Punctures/changing tubes on the go

[RedFeend]

As some of you may know I am getting back to cycles after a long time away, so I hope you will indulge me and dispense some idiot proof advice re: changing tubes when out on a ride.

Firstly. How do you insert the new tube + get the tyre back on. Do you carry tyre levers/fairy liquid or any tools at all, or are modern parts easier to use than 20+ years ago?

Second. How do you pump the tyre up when modern bikes don't have anywhere to carry a pump? In my youth all bikes came complete with pump and the bike frame had two little pointed 'brackets' which held the pump.

All advice gratefully received because if there is a puncture out there it will make it a priority to inflict itself on me. I just have that sort of luck.

 

[Custom24]

I carry tyre levers and a pump in my backpack.

You can either buy plastic brackets to put on the frame to hold an old-fashioned pump, or mini-pumps come with their own bracket which is mounted beneath the water bottle cage. I find both not quite good enough, and carry a small track pump in my backpack instead. Lots of serious cyclists carry CO2 canisters instead of pumps.

Having said all that, I'll touch wood and say I've not had a puncture in ages, since I switched to using puncture proof tyres. They're really, really good.

 

[ianrauk]

2 Tyre levers, a spare innertube and a small box of patches is all I carry. And that does me fine for rides.
I have a pump with a holder that attaches to the bottle holder bolts.

Not my bike, but you can see here..

 

[snorri]

Do you carry tyre levers/fairy liquid or any tools at all, or are modern parts easier to use than 20+ years ago?

It is not usually necessary to resort to Fairly Liquid, but some tyre /rim combinations can be a little difficult to deal with.
It might be worth your while removing a tyre at home to see how it goes, this would boost your confidence for the day you have to do a roadside repair, and also prove that your tyre levers and pump are up to the job.
The portable pump is fine for blowing up tyres at the roadside, but a Track Pump kept at home is a very handy accessory for keeping your tyres fully inflated with minimal effort.

 

[RedFeend]

Thanks for the picture. Maybe I will pinch the bottle holder off my son's bike. After all he is knocking on 30 and left his bike 'at home' when he moved to London after Uni.
Your pump looks small compared to how they used to be. Can you still play Clanger sounds with it? PS only folk of a certain age will a) remember the Clangers and b) have made silly noises with bike pumps and balloon pumps.

 

[RedFeend]

Thanks for the picture. Maybe I will pinch the bottle holder off my son's bike. After all he is knocking on 30 and left his bike 'at home' when he moved to London after Uni.
Your pump looks small compared to how they used to be. Can you still play Clanger sounds with it? PS only folk of a certain age will a) remember the Clangers and b) have made silly noises with bike pumps and balloon pumps.

 

[PaulSB]

If you buy a quality pump achieving a decent pressure shouldn't be a problem.

If you decide to use a CO2 canister be sure to have a glove available. The outside of the canister can give freeze burns when in use.

 

[Cycleops]

Getting folding tyres on can be a real pig! Most wire beads seem to go on more easily, sometimes not even requiring a lever. Incidently plastic tyre levers seem to make tubes less prone to pinching.

 

[goody]

2 tubes, 2 co2 canistors, co2 inflator, and 2 levers in a small seat pack. I've not had to use them since switching to Durano plus tyres on the commuter and Ultremo ZX on the 'good' bike. (4000m/yr commute, 1200m/yr good bike).

 

[RedFeend]

If you buy a quality pump achieving a decent pressure shouldn't be a problem.

If you decide to use a CO2 canister be sure to have a glove available. The outside of the canister can give freeze burns when in use.

Ah, good thought. Obvious when you think about it. I probably would have thought about it afterwards.

 

[Tim Hall]

I use a full length pump on two of my bikes, a Topeak Road Master Blaster. I can get tyres up to 110 psi with it, I'm sure it can do more. It gets wedged between the top tube and bottom bracket, running down the length of the seat tube and secured by a wee velcro strap. Another bike has a Topeak Road Morph, which is a medium sized pump that converts into a mini track pump. Again high pressures aren't a problem. This has its own set of clips, which can be fixed to a set of bottle cage mounts or held on by cable ties. I use the latter method.

Lezyne also make high quality high pressure pumps (I think the one in ianrauk'spicture is one of theirs).

Mini pumps which fit in the jersey pocket are also available. I'm not a fan, as I hear too often the complaint that they don't get the tyre upto the correct pressure.

Don't forget that due to SCIENCE, CO2 should be regarded as a "get you home" measure. Over time the CO2 leaks out of the tube. Theories for this include molecule size and dissolving in the rubber of the tube.

The Clanger type pumps of days gone by weren't so good at getting the high pressures used these days. The little flexy connector hose was the weak link, blowing up like a balloon.

 

[RedFeend]

Many thanks for all your ideas and experience. Much appreciated.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

As an aside,no change in tyre levers for 50 years,except they are mostly plastic today.