View Poll Results: Punctured tubes
Patch on side of the road
10
10.99%
Replace tube
64
70.33%
What are tubes?
14
15.38%
I Like bacon and scrapple
3
3.30%
Voters: 91. You may not vote on this poll
Flats during rides
11-14-23, 06:07 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Flats during rides
What do you do with your punctured tubes during a ride?
My last bike wasn't tubeless so I always carried a spare tube and a patch kit. Never knew if another flat was just around the corner.
Next bike will be tubeless.
My last bike wasn't tubeless so I always carried a spare tube and a patch kit. Never knew if another flat was just around the corner.
Next bike will be tubeless.
Last edited by frdfandc; 11-14-23 at 06:11 PM.
11-14-23, 06:15 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,109
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 822 Post(s)
Liked 1,961 Times
in
944 Posts
Carry two tubes and a patch kit.
Since swapping over to more robust tires, I have not had a flat going on 2+ years.
Prefer to swap tubes before patches.
Do not see a need for tubeless at this point.
Since swapping over to more robust tires, I have not had a flat going on 2+ years.
Prefer to swap tubes before patches.
Do not see a need for tubeless at this point.
Likes For CAT7RDR:
11-14-23, 06:18 PM
#3
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,663
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata GRX
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1948 Post(s)
Liked 1,471 Times
in
1,020 Posts
Call my wife or Uber XL.
Likes For SoSmellyAir:
11-14-23, 06:45 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,904
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2604 Post(s)
Liked 1,933 Times
in
1,213 Posts
Replace tube (after trying to find what caused the leak). Take the leaky tube home to repair it with more of its friends.
Likes For pdlamb:
11-14-23, 06:50 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,995
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2700 Post(s)
Liked 486 Times
in
351 Posts
I just keep on riding until I get a base to replace the tube. Keep telling myself I’m going to stop buying patch kits and stop trying to fix tubes.
11-14-23, 07:06 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: NorCal
Posts: 505
Bikes: Santa Cruz Blur 4 TR, Canyon Endurace cf sl, Canyon Ultimate cf slx, Canyon Strive enduro, Canyon Grizl sl8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 219 Post(s)
Liked 847 Times
in
342 Posts
If the sealant doesn't do the trick? Then either Dynaplug or bacon strips. Worst case scenario...if I absolutely shredded a tire so bad that I couldn't plug it, then patch inside the tire and the little TPU tube I carry. Although the road tires almost always self-seal. It's usually on the gravel bike that I have to intervene, as I'm generally only getting very small punctures on the road.
11-14-23, 09:21 PM
#7
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,525
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4357 Post(s)
Liked 3,995 Times
in
2,666 Posts
Just replace the tube and if you are desperate to patch, do it at home when you can take your time and do it right.
However first things first you should start with good tires at the proper pressure that you checked before the ride. That will help out greatly in the quest to not get flats.
However first things first you should start with good tires at the proper pressure that you checked before the ride. That will help out greatly in the quest to not get flats.
Likes For veganbikes:
Likes For jadmt:
11-14-23, 10:12 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 895
Bikes: 2017 Co-op ADV 1.1; ~1991 Novara Arriba; 1990 Fuji Palisade; mid-90's Moots Tandem; 1985 Performance Superbe
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 390 Post(s)
Liked 572 Times
in
332 Posts
I like scrapple.
Likes For flangehead:
11-14-23, 11:25 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,957
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Canyon Inflite AL SLX, Ibis Ripley AF, Priority Continuum Onyx, Santana Vision, Kent Dual-Drive Tandem
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 878 Post(s)
Liked 726 Times
in
436 Posts
I haven't had a flat since switching to tubeless. Sealant did its job the only noticeable time I had a puncture. Initially I carried bacon strips and a spare tube, neither of which I ever had to use. Then I stopped bothering with the tube after I got a Dynaplug and easily fixed 2 other people's punctures with it.
Back in my tubed days I carried 2 spare tubes and luckily only went through both once when I was still inexperienced at changing them. In total, I've gone through many and still have piles of unpatched, poorly patched, and brand new tubes that I look forward to never needing again.
Back in my tubed days I carried 2 spare tubes and luckily only went through both once when I was still inexperienced at changing them. In total, I've gone through many and still have piles of unpatched, poorly patched, and brand new tubes that I look forward to never needing again.
Likes For surak:
11-15-23, 12:29 AM
#11
Senior Member
Likes For VegasJen:
11-15-23, 06:36 AM
#12
Pennylane Splitter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,879
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1804 Post(s)
Liked 1,444 Times
in
993 Posts
This. I'll patch a tube a few times before I throw it out. I carry two tubes while riding, no patch kit (except on a multi-day bike tour). I use good puncture-resistant tires and I get only 1-2 flats a year.
11-15-23, 06:50 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 728
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 365 Post(s)
Liked 419 Times
in
248 Posts
Your poll doesn't cover all of the options. Unfortunately, there's an obnoxious sub-set of riders who replace the tube and leave the punctured one lying on the shoulder. Probably the same people who throw their empty gu packets on the ground, leave broken chains on the road (yes, I've seen several over the years, probably 5 < n < 10), etc.
Likes For noimagination:
11-15-23, 09:11 AM
#14
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 416
Bikes: Trek FX 7.3, Specialized Roubaix, Orbea Terra, Aostimotor S17 ebike, Huffy RedRock (first bike)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 201 Post(s)
Liked 267 Times
in
134 Posts
Regardless what you do, always inspect inside your tire. Recently discovered a slow leak, patched it, came back the next day and see tire completely deflated. Found another hole, then found a tiny needle tip stuck inside.
11-15-23, 12:50 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Ellensburg,WA
Posts: 3,180
Bikes: Schwinn Broadway, Specialized Secteur Sport(crashed) Spec. Roubaix Sport, Spec. Crux
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 179 Post(s)
Liked 169 Times
in
84 Posts
Depends on the ride. Long unsupported ride, patch. Shorter ride or supported ride replace tube. Also depends on where ride is. In a city replace, stop by bike shop, buy another tube, continue. Outside of a city and no where near a bike shop replace and hope. Last option is call SAG.
__________________
Sir Mark, Knight of Sufferlandria
Sir Mark, Knight of Sufferlandria
Likes For Black wallnut:
11-15-23, 01:38 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,887
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6972 Post(s)
Liked 10,968 Times
in
4,692 Posts
Likes For Koyote:
11-15-23, 02:40 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,249
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18422 Post(s)
Liked 15,570 Times
in
7,335 Posts
11-15-23, 02:43 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,249
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18422 Post(s)
Liked 15,570 Times
in
7,335 Posts
Put in a new tube and leave the punctured one on the side of the road along with the empty CO2 cartridge.
Likes For indyfabz:
11-15-23, 04:16 PM
#21
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,225
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2585 Post(s)
Liked 5,644 Times
in
2,922 Posts
For the tubed bike: 1 spare tube + patch kit. No flats in 2 years - but only ridden sporadically
For tubeless: 1 spare tube in case of a sidewall or catastrophic failure, and Dynaplugs. No flats in 2 years and 10,000 miles
Both bikes use Conti GP 5000s
For tubeless: 1 spare tube in case of a sidewall or catastrophic failure, and Dynaplugs. No flats in 2 years and 10,000 miles
Both bikes use Conti GP 5000s
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
11-15-23, 04:20 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,388
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 176 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times
in
13 Posts
Your poll doesn't cover all of the options. Unfortunately, there's an obnoxious sub-set of riders who replace the tube and leave the punctured one lying on the shoulder. Probably the same people who throw their empty gu packets on the ground, leave broken chains on the road (yes, I've seen several over the years, probably 5 < n < 10), etc.
11-15-23, 04:43 PM
#23
Full Member
Despite carrying a spare tube and patch kit, I've had to use the patch kit more than once on the side of the road.
Interesting story, I was out with several friends on a short ride in the fall and one of the bikes was on its first ride since being purchased (used craigslist find). I thought the tires had looked okay but they clearly weren't after the rear split and blew the tube out. Managed to get it the 4 miles back after throwing in my spare tube, a small section of a very tear-resistant disposable shop towel to keep the tube from blowing out again through the giant tear in the tire and a bay leaf for good measure along with the shop towel. I was amazed it held but it was clear by the end the tire was quickly on its way to tearing enough to blow out the tube again.
Interesting story, I was out with several friends on a short ride in the fall and one of the bikes was on its first ride since being purchased (used craigslist find). I thought the tires had looked okay but they clearly weren't after the rear split and blew the tube out. Managed to get it the 4 miles back after throwing in my spare tube, a small section of a very tear-resistant disposable shop towel to keep the tube from blowing out again through the giant tear in the tire and a bay leaf for good measure along with the shop towel. I was amazed it held but it was clear by the end the tire was quickly on its way to tearing enough to blow out the tube again.
11-15-23, 04:51 PM
#24
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: California's capital
Posts: 465
Bikes: Litespeed Firenze, Spot Acme, Specialzed S Works Pro Race, Davidson Stiletto, Colnago Superissimo
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 133 Post(s)
Liked 300 Times
in
172 Posts
I'm convinced like wolves, that flats run in packs. I'll go months without then suffer several in a couple weeks, usually across multiple bikes. Other than during peak puncture vine season, I can't correlate them--they just fall under "stuff happens."
11-15-23, 05:41 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,395
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,979 Times
in
1,920 Posts
rear flat, plug it. Front, plug or tube it.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!