Bike Flat Tube Rescue Card

Overview

Bike Flat Tube Rescue Card helps a casual rider turn a flat tire into a practical same-day repair plan. It focuses on the compatibility details that often block repair: tire sidewall markings, valve type, tube size, patch versus replacement choice, basic tool needs, and what to ask for at a bike shop.

The skill may explain ordinary tube replacement or patch planning at a high level, but it must not encourage riding a bicycle that has damaged rims, damaged sidewalls, unsafe brakes, loose axles, or uncertain wheel reattachment.

When to Use

Use this skill when the user asks about:

• A bicycle tire that is flat, soft, or repeatedly losing air
• Finding the right inner tube or patch kit
• Reading tire sidewall size markings
• Choosing between Presta and Schrader valve tubes
• Preparing a quick repair card before going to a bike shop
• Checking whether a repaired flat is safe to ride

Trigger phrases: "my bike tire is flat", "what tube size do I need", "Presta or Schrader", "bike flat fix card", "what do I buy for a flat bicycle tire".

Workflow

Step 1: Start With Safety and Ride Urgency

Ask where the bicycle is, whether the user is trying to ride immediately, and whether the wheel, tire, or brakes look damaged. If the user is roadside, prioritize getting out of traffic and moving the bicycle to a safe place before inspection.

Stop the repair plan and recommend walking, transit, pickup, or a bike shop if any of these are present:

• Bent, cracked, dented, or sharply worn rim
• Torn, bulging, deeply cut, or bead-separated tire sidewall
• Broken or very loose spokes
• Wheel that will not sit straight in the frame or fork
• Brake pads rubbing hard, missing the rim/rotor, or failing to stop the wheel
• Axle nuts, quick release, or thru axle that cannot be secured confidently

Do not tell the user to ride on damaged rims or damaged sidewalls, even for a short distance.

Step 2: Read the Tire and Valve

Guide the user to inspect the sidewall and valve:

• Record the full tire size from the sidewall, such as 700x28C, 26x1.95, 27.5x2.25, or 29x2.3.
• Record any ISO size if visible, such as 28-622 or 50-559.
• Identify the valve:
  • Schrader: wider, car-tire style valve.
  • Presta: narrow valve with a small threaded lock nut at the tip.
• Note rim depth if the bike has deep rims, because Presta valve length may matter.
• Check the tire pressure range printed on the sidewall and never suggest inflating beyond it.

If the markings are missing or unreadable, ask for tire diameter, tire width, wheel type, and a photo description if available, then recommend taking the old tube or wheel to a bike shop.

Step 3: Choose Patch, Tube, Sealant, or Shop Help

Help the user choose a path:

• Patch kit: good for a small puncture when the tube can be removed, found, dried, and patched cleanly.
• Replacement tube: fastest and most reliable for same-day riding; match diameter, width range, and valve type.
• Sealant or emergency plug: only for compatible tubeless setups or emergency products the user already understands.
• Bike shop: best when the user lacks tire levers, pump, confidence with wheel removal, or sees any damage.

Keep the recommendation practical. For most casual riders who need to ride today, prioritize buying the right replacement tube plus tire levers and a pump or CO2 inflator.

Step 4: Build the Repair Card

Produce a concise card the user can print, save, or take to a store. Include:

• Bike and wheel notes: front or rear wheel, brake type if known, axle type if known.
• Tire size: exact marking plus acceptable tube range if known.
• Valve type and valve length note.
• Buy list: tube, patch kit if useful, tire levers, pump or inflator, and optional gloves.
• Shop script: a one-sentence request using the tire size and valve type.
• Fix path: remove wheel if needed, remove one tire bead, inspect tire for glass/thorns, replace or patch tube, reseat tire, inflate gradually, check bead seating.
• Stop conditions: damaged rim, damaged sidewall, uncertain wheel attachment, brake problem, or tire bead that will not seat evenly.

Step 5: Brake and Wheel Reattachment Checks

Before telling the user the bike is ready, include a required pre-ride checklist:

• Wheel is fully seated in the dropouts or thru-axle interface.
• Quick release, thru axle, or axle nuts are tightened according to the bicycle's hardware.
• Wheel spins without wobbling or rubbing heavily.
• Brake is reconnected if it was opened for wheel removal.
• Brake lever feels firm and stops the wheel before riding.
• Tire bead is even on both sides and pressure is within the printed sidewall range.
• No sidewall bulge, exposed casing, rim crack, or sharp dent is visible.

If any check fails, advise not riding and getting hands-on help.

Response Shape

When the user gives details, respond with:

1. Immediate safety note
2. Tube and valve identification
3. Buy or repair recommendation
4. Repair card
5. Required pre-ride checks
6. Stop conditions and shop script

If details are missing, ask only for the few details needed to make the card useful: tire sidewall marking, valve photo/description, front or rear wheel, and visible damage.

Safety Boundaries

• Do not advise riding on cracked, bent, dented, or otherwise damaged rims.
• Do not advise riding on torn, bulging, cut, bead-damaged, or casing-exposed sidewalls.
• Do not skip brake reconnection or wheel retention checks after wheel removal.
• Do not present sealant as universal; many standard tubes and tires are not tubeless setups.
• Do not guarantee a repair is safe without inspection; use stop conditions and recommend a bike shop when uncertain.

Acceptance Criteria

1. The output identifies tire size and valve type before recommending a tube.
2. The output includes a practical buy list or shop script.
3. The output distinguishes patch, replacement tube, sealant, and shop help.
4. The output includes brake and wheel reattachment checks before riding.
5. The output warns not to ride on damaged rims or damaged sidewalls.
6. The output respects tire pressure limits printed on the sidewall.
7. The output is English-first and contains no CJK text.
8. The skill remains document-only with no executable code, API calls, credentials, or network requirements.