By far, the most likely problem to occur during a ride is a simple flat tire.  All of us can fix that kind of problem, as long as we have the right tools to do it:

• It’s a good idea to carry two or three tire levers so you can remove the tire and tube from the rim of your wheel.  Don’t use a screwdriver, as it’s likely to damage the tube or tire and maybe even the rim.

• Carry a patch kit so you can repair a small puncture in your tube.  The two main kinds of patch kits are “classic” using glue, and glueless.  Both kinds have a small piece of sandpaper to scuff the tube a bit, making the patch adhere to the tube better.  The glueless patches were introduced a few years ago by a tool company called Park Tools, and they’re still the best available.  Essentially, these glueless patches are like Band-Aids – you peel off a backing to expose the sticky side and apply it to the tube, covering the puncture.  Some people like the classic patches; I prefer the glueless type.

• Carry a spare tube (or two).  It’s always easier to put in a new tube, and then patch the puncture in the old tube later in the comfort of your living room.  Be sure to get tubes that are the right size for your tire and has the right kinds of valve to inflate it.  There are two kinds of valves – the kind that looks like a car tire valve is called Schraeder, and is common on mountain bikes and hybrids; the other kind is narrower and has a small metal screw top.  It’s called a Presta valve and is common on road bikes.  The reason it matters is the valve needs to fit through the hole in the rim, and the two types of valves have different diameters.

• You need a way to inflate the tube.  There are three options.  You can carry a pump which can fit in the bike’s frame or clip into a holder near the water bottle cage.  Some people prefer to use pressurized carbon dioxide cartridges.  The cartridge fits into a dispenser that you can use to put the CO2 into your tube and inflate it.  For both the pump and CO2 options, again, be sure to get the right type for your type of tube.  These days, many pumps and CO2 dispensers can be used for either type of valve.  The third and worst option is using the air pump at a gas station.  It’s too easy to blow your tube apart this way, because it’s difficult to regulate the pressure going into the tube.

Before you put the new (or patched) tube back into your tire, inspect the tire for whatever punctured your tube in the first place.  It’s really frustrating to replace a tube and have the new one go flat in a mile or two because a glass shard was left in the tire.  It’s a good idea to practice fixing a flat at home before you need to do it on the road.

A more serious situation is when you hit an object that cuts the sidewall of your tire.  It’s much more difficult to repair this type of flat, and you’re likely to have to replace the tire as well as the tube.  To get you home or to the bike shop, though, you can put a folded dollar bill into the tire at the site of the cut.  The fabric in the bill will temporarily prevent the replacement tube from pushing through the cut.  This type of cut is typically long, maybe an inch or more, rather than just a small hole.  That’s why you’ll need to replace the tube, and probably the tire.

You may want to consider carrying a “multi-tool” that contains hex wrenches, socket wrenches, screwdriver heads, and possibly a chain tool.  Think of this as a Swiss Army knife for your bike.  Good examples are made by Park, Spin Doctor, and Topeak.  This kind of tool can save your ride from disaster.

You can wrap your tools in a cloth to keep them from rattling around in your under-the-seat pack.  And use the cloth to wipe your hands after making the repair.

You can purchase all of these items at your neighborhood bike shop, and they can give you instruction in how to use them.