🤔 Do I actually need to carry a repair kit? 🤔
#251
Senior Member
I always carry a spare tube, multitool, tire levers, patches, and a pump on my rides. The only exception is when I ride multiples of a short loop near my apartment where I'm at maximum 2 kilometres from home so if I were to get a flat I'd just walk home.
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#252
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I see carrying a patch kit and spare tube are just as important on a bike as is carrying a spare tire, jack, and tools in a car. Of course now a lot of new cars actually come without spare tires, which are considered "optional" items. But if you live in a rural area like I do you'll be sitting on the side of the road for a long time waiting for an AAA wrecker.
Now I won't carry spare spokes with me, because I can't see myself changing spokes on the side of the road, but for most other repairs I'll be covered.
Now I won't carry spare spokes with me, because I can't see myself changing spokes on the side of the road, but for most other repairs I'll be covered.
#253
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A few years ago I was taking a break at a trailhead and saw 2 riders staring at the back wheel on one of their bikes. Both were on Pinarello F10s with carbon wheels. I walked over and the rear tire was flat. I asked if they had a spare tube and tools... they did. But neither knew how to change it. I offered to teach them. The owner pulled out his tools and had metal tire levers. I told him to never use metal levers on a carbon rim and I used mine.
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#254
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Having then and knowing how to use them are not always assumed.
A few years ago I was taking a break at a trailhead and saw 2 riders staring at the back wheel on one of their bikes. Both were on Pinarello F10s with carbon wheels. I walked over and the rear tire was flat. I asked if they had a spare tube and tools... they did. But neither knew how to change it. I offered to teach them. The owner pulled out his tools and had metal tire levers. I told him to never use metal levers on a carbon rim and I used mine.
A few years ago I was taking a break at a trailhead and saw 2 riders staring at the back wheel on one of their bikes. Both were on Pinarello F10s with carbon wheels. I walked over and the rear tire was flat. I asked if they had a spare tube and tools... they did. But neither knew how to change it. I offered to teach them. The owner pulled out his tools and had metal tire levers. I told him to never use metal levers on a carbon rim and I used mine.
#255
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Hmmmmm...
You didn’t go to the parts store, you went to the junk yard to get a tire, a battery, any other consumerable!
#256
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Cub Scout here. I can tie your tire into 16 kinds of knots.
Always carry, tube, patches, boot, levers, multitool, mini pump, CO2 and valve extractor in a tiny little underseat bag. It’s the Cub Scout way.
Always carry, tube, patches, boot, levers, multitool, mini pump, CO2 and valve extractor in a tiny little underseat bag. It’s the Cub Scout way.
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Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
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Last edited by rsbob; 11-16-20 at 01:12 AM.
#257
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Just skipped to the end of this thread.
I've seen this topic on other forums and fr what I have seen, everyone is so nice and charitable here. It is commendable.
But early on, someone nailed it, well.
Please try not to rely on someone else to save you.
Prepare for flats and other common contingencies.
But I will say it's better to ride the crappiest bike than none. And then if it flats, you can abandon it.
Just don't be the cringe worthy person in fancy a bike kit walking their £10,000 race bike because he got a flat and can't fix it.
I hate seeing that.
I've seen this topic on other forums and fr what I have seen, everyone is so nice and charitable here. It is commendable.
But early on, someone nailed it, well.
Please try not to rely on someone else to save you.
Prepare for flats and other common contingencies.
But I will say it's better to ride the crappiest bike than none. And then if it flats, you can abandon it.
Just don't be the cringe worthy person in fancy a bike kit walking their £10,000 race bike because he got a flat and can't fix it.
I hate seeing that.
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#261
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I use snow tires during the winter, so it's a good time to refresh the whole family on changing a tire, and generally looking the car over.
#262
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Every cyclists should carry a basic repair kit and have knowledge on how to use it. If you don't then you are not a cyclist. JMHO
#264
Junior Member
My riding is almost exclusively 10-25 mile rambles around the city and I try to never leave without a tube, levers, frame mounted hand pump and a multi tool. Failing that I have a lock and my subway/bus card. I have had my wife fetch me at times but that is not an account I want to overdraw.
now with covid it’s dicier you do bus/Lyft/friend, you’d never catch me out there with out the bare essentials.
now with covid it’s dicier you do bus/Lyft/friend, you’d never catch me out there with out the bare essentials.
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