To all of the bicycle enthusiasts that love the ride but don’t know the first thing about bike repair: a Lehighton bike shop holds some answers.

Bike mechanic Bill Drumbore of Lehighton Outdoor Center led a clinic regarding basic bike maintenance last Saturday.

Three main subjects explained were removing and replacing both wheels, taking the inner tube out, and tips and tricks on standard repair.

According to Drumbore, the main goal of the workshop is to be able to get yourself out of a bad situation.

“The idea of all of this is to get comfortable taking your bike apart on the trail,” he said. “Do what you need to do, get it done and fine-tune it when you get home if you have to.”

The workshop began with a simple statement: “I don’t like to touch the rear wheel because of the gears-raise your hand if you agree.”

Agreeing nods and hands raised high filled the room.

Drumbore recommended to wear gloves due to the grease near the back wheel and chains.

If gloves aren’t available, he stressed the importance of washing hands as soon as possible after handling the bike.

For some bikes, the brake must be disconnected before removing the wheel.

For others, it’s best to work with a flat tire.

If the brake must be disconnected, one would need to squeeze together at the top and pull the cable out of the retainer.

If working with a flat, he reminded to not put air back in the tire until the brake pad is reconnected.

“Pay attention to how you take it apart,” he said. “You must get the wheel back onto the chain loop.”

For working on any part of the bike, a good habit is to flip the bike onto the handlebars and seat, as it’s easier to work that way. If the bike has accessories like a cup or cellphone holder, this may not be possible.

After some further explanation, Drumbore asked participants to try taking off the wheels on their own bikes while he aided them with questions regarding their style of bike.

He said it’s easy to get frustrated when something goes wrong but the best thing to do is to keep calm and pay attention to everything taken apart so it can be placed back together.

In the midst of the bike repair lesson, a question was asked about the advantage of directional tires.

“Well, you can’t get lost,” Joe Lazorik of Coopersburg joked.

Drumbore specified the true advantage is to help with traction and braking.

Regarding inner tubes, it was recommended to carry a new inner tube when going out for a ride in case of a flat.

Gorilla tape was recommended for quick patches due to its thickness and stickiness.

“I’ve taped side walls with gorilla tape,” Drumbore said. “A couple of layers of this is just as strong as a new weave and it’ll get you home.”

Before any repair happens, the cause of the flat or damaged inner tube must be found to prevent wasting a new inner tube. It’s recommended to either take the tire off to inspect it or to run fingers along the tire carefully.

“Be careful it doesn’t cut you, but run your fingers along it to find the cause,” Drumbore said. “If you’re mountain biking, it may be a rock or a small branch.”

It could also be glass, thorns or pieces of metal that is causing the damaged tire.

He recommended to try everything at home to get the hang of it before hitting the trail. But he said, even if you’re not comfortable doing any of it, bring the right tools along on a bike ride because odds are someone will be out riding who knows how to help.