{"id":9131,"date":"2016-08-18T11:17:28","date_gmt":"2016-08-18T18:17:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=9131"},"modified":"2023-02-15T16:53:28","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T00:53:28","slug":"11-trailside-mountain-bike-repair-hacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/11-trailside-mountain-bike-repair-hacks","title":{"rendered":"11 Trailside Mountain Bike Repair Hacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mountain bikers of all experience levels can likely name a time they encountered a mechanical problem off the grid. We asked some of our trail-savvy REI colleagues for temporary repairs that can help get you back to your car\u2014and then home or to an REI Bike Shop<\/a> or another shop for a proper fix.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Patch a Punctured Side Wall<\/h3>\n

\"Mountain<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with a common fix. If you slice a hole in the sidewall of your tire, place a folded dollar bill, an empty energy gel packet, duct tape or a gum wrapper on the inner wall of the tire and pump it up to full pressure. The barrier can help prevent the tube from pushing out of the hole, hopefully long enough to pedal out.<\/p>\nFlat Tire Prevention for Your Bike<\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/span>\n

2.\u00a0Ride Out with a Broken Rear Shift Cable<\/h3>\n

\"Mountain<\/p>\n

If your rear shift cable breaks, the sudden lack of tension will cause the derailleur<\/a> to move to the hardest gear, where you\u2019ll be stuck. Assuming you don\u2019t have a spare cable on hand, there\u2019s a quick, temporary fix. Just tighten the high limit screw (usually marked with an \u201cH\u201d) to force the derailleur into an easier gear. Then hold your rear wheel off the ground and cycle the cranks a few times to allow the chain to move up the cassette. Now you can ride to the trailhead with ease.<\/p>\n

3. Zip Tie for an Out-of-True Wheel<\/h3>\n

\"Mountain<\/p>\n

When an out-of-true wheel is wobbly and difficult to ride on, attach a zip tie to the chainstay of the bike. Then, as you spin the wheel, the end of the zip tie (you may have to trim it to the right length) will graze the section that\u2019s out of true. This will show you where you need to tighten the opposite spoke and pull your wheel straight. This is preferable to asking a friend to hold their finger against the edge of your wheel. Zip ties, in this case, are better than friends.<\/p>\n

4. Shorten Housing for Extra Cable<\/h3>\n

\"Mountain<\/p>\n

This one requires a multi-tool<\/a> or another cutting device (it\u2019s also a little complicated, so stay with us here). If you break your shifting cable, usually where it\u2019s exposed at the derailleur, you likely won\u2019t have enough cable to reattach it.<\/p>\n