to become slashed at some point. Whether it’s due to running over a sharp stick or rubbing up against some rough rocks, it’s bound to happen. A quick way to repair the tire is to use good old-fashioned duct tape. Wrap a large piece of duct tape over the gash. You might want to use a few strips to reinforce it securely. You can also use a piece of cloth or a casing for the tire to add more strength.
Broken Seat Post Clamp
A lot of shocks run through a bike when riding over holes and rocks. That amount of jostling can break the clamp that attaches the saddle of your seat to the rest of the bike. To ensure you sit comfortably through the ride back home, you can temporarily fix the clamp by attaching the saddle to the seat post with a zip tie. Be careful when you sit on it because it’s still quite delicate.
Punctured Tube
If you notice one of your tubes is punctured and you don’t have any spare ones around, you can still use it. Simply tear the tube at the site where the puncture occurred. Then you should knot both ends or use zip ties to close off the ends. You can then reinflate the tube. Be mindful of how much air pressure you use, as too much can cause the tube to break further. Once it expands into the tire, you’re good to go.
Pretzeled Wheel
If a spoke in the wheel is broken and you can’t replace it, you’ll likely find yourself with a pretzeled wheel. There’s a way to fix it temporarily, but it will require a bit of brute strength. First, you should place the wheel so the axle and the elevated part of the wheel are on the ground, then apply a lot of weight to the wheel while you grip the rim surrounding the area that’s bent. Keep applying pressure until the wheel is corrected.
If you’re about to hit the mountain with your bike, use common sense, follow safety rules, and make sure to take along a repair kit. ASO Mammoth is the place to go for Mammoth ski rental, biking gear, and safety tips from the experts. We have everything you need to make your mountain biking experience memorable. Drop in or give us a call at 760-965-3444.