Getting tossed off your mountain board into a cactus or sticker bush is rarely a positive experience. Even worse, however, is when your board suffers similar injuries. All it takes is one tiny little thorn to puncture your tube and your ride is over. Patch kits are lifesavers on days like this.

Most patch kits are very small, making them extremely convenient to carry. Unless you enjoy walking down what you could be riding, then keep a kit in your pack or your pocket; it could save your ride.

There’s two different types of kits, with and without glue. Either one will work although the glue-less is more simple and therefore better for those of us who’ve cracked more than our share of helmets. All kits include patches, a scuffer of some sort, and glue (if required).

Here’s the basic steps:

1. Remove the tube.

2. Run your fingers through the inside of the tube to assure that it’s free of stickers or thorns.

3. Fill the tube with air and find all the holes (it helps if you can mark them somehow). Also, finding the holes is easier if you submerge the tube in water (if its available) and watch for bubbles.

4. Clean the area of each hole with water, spit, or whatever you have to make a clean surface.

5. Use the scuffer to scratch the area where the patch will be placed. This will help the patch stick better.

6. If your using a kit with glue, place a small amount of glue on THE TUBE (not the patch) and smear it evenly over the area with your finger. Now let it dry until it’s tacky- this is important, the patch will not stick well if the glue is wet.

7. Now your ready for the patch, each kit is different but most have a plastic piece that will need to be removed. Glue-less patches always have a plastic piece attached to the sticky side.

8. Carefully place the patch over the hole. Apply pressure to the center of the patch first, then smooth out the rest from the inside out to prevent air bubbles.

Once all holes have been patched correctly, the tube should hold air again and you can continue riding. No one wants to make the disgraceful walk downhill when they could be riding.

For more tips on preventing flats, check out “Bullet-proof Tubes”