The LORD JESUS is my rock,
and my fortress,
and my deliverer;
my God, my strength,
in whom I will trust.
from PSALM 18, 2 (KJV)

Folding a Bicycle Tire

On an unsupported bicycle tour, carrying a spare tire is necessary. Most touring tires are not foldable, they are clincher tires and have a metal wire in each bead. A clincher tire shouldn't be folded, but making 3 loops out of it won't damage the tire and allows you to store it on your rack, in a backpack or a pannier.

This method originates from Sheldon Brown's video, so I want to give him credit for that. But I have found his video to be hard to follow. Hopefully the following pictures make things easier. The stains on my skin are from sunburns... the Floridian sun has taken its toll on me.

1. Hold the tire at the 10 and 2 o'clock position.

2. Move your wrists together, folding the tire into a small loop.

3. You now have a small and a large loop.

4. Hold the tire with your left hand.

5. Use your right hand to twist the large loop away from you.

6. Bend the bottom loop back and fold it up against the center loop.

7. Bend the top loop back and fold it down against the other loops.

8. Make loops the same size and use tape or straps to hold them together.