Fix a Busted Tire with a Buck
Flatten your bike tire on a thorn and you can patch the inner tube or swap in a new one—no problem. Damage the tire itself (say, by tearing your sidewall on a sharp rock)—much bigger problem. Here's a quick field solution to keep you on the roll.
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(1) Before you insert the new tube, carefully check inside the tire for anything that might cause it to flat again, like a sliver of glass or a thorn.
(2) Place a dollar bill on the inner wall of the tire to cover the gash. Fold it either in half or in quarters to fit the hole.
(3) Insert the tube, mount the tire, and pump it up to full pressure. The sturdy fabric of the bill will keep the tube from squeezing out of the gash long enough to get home. In a pinch, a candy wrapper or a piece of old tube will work, too.