justtrying

I just started riding again for the first time in about 40 years last year. I got a hybrid bike,a basic computer, helmet and away I went. About 2 weeks ago I mentioned to a co-worker who rides that while at lunch I was going to pick up a computer with a cadence app. He then asked the question "do you have a tire repair kit". I said no. (I never had a flat in over 2000 miles) . After looking at the surprised look on his face I went out and bought one. Going out early this morning toward Long Beach NY and then on my way to Breezy Point the rear tire went flat about 20 miles from home. I have not changed a flat on a bike in over 45-50 years while I was making reasonable progress with my 10 thumbs I really appreciated the couple of cyclists who stopped and offered some pointers. I liked the fact that they did not jump in to help because to get proficient in anything you have to do it yourself.30 minutes to change the the tire and 15 minutes to get all the grease off me! I know I am slow as Mollasses. I will have to add surgical gloves to my kit.I am bringing bagels into work to thank the co-worker who made a most sensible suggestion

Wildwood 

Some clincher tire & rim combinations are a witch to pry apart on the road. That's another reason for my going tubular on most bikes.


Rubber gloves in my small saddle bag? = YES. And a small rag.

europa

I wouldn't take bagels to work to reward the 'sensible suggestion', the bugga pointed you out to the puncture fairy!


Funny how things happen isn't it, though usually it's the other way around, it's the day you DON'T take your repair kit that you get caught. I'm personally of the 'carry a spare tube' way of thinking because it's just quicker and easier to put in a new tube, if I want to mess around doing repairs I'd rather do it at home, on the road is for riding. But I also carry a repair kit because you can get more than one puncture.

justtrying

lol Yea he did probably set me up for the puncture fairy, but he is trying to lose weight so bagels with butter or cream cheese will make us even.

canklecat

My first flat a couple of years ago, when I'd resumed cycling after a 30-year hiatus, reminded me to be better prepared.

I had a floor pump, but had to budget carefully and couldn't afford a portable pump until the next month. I considered carrying my floor pump but decided it wouldn't look cool. Oh, it wouldn't add to the weight -- my bike already weighed 35 lbs. It would just look dorky strapped to the back rack.

On my first "long" ride -- a whopping 3 miles from home -- I got my first flat. Goathead burr, natch. Typical autumn road hazard, just after a long hot dry summer crisps the burrs to tack sharpness and hardness.

Fortunately a fellow in that rural neighborhood was heading my way and gave me and my bike a ride home in his pickup. I still ride by and wave or stop to chat with him occasionally.

For the next year I carried a full tool kit and enough junk to build a new bike from scratch. This year I've finally pared it down to the essentials. But I'm always tempted by those larger capacity saddle bags and the lure of total independence. I never take a long ride without considering whether I can haul the bike and myself back on foot.

Even when I fell back in February and busted up some ribs and could barely breathe I declined a friend's offer to drive me the 10 miles back home. I wanted to tough it out just to see if I could ride without breathing. Made it, just barely. Next time, I'll accept the ride.

BobbyG

Good job!

McBTC

If you'd been riding over the last 40 years you probably would have seen folks pulled over fixing flats... the worst is on a busy road where it is so loud you cannot hear the hissing (you've got to hold the tire up to your lips and fell the air on your face). You're skilled when you can fix 4 punctures with a single patch (need Swiss Army knife scissors for that)... sometimes it's easier to just carry a spare tube.

BlazingPedals

I narrowly averted a flat yesterday. I was running a mis-delivered magazine to a neighbor a half-mile away when I nearly ran over a 1 1/2" upholstery nail standing up in the shoulder. I've always said shoulders were flat zones! Anyway I went back and picked it up, along with another nail a few feet away. Bikes ride on this route all the time.

Steve B.

In my 28 cycling seasons on clinchers, the only time I've had trouble getting either wire bead or Kevlar beaded tires on a rim, is right out of the box.

SamRod

my tool kit contains : 3 pry bars, 1 spare tube, 4 surgical gloves. and I have used them all many times. In fact just this week I had my chain break. so out came the surgical gloves. picked up the failed chain at least My hands aren't greasy black! but yea many flats under my belt. its gonna happen.
Forgot to add. 1 C02 cartridge.

MinnMan

(You are giving me wistful thoughts about NY bagels...back when I lived in NY and still consumed gluten. Lord, I miss a good bagel)

Fixing flats gets easier with practice and you'll likely improve your gear. I went from a lousy hand pump to CO2 cartridges to a very great hand pump (Topeak minimorph). I learned to carry tire levers. I don't worry about flats any more.

Carbonfiberboy 

I carry 2 tubes, a patch kit, a boot kit, and a light spare tire. When I flat, I put on the spare with one of the spare tubes. Very quick, no need to find the leak on the road. Takes 5-10 minutes total depending on proficiency and pump. I carry a Topeak Road Morph G pump on a bracket which fastens on beneath a bottle cage so the pump is beside the cage. Unfortunately, the sillies at Topeak don't include this bracket, so we have to order it off the parts section of their website.

Wildwood 

I should send you my vintage G.Fisher with Araya rims next time it flats. Unless you (like me) have purchased an 8" steel tire lever.

edit: In 30+ years of riding, it is the only rim where I have had to cut off a tire, before a mechanic introduced me to the mother-of-all-tire-levers.

dazevedo

I also carry 6 or so packets of these in my bag.
https://www.amazon.com/Purell-9022-1.../dp/B01N07VKTJ
Have handed out more then used but they take up little room and clean of chain gunk better then a rag.
Also a sandwich bag to throw the used ones in after use.

David Bierbaum

Tis far better to have a kit, and not have a flat, than to have a flat, and not have a kit...

My emergency bag has two tubes and a patch kit. I usually just change tubes, and leave patching for when I get back home. Allen keys, multitool, pressure gauge, and spoke wrench round out my kit. I've needed the spoke wrench twice now, for broke spokes (I've now pointed that fairy at you!), to get me back home without brake pad rubbing.