If I get a puncture ...

[jeltz]

I'm planning to go off for a 1st longish ride on my own on Sunday and I was thinking that I ought to take something with me in case I'm unlucky enough to get a puncture. Obviously I'd need tyre levers and a pump but should I get a puncture repair kit, a spare inner tube or does tube seal work well enough?

 

[punkypossum]

After carrying around no puncture repair kit but a spare tube for ages, I have recently discovered it's actually a lot easier to fix a puncture than change a tube (saves taking wheel off). I still carry a tube just in case it's unrepairable for whatever reason... Wouldn't bother with tyre sealant after the event, although I find slime tubes work well for thorn punctures, but not glass cuts.

 

[threefingerjoe]

My opinion. I would carry a spare tube, AND a repair kit. The first puncture gets the tube, and you can repair the punctured tube at home. If you're unlucky enough to get 2 punctures, then you'll be able to repair the second one on the road.

Now, as to repairing without removing tire and tube? It is my experience, that it can be difficult to find the cause of many punctures. I often have to examine the tire very carefully, to find the offending (usually) tiny piece of glass. If you don't find and remove it, you'll soon puncture the new tube...sometimes before you've finished inflating! Now, I guess if you happen to find a thorn, wire, or nail poking through the tire from the outside, then you know exactly what caused it, and can easily remove it. I'm rarely that lucky. Glück auf!

 

[Randochap]

My opinion. I would carry a spare tube, AND a repair kit,

etc.

+1

Good advice.

 

[ASC1951]

I would carry a spare tube, AND a repair kit. The first puncture gets the tube, and you can repair the punctured tube at home. If you're unlucky enough to get 2 punctures, then you'll be able to repair the second one on the road.

I just take two tubes.

 

[Ben M]

just take your bike, phone, and money for a taxi home

 

[Banjo]

All depends on how far from home/car you will be.I had two in 5 minutes about 9 miles from the car recently and only one spare tube. second was a big blow out that couldnt be fixed so was lucky to be able to borrow a tube from Mike Rudkin to get home on. I now carry two tubes and a repair kit when miles from home on my own.

 

[grhm]

I take a spare tube and repair kit. Also, if you've not got QR wheels make sure you've got sufficient tools to remove and replace the wheel (might seem obvious but just in case you hadn't though about it)

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Tube and repair kit - all bases covered then!

 

[HLaB]

My opinion. I would carry a spare tube, AND a repair kit. The first puncture gets the tube, and you can repair the punctured tube at home. If you're unlucky enough to get 2 punctures, then you'll be able to repair the second one on the road.

Thats the way I do it. On Sunday I upped it to two tubes + the repair kit, fortunately I didn't need it but a lot of folk did.

 

[jeltz]

Thanks all, OK it seems that the kit will have to be both; which is fine and pretty much what I'd expected.

Yes had thought of the tools, but thanks for mentioning it none the less, and I suppose that the worst case scenario is I lock the bike up, phone my missus for a lift

 

[jimboalee]

WHEN I get a puncture.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1

My opinion. I would carry a spare tube, AND a repair kit. The first puncture gets the tube, and you can repair the punctured tube at home. If you're unlucky enough to get 2 punctures, then you'll be able to repair the second one on the road.

Now, as to repairing without removing tire and tube? It is my experience, that it can be difficult to find the cause of many punctures. I often have to examine the tire very carefully, to find the offending (usually) tiny piece of glass. If you don't find and remove it, you'll soon puncture the new tube...sometimes before you've finished inflating! Now, I guess if you happen to find a thorn, wire, or nail poking through the tire from the outside, then you know exactly what caused it, and can easily remove it. I'm rarely that lucky. Glück auf!

 

[accountantpete]

I have recently discovered it's actually a lot easier to fix a puncture than change a tube (saves taking wheel off).

Are you Paul Daniels in disguise Punky?

 

[jeltz]

WHEN I get a puncture.

Yeah, fair point. In my own mind I was referring to the planned trip on Sunday, but its not as though I'm buying the "emergency" kit for just 1 day!