Do you pack a Spare Tire???
#26
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#27
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#28
A lightweight folding spare tire doesn't take up much space. On my first long tour with companions, another rider ran over a piece of metallic debris on a downhill and destroyed both tires. She and I both had one folding tire each, so were able to replace the blown ones. But I've never seen another good tire get ruined on a tour since then.
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If I'm touring I'll carry a spare tire just in case. On a ride from Toronto Canada to Barrie Canada I was travelling along Hyw 7 towards Hyw 27 when I pulled over onto the shoulder to let a bunch of 18 wheelers get by. Rear tire got pierced by a piece of very stiff wirethat didn't bend when it hit the seatstays. It went through both sides of the tire and lodged there. When it hit the seatstays it tore a 4" rip in both sides of thetire. It was quite a walk to a store where I was able to get another tire and tube. WHen I tour logging/mining roads in Northern Ontario (Canada) I always carry a pare tire and a couple of spare tubes as well as my patch kit and tire boot material.
Whether or not to carry a spare tire depends on where you'll be and how far you have to go to get a new one if you have a catastrophic tire failure. Only you know that.
Cheers
Whether or not to carry a spare tire depends on where you'll be and how far you have to go to get a new one if you have a catastrophic tire failure. Only you know that.
Cheers
#30
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A lightweight folding spare tire doesn't take up much space. On my first long tour with companions, another rider ran over a piece of metallic debris on a downhill and destroyed both tires. She and I both had one folding tire each, so were able to replace the blown ones. But I've never seen another good tire get ruined on a tour since then.
26X2.0 Folding tires 720gm $60.22X2=$120.44+S&H from Schwabletires.com/ on 8-3-2016 and
1 as a Spare Tire on 10-3-16 and I like to pack a Schwalbe Marathon deluxe hs420 in my
Ortlieb rack pack
#31
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You continually mention you are on a fixed income...yet look to double up on rarely used items.
#32
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So I can Pack a Spare Tire in my Ortlieb Rack Top Bag and That is why I was looking at Panaracer T-Serv 26X1.75 Tires
#33
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I always take a spare tire when I tour and a couple of tubes.
I tour with an Extrawheel trailer usually and all my wheels are the same spoke count, same rims and same size folding tires (700c x 2.00).
I currently utilise folding Schwalbe Mondials for mixed surface tours.
I'm looking at an off road tour next, soonish, so have some WTB Exiwolf 2.3 tires I'm going to trial on the bike.
The trailer will stick with its Mondial 2.00 and the spare will be the usual Mondial 2.00 as well.
I tour with an Extrawheel trailer usually and all my wheels are the same spoke count, same rims and same size folding tires (700c x 2.00).
I currently utilise folding Schwalbe Mondials for mixed surface tours.
I'm looking at an off road tour next, soonish, so have some WTB Exiwolf 2.3 tires I'm going to trial on the bike.
The trailer will stick with its Mondial 2.00 and the spare will be the usual Mondial 2.00 as well.
#35
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Hell theres plenty of places here where it can take days of riding to get to the next town. You'd be more than doubling it to push a laden touring bike with a flat tire.
I won't even talk about how quickly your water will run out in that scenario.
I will however have a look at Aushikers duck tape suggestion as a potential possibility, though I think I'm happier hauling the tire given that I tour heavy anyway.
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I always carry a spare tire, sometimes I work harder to let some air out (Clydesdale).
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#37
When it can take days of pushing to get to a town, I'll lean towards what you call extreme.
Hell theres plenty of places here where it can take days of riding to get to the next town. You'd be more than doubling it to push a laden touring bike with a flat tire.
I won't even talk about how quickly your water will run out in that scenario.
I will however have a look at Aushikers duck tape suggestion as a potential possibility, though I think I'm happier hauling the tire given that I tour heavy anyway.
Hell theres plenty of places here where it can take days of riding to get to the next town. You'd be more than doubling it to push a laden touring bike with a flat tire.
I won't even talk about how quickly your water will run out in that scenario.
I will however have a look at Aushikers duck tape suggestion as a potential possibility, though I think I'm happier hauling the tire given that I tour heavy anyway.
I haven't tour the far North West and concede that distances there and across the Top End are much larger between towns... but I don't have immediate plans to tour there, and I am sure the OP doesn't either. However, if I did intend to tour there, I likely would use heavy-duty tyres and plenty of tubes. I should ask my friend who biked the Birdsville Track what he took along with him.
(Funny story: He and his mate wore their helmets on every inch of that trip. But when they got to Birdsville, my friend just hopped on his bike to go across to the bank or pub (or grocery store, whatever) from where they were camped. Sure enough, the local cop was right there to grab him and book him for not wearing a helmet. The first time on the whole trip! My friend was not impressed... but then, knowing him, the fine is probably still outstanding )
#38
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Remote area touring is somewhat different to the sorts of touring most of us do on these forums. I've ridden across the Nullarbor from Perth, but there was nothing extraordinary about the distances between towns. I lived in Far North Queensland back in the 1990s, and there wasn't anything extraordinary about the distance between towns until the blacktop stopped when headed towards the Gulf.
I haven't tour the far North West and concede that distances there and across the Top End are much larger between towns... but I don't have immediate plans to tour there, and I am sure the OP doesn't either. However, if I did intend to tour there, I likely would use heavy-duty tyres and plenty of tubes. I should ask my friend who biked the Birdsville Track what he took along with him.
(Funny story: He and his mate wore their helmets on every inch of that trip. But when they got to Birdsville, my friend just hopped on his bike to go across to the bank or pub (or grocery store, whatever) from where they were camped. Sure enough, the local cop was right there to grab him and book him for not wearing a helmet. The first time on the whole trip! My friend was not impressed... but then, knowing him, the fine is probably still outstanding )
I haven't tour the far North West and concede that distances there and across the Top End are much larger between towns... but I don't have immediate plans to tour there, and I am sure the OP doesn't either. However, if I did intend to tour there, I likely would use heavy-duty tyres and plenty of tubes. I should ask my friend who biked the Birdsville Track what he took along with him.
(Funny story: He and his mate wore their helmets on every inch of that trip. But when they got to Birdsville, my friend just hopped on his bike to go across to the bank or pub (or grocery store, whatever) from where they were camped. Sure enough, the local cop was right there to grab him and book him for not wearing a helmet. The first time on the whole trip! My friend was not impressed... but then, knowing him, the fine is probably still outstanding )
Whilst I envy and admire the riders in here who talk of riding 100 mile days, its not something I wish to emulate myself.
I'm more of a meanderer when I tour, more often than not easing myself into the journey burdened by my own excessive kgs, let alone the bike.
Typically somewhere between 70 to 80 km after having started for the first couple of days between only 30 to 50km depending on the amount of climbing within the days journey.
I think my longest day in the saddle was 120km towing my trailer and I didn't want to get back on the bike for a couple of days due to soreness.
I typically find somewhere in the vicinity of around 70km ample to both head towards my destination, lose a few kg and smell the roses.
I'm blessed by being a little less time poor than most.
#39
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I have done all my longer bike tours in Asian countries where getting a new tire is not always easy. A few years ago I met a Spanish cyclist in Northern Laos. He had a spare tire strapped to his frame and told me that he had earlier had a Schwalbe tire crack lengthwise all around and eventually split. He was in the middle of nowhere and had to hitch to the nearest town before any chance of obtaining a new tire. I took the clue and have since also strapped a cheapo Chinese folding tyre to my frame.
My main tires are Schwalbe Mondials. I think they are very good and don't really expect them to go South on me. But I also know that in India, where I have done my latest 3 tours, it is nearly impossible to find a 28" tire or tube, at least outside the largest cities. This last winter I needed to buy a 28" tube with Schrader valve, to fit my pump. Not even in Hyderabad, a city of 7 million people did I find one.
My main tires are Schwalbe Mondials. I think they are very good and don't really expect them to go South on me. But I also know that in India, where I have done my latest 3 tours, it is nearly impossible to find a 28" tire or tube, at least outside the largest cities. This last winter I needed to buy a 28" tube with Schrader valve, to fit my pump. Not even in Hyderabad, a city of 7 million people did I find one.
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Three weeks ago I wasted an almost new Marathon supreme (expected life measured in thousands of kms), cut along the center, approx 1 inch long, by what looked like the tip of a utility blade. Finished the day with a boot. Luckily for me I was carrying a spare as we were about to embark on a long tour.
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Three weeks ago I wasted an almost new Marathon supreme (expected life measured in thousands of kms), cut along the center, approx 1 inch long, by what looked like the tip of a utility blade. Finished the day with a boot. Luckily for me I was carrying a spare as we were about to embark on a long tour.
Our area roads have much debri because of high construction with many trucks.
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Three weeks ago I wasted an almost new Marathon supreme (expected life measured in thousands of kms), cut along the center, approx 1 inch long, by what looked like the tip of a utility blade. Finished the day with a boot. Luckily for me I was carrying a spare as we were about to embark on a long tour.
#43
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I pack a spare tire AND tube together coiled in my back packs. If I get a flat on a rainy miserable day I just replace the entire thing, rather than try and repair the flat or wonder if what caused the flat is still in the original tire.
#44
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I would pack a Spare Tire in Southern California, on the Pacific Coast Route, and I would siart with new Tires, and my Continental Touring Plus 26X1.75 are new and 30miles on them!
#45
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Don't fret, I have functional autism. Instead of not knowing anything I know waaaaaay too much to do any good.
Quit picking on the member, eh?
Quit picking on the member, eh?
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#46
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Roughstuff, would you care to see the section on political posts etc. Tom made some requests and restrictions on putting political stuff in posts and signatures.
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#50
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I used to pack two spare sew ups when I toured in the 80s. Does that count? I wonder if anyone else here has toured with tubulars. Seems doubtful.
I don't think I'd bother today if touring within the US, but I would probably pack a spare if traveling internationally.
I don't think I'd bother today if touring within the US, but I would probably pack a spare if traveling internationally.