Flat tires are the most common issue across all disciplines of cycling. Changing flat tires is a skill set that all riders will need before they head out on a ride alone. The following article goes over the specific information regarding how to change a flat tire on the CF Racer. The article assumes one knows the basics about flat tire repair. If this is not the case, please refer to our more complete article on flat tire repair here: https://support.ride1up.com/support/solutions/articles/65000185987-flat-tires
Step 1- Remove Air From tire and Remove Tire Bead
It is best to remove the driveside tire bead from the rim before proceeding with the flat repair. When doing a roadside flat tire repair on this bicycle, the rear wheel will not be fully removed from the frame. This is because the motor cable that attaches to the rear hub, does not have a quick disconnect by the wheel. It unplugs at the controller inside the frame which is more work than needed for a flat repair.
Step 2- Remove Axle Nuts and Washers
Remove the axle nuts and washers from both sides of the wheel. The axle nuts use a 15mm wrench to loosen them, a link to a portable size combination wrench can be found HERE. The orientation of the spacers is critical in reassembly and riders are advised to pay attention to their configuration while removing them. The following photos show the correct order/ assembly of the washers. In addition the the washers, remove the cadence sensor which is attached to the rear axle. This piece can hang loose until it is time for reassembly.
Step 3- Lock the Derailleur
The SRAM Rival derailleur that comes on this bike has a feature that allows riders to lock the cage in a de-tensioned position. While this step is optional, it will remove the tension from the chain to make it easier to remove the rear wheel. The following video shows how to do this. https://youtu.be/DvCGZdDw7_g
Step 4- Remove the Wheel
Gently slide the excess slack in the motor cable out of the chainstay, stop pulling when resistance is felt to avoid damaging the motor. Typically, there is about three inches of slack inside the frame to allow for the wheel to come out.
As soon as there is enough slack the wheel can be lifted out to remove the inner tube from the tire.
Once the innertube has been replaced or patched, reinstall the wheel following the steps in reverse.
