yashinon

I see many people and forums suggesting that riders should carry a spare tube and patch kit. Local LBS has group rides planned and they recommend carrying spare tubes and tools.

I am riding between 13-25 miles right now. Just wondered what the consensus is.

treadtread

I had a flat 12 miles from home. If some kind cyclists hadn't helped me, I was in for a long walk. I now carry tire levers, puncture kit, portable pump, a small multitool and bandaids. I've stopped to help lots since, and the most used object has been a bandaid.

spdntrxi

yes I carry both.. tube for the first flat and patches for the next.

oot

Carry 1 tube and tools on local rides.Carry an extra tube when riding further afield.Running puncture resistant tires.Haven't had a flat in the last 20 or so years.

a1penguin

Ditto on carrying both. If you have a second flat, you need a patch kit. If your tube has a split/slice, you need a spare tube.

WestPablo

I don't leave home without a spare tube and a patch kit. I'd rather patch a tire than use a spare tube. Patching only takes a couple more minutes. Patches are cheaper and you'll still have your tube for the next time, when a patch won't really help!

Wanderer

I'm with this - you already have it apart, might as well patch and be done.

raqball

I carry a spare tube.. I don't bother trying to patch because finding the hole can be a serious pain depending..

If I am going on long rides of 60+ miles I bring 2 tubes..

themishmosh

I don't trust patches long term. So will change the inner tube when I can. Definitely carry tire levers, patches, inner tube, 2x CO2 cartridges, air valve.

phoebeisis

Carry all 3-tube patches various tools
No fun pushing a bike home 2 miles-takes 45 minutes
13 miles-6 hours-or a CALL OF SHAME to wife SO Girl Friend Boy Friend
A small fanny pack(yeah it looks....) can easily carry tube patches tools reading glasses for oldsters
Never ride without a way to fix a flat-and other minor problems

MRT2

I carry tire levers, pump, and spare tube. Up,till now, I have not carried patches, but I am reconsidering my position.

Wanderer

I find that locating the hole in the tube, is a road map for the offender in the tire, which not always visible.

An easy way to find a very small hole in a tube, is to overinflate the tube, and pass it by the most sensitive part of your body ----- your lips. Easy, every time.

Found the hole, three minutes to permanently patch,(not with one of those self stick patches) and your new tube is still available should you really need it. In 50+ years, I have NEVER had a permanent patch fail, and have ridden many tubes that were polka dotted!

Scuff the tube, apply the "cement", let it dry, roll the patch on with a round rock or round handled tool using pressure, and it is fixed forever.

tubekiller

My trek mtb made me change tubes MANY times. So many that I quit using it. I wasn't much of a rider anyway...just short trips with kids. So, I now know that it has something in the tire that is just barely there.

Now, I bought a hybrid and have been using it. My first ten mile ride I lost a tube. Thankfully, at the end. It was a rock that looked like a cat's baby tooth in black, it was tough to find. I now have a saddle bag with my levers, the patched tube as a spare, and a patch kit. Now that I am here, I will be browsing to decide what I want for a pump, and maybe a gauge.

Wanderer

Mountain Morph/G, or Road Morph/G --- either will pump to 125# easily. The Mountain Morph will be quicker.

RaleighSport

Usually 2 spare tubes, patch kit, inflator with cartridge+2 more co2, and often a mini pump.

RoadTire 

yep..

mrodgers

I don't but that's only because I'm poor. Spent the tax refund on the bike the end of winter and now have kids' doctor bills to pay for, so haven't bought the rest of the stuff.

I have $50 worth of Amazon cards to spend, but I need a pump and a bag to carry the stuff as without that, it would be useless to bother with the spare tube or patch kit, and those 2 are more than the $50 gift cards. Not much more, but more enough that I don't have it.

As soon as I gather up the rest though... I do worry because I ride gravel roads and they just laid more gravel. Last week, the roads were pretty much dirt, now they are covered in gravel. I only ride about 7 -9 miles out because I'm coming back to home, but I ride most often when my wife has left for work so I don't have someone to come rescue me.

yashinon

Sounds like I will have to start collecting these things. Mr. Rodgers - join the club! 8-)

I picked up a small sized saddle bag. Hopefully it is big enough to carry the things.

loimpact

One benefit of riding with an OCD rider as a buddy is that they always carry enough for both of you. (I can leave the stuff at home).

Another benefit (in this case riding *after* work) is that the wife's always at the ready for my phone call to come pick me up if anything happens on my evening rides.

Ditto on group rides as I wouldn't want to hold everyone up. I'd just as soon get picked up & fix things at home.

But if I don't have any of those options, I won't leave home without pump & patches.

Jseis 

New tube & patch kit. Funny, I loaned both to a roadie last summer and after a 2nd failed attempt to pump up he discovered glass embedded through the casing. I always check the inner tire surface (carefully) for wire, glass etc.

KonaRider125

When I first got into cycling I got a flat tire on a rural road about 10 miles from home and I had a long walk. Like my grampa always said "once annoying, twice a pervert". I won't let that happen again.

I always carry a flat tire repair kit with me, one tube, tire levers, CO2 inflator or mini pump along with a patch kit.

Two tips; carry a pair of rubber gloves(I put mine in the plastic bag I store my spare tube in) in case you have a rear flat so you don't have to ride home with your hands covered in chain grime/oil. Practice changing flat tires at home so you won't have an issue doing it on the road.

blacksapphire08

I dont carry a spare tube but I plan to eventually. My bike has those flat resistant tires but im not going to put blind faith in them. Not sure about the patch kit though, is that to be used as another backup?

Panthers007

Patch-Kit with no excuse not to carry one:

Park Tool Co. » GP-2 : Super Patch Kit : Tube & Tire

camjr

Yes-spare tube, levers, a tiny brass presta-to-schrader adapter, and a patch kit in my saddlebag. I carry a Spin Doctor micro-pump mounted on the frame just above the front derailer. The adapter is in case I need to help someone else out that may have schrader valves and they need to use my pump or in case I'm without my pump and need to borrow someone else's fit for schrader valves.

spdracr39

I carry all that stuff because I am "supposed" to and I want to be a professional. No seriously though, its one of those things that's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. If you were to have a flat and just change the tube but don't find the cause you can patch one of the tubes the second time and still be rolling. Even if you don't know how, as long as you have the stuff, a helpful biker will probably stop and change it for you. I haven't had a flat on the road but the first time I ride without a spare I will have one.