gavroche
Getting old but not past it
- Location
- North Wales
Where do you carry your spare tubes as they are bulky? Also, isn't a repair kit enough to fix the tyre on side of the road?
Scared to cycle to far from home
- Thread starter cabby
- Start date
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pepecat
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Dodging the Buzes in Brum
I have a seat pack - in fact, one of these which holds tyre levers, multi tool, allen key, spare tube and puncture repair kit. If I take the puncture kit out and stick it in my pocket I can take two tubes in it. I also have a small pump attached to the frame. However, I've never had a puncture.....yet.... If I did, I wouldn't bother reparing it at the roadside, I'd just stick a new tube in and get home, and then fix the hole.
I also take phone and some money or a card with me in case i need them. Usually the o/h is at home when I'm out, so I could always call her if I needed to - it's not so much mechanical things that bother me, it's more the 'if i come off and hurt something' thinking. When she's not around i tend to stick in and around the city rather than venturing further afield. That way i know there are buses / trains / phone boxes / taxis if I ever need them.
I also take phone and some money or a card with me in case i need them. Usually the o/h is at home when I'm out, so I could always call her if I needed to - it's not so much mechanical things that bother me, it's more the 'if i come off and hurt something' thinking. When she's not around i tend to stick in and around the city rather than venturing further afield. That way i know there are buses / trains / phone boxes / taxis if I ever need them.
MrHappyCyclist
Riding the Devil's HIghway
- Location
- Bolton, England
And if you do find something and remove it, keep looking; there's a fair chance you will find more! Last time I had a puncture, it was a tiny shard of glass. I then pulled another 8 from different parts of the tyre.
abo
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Stockton on Tees
A little pack below the saddle, it is deceptively cavernous. I keep a spare tube, glueless patch kit, tyre levers, a multitool and a chain tool in there, and there is plenty of space to slot my phone in plus a few other odds and ends if I wish. My lights go in too if I carry them with me. And a minipump alongside the bottlecage on my down tube.
But, they're pretty un-trendy lol so I might go the spare bottle route
As for punctures, I've had two since April. One was close to home and I just wheeled it home. The second was last week, I had the spare tube but I had my son with me so I thought I'd fix the puncture and show him how to do it. I discovered a bust spoke at the same time; rode the bike home and changed it a couple of days later, no sweat.
byegad
Legendary Member
- Location
- NE England
My recent success rate with repairing a puncture is close to zero percent. I either replace the tube after finding the cause of the deflation or inflate with a sealant and top up with a CO2 inflater if not far from home. To be honest in the last ten years too many repaired tubes have failed, after anything from 3 minutes to 3 years following application of the patch. When I was a lad they'd work without issues so I can't explain this.
I carried mine in a saddlebag on a DF and now use whatever storage is appropriate for a 'bent.
As to saddlebags being uncool, I'd rather ride home than walk!
lulubel
Über Member
- Location
- Malaga, Spain
At the moment, I'd probably be reluctant to go much more than 10 miles from home (10 miles being the distance I'd be OK with walking if the bike couldn't be ridden). I do take spare tubes with me, and I am happy changing a tube, but I haven't got the strength to get more than about 60psi in the tyre without a track pump, so it would be a very careful ride home.
I'm not prepared for things like a broken chain or snapped cables, so I need to think about those things before I go further, I think.
I'm not prepared for things like a broken chain or snapped cables, so I need to think about those things before I go further, I think.
the_mikey
Legendary Member
- Location
- South Gloucestershire
Once you have to carry too much stuff, it just becomes unpleasant, I try to keep it down to enough kit to repair a puncture or swap a tube. As for distance, I guess most of my rides don't take me much further from home than 20 miles. I try to keep on top of general bike maintenance at home, clean, lube and check chains for wear or damage is perhaps my most regular check after checking tyre pressure!
I find it reassuring to carry a light rain jacket, food, mobile phone and money, so far I've only ever found myself walking once, when I found out that the valve stem on the replacement tube I had wasn't long enough for the rim of my wheel. These days I make sure everything I carry with me will fit or work when needed.
I find it reassuring to carry a light rain jacket, food, mobile phone and money, so far I've only ever found myself walking once, when I found out that the valve stem on the replacement tube I had wasn't long enough for the rim of my wheel. These days I make sure everything I carry with me will fit or work when needed.
Well, I started much later in life than you and after two summers I felt perfectly confident riding solo for the whole day, typically for about 120k. I am not a great mechanic so my bikes were new when purchased and have been maintained by people I trust. I do not expect cables etc to break and that is a great source of confidence.
As many people have said, familiarisation with i/t replacement and post puncture techniques generally is necessary for confidence.
QR levers will increase the number of accessible vehicles yr bke if you are defeated.
As a newbie you may be prone to cross-chaining and that can cause a break. If so, add a replacement link to yr spare parts list (and some hand cleaning rag).
Go out and enjoy!
As many people have said, familiarisation with i/t replacement and post puncture techniques generally is necessary for confidence.
QR levers will increase the number of accessible vehicles yr bke if you are defeated.
As a newbie you may be prone to cross-chaining and that can cause a break. If so, add a replacement link to yr spare parts list (and some hand cleaning rag).
Go out and enjoy!
Broughtonblue
Guru
- Location
- Norfolk
As with all the other posts, I carry the spare tube, repair kit, Allen keys, very small adjustable spanner. I also wrap a flexible lock around the seat fixing bars incase of serious breakdown so I can hide it behind a field hedge and lock it to a fence/tree and pick up later
400bhp
Guru
If you have limited upper limb capacity, either grip or strength, then pumps can be a problem....
Firstly look at the type.
Topeak do one called the road morph which has a floor mount and allows you to exert pressure against the floor, enabling greater pressures to be achieved (also has a small gauge)
If this is still to difficult then consider a small CO2 pump such as this one from Lezyne
Alternatively they also do a combined CO2 and mini pump
Finally there is a system called Cyclaire which is completely different, using a toggle and pulling rather than pushing.
Firstly look at the type.
Topeak do one called the road morph which has a floor mount and allows you to exert pressure against the floor, enabling greater pressures to be achieved (also has a small gauge)
If this is still to difficult then consider a small CO2 pump such as this one from Lezyne
Alternatively they also do a combined CO2 and mini pump
Finally there is a system called Cyclaire which is completely different, using a toggle and pulling rather than pushing.
Globalti
Legendary Member
Unwrap your spare inner tube, put the valve in your mouth holding the pimple thingy down with your teeth and suck out all the air. When it's flat, roll it up towards the valve then suck out any remaining air again. Then tape it round tightly with two plastic tyre levers bundled up with it. Pack it in a small saddle bag with a multi tool and a couple of self-adhesive patches.
skudupnorth
Cycling Skoda lover
- Location
- Astley,Manchester
Tube,Levers,Multi-tool and repair kit is all i take with me where ever i ride and that included my monster ride from Manchester to Cornwall !
If you are worried about punctures,get a set of puncture proof tyres,again i rode fully laden without an issue to Cornwall and they are still going strong on my daily commute.
If you are worried about punctures,get a set of puncture proof tyres,again i rode fully laden without an issue to Cornwall and they are still going strong on my daily commute.
