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Intro:
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Before you reassemble everything, you should inspect the tire to find out what caused the hole in the tube. Sometimes you won't be able to find anything, but often the culprit is still lodged in the tire, ready to cause another flat. You may be able to find the problem by lining up the valve stem and the valve hole in the rim, then finding the spot on the tire that corresponds to the puncture in the inner tube. If you can't find the damage this way, look closely at the tire. Search for sharp objects embedded in the outside, checking any debris that's caught in the tread. If you still don't find anything, inspect the inside of the tire. You can use your fingers, but proceed gingerly so you don't hurt yourself. Most punctures come from thorns, tacks, or small bits of glass. If the tire has a larger tear in it, you can use a folded dollar bill to "boot" the tire, that is, act as a protective layer between the tube and the gash until you get home. If you don't find anything in the tire, inspect the well area. The ends of the spokes should all be covered with a strip of material that protects the inner tube. Sometimes a spoke will poke through the strip, or the strip may shift aside. A damaged strip must be replaced, but you can make a (very) temporary repair with a patch and glue from your repair kit, or you can boot this area with a folded dollar bill.
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Determine the cause
