General Cycling Discussion - What to carry in case of Flat?

I occurred to me last weekend on my first longer in Palos Verdes (2-3 hours)ride on my new Sirrus Comp that if I get a flat I am totally stuck. I do carry a cell phone (TAXI!!!) :p

What should I be carrying just is case of a flat? Right now I got nothing. My bike has 700X26(?) Armadillo tire that theoretically are pretty tough.

But just in case......

Thanks

I always carry a spare inner tube, a patch kit, and a pump. I'm covered. Plus the cell phone too.... would never go for a long ride without one. And a credit card, just in case something is so bad I need to throw money at it to make the problem go away.

Koffee

I carry a spare tube, patch kit, pump, and ID.

Three times the charm: spare tube, patch kit, pump, ID, cell phone, credit card.

But you need only the first three to fix a flat (sometimes multiple in a single ride).

Yup. I don't ride any farther than I'd be willing to walk without (all together now!) a spare tube, patch kit, pump, and multi-tool.

don’t forget your tire levers and first aid kit (drivers license, credit card and insurance card.)

Very true- I forgot that I also carry my drivers license and my multi-tool kit also.

Koffee

After years of experimentation I've settled on

1) Crank Bros Multi 17 tool
2.)Crank Bros Power Pump
3.)Crank Bros Tire Changer Thing
4.)Michelin Tube
5) Patch Kit ... never used it on the road, yet.

Last year this got me through three flat tires (all rear), numerous tweaks to spokes and brakes (mainly for fellow riders).

These all fit in a small Sci-con Underseat Bag with room to spare for a wallet and change.

Weighs about 700 grams.

And no, I am not one of the Crank Bros. Cranky, perhaps.

well I used to carry ....pump tire levers allen wrneches spare tube and patch kit. Now I am lazier I carry an inflater several co2 cartridges, tube, patch kit, spoons, id, ins card, cell:) I like the inflater

I carry a Park glueless patch kit and a couple of alcohol swabs (to clean the tube), a spare tube, a pump or CO2 inflator (depending on which bike I'm riding), and a Crank Bros. Speed Lever. If you get a cut in your sidewall, you can boot it with a dollar bill. I also carry a multi-tool with a chain breaker and a missing link. With this set up I've never had to walk home.

Check out the Crank Bros. website (http://www.crankbros.com) for the Speed Lever.

I carry a spare tube, pump, patch kit etc. I also carry a multi-tool and chain breaker. Another thing I carry is a roll of electrical tape (when I remember). It's remarkable how many uses you can find for that when you need them. I also carry a small amount of cash (like $5 or something, in case I get hungry.), but I don't bother with credit cards and whatever else. I've never really seen the need.

OT: Chris, I wonder, are credit cards accepted everywhere down under like they are here? There hardly isn't a place anymore that doesn't accept credit cards. I never carry cash anymore, since there really isn't much need.

I am wondering how much of the need to carry cash is directly due to the payment culture locally.

Originally posted by Sailguy
OT: Chris, I wonder, are credit cards accepted everywhere down under like they are here? There hardly isn't a place anymore that doesn't accept credit cards. I never carry cash anymore, since there really isn't much need.

I am wondering how much of the need to carry cash is directly due to the payment culture locally.

Credit cards are accepted pretty much everywhere around here, although in some of the more remote parts of Australia I'm not so sure. My decision to carry cash is purely by choice. I take credit cards on longer multi-day tours. However, on a single day ride I'll simply carry a small amount of cash. I don't trust myself with the opportunity of spending excessive amounts of money.

Yay for duct tape too!

;)

Koffee

At a mountain bike clinic I went to I was told to have one dollar (or power bar wrapper) to but in for a "boot". I think if the tire gets cut you'd put this to reinforce the tire and get you home.

What if all I got is a 20?

;)

Koffee

I carry both extra tubes and patch kits, along with tire levers and my pump. I learned the hard way to carry a rag also. You get pretty greasy playing with everything and it's nice to be able to wipe the worst of it off before remounting the cycle.

I don't do the cell phone. I got tired of being so avialable for everyone else. If I were travelling a long distance I'd probably reconsider the phone.

Oh yes, the grease. I forgot to mention I carry latex gloves. I can do mess free tire changes. :D

The Austrailian Outback some of the most beautiful country in the world but if you go there you'd better remember one thing: Kangaroo's don't take American Express.

edit: spelling

I carry tire levers, a patch kit, a rag, and a new tube. The new tube is in a sandwich bag, with talc powder. This is so I don't pinch the tube when I'm using the levers to get the tire back on. I like the latex gloves idea.

Originally posted by Sailguy
OT: I wonder, are credit cards accepted everywhere down under like they are here? Only as good as my credit , not allways good!!:mad: + sometimes my cards don`t swipe too well when I`ve had them in my pocket or bum-bag on a ride , dissapointing when you`ve got that cold drink in your hand & you have to give it back !!:(

I carry a set of tire irons, a thing called a speed stik that allows me to zip the tire off in seconds, and another thing called the VAR which allows ease of placing the last 1 or 2 inches of the tire to snap on without ever damaging the rim, tube or tire. I also take 2 pumps, the main frame pump and a emergency backup mini.

I also ride on Armadillos like Rats13; BUT I still carry a lightweight racing folding tire in the seat bag along with a new tube, PLUS glueless patches and a tire boot.

Your all probably wondering why I carry all this crap. I carry all this crap because I ride 99% of the time unsupported, and I ride a long ways from home and into mountains where cell phones are useless. And I know from experience that most problems that occur are tire related and I make sure I have enough stuff to be able to handle a number of tire problems. I once had a ride where I first had a flat, then destroyed a tire and tube, then had another flat; and I did not have to walk home! I had another ride on a remote mountain road when I came upon a bicyclist who destroyed his tire. I stopped to see if I could help and he looked at me with this impossible expression and said "not unless your carry a spare tire!" to his surprise I pulled out a very folded spare tire out of my seat bag and helped him to fix his tube and get it back on, and he was able to ride home. This guy asked for my address so he could return the tire, I gave it too him but he had nothing to write it down with so I knew he wouldn't be able to return it, which was not a big deal since it was a used tire anyway. But 2 weeks later I get a small package in the mail and there was 2 NEW folding racing tires from this guy with a thank you card! So I carry this stuff because you never know if your going to need it or someone else may be stranded and need your help.

Originally posted by trmcgeehan
.....snip.....with talc powder. This is so I don't pinch the tube when I'm using the levers to get the tire back on.

It also keeps the tube and tire form sticking together and causing the resulting friction to degrade the tube due to heat

Back to the original question. Everyone has given great advice, but there is one thing missing....YOUR ABILITY TO FIX THE FLAT.

Take a rainy afternoon and take your front tire off the bike, plull the tube all the way out and replace it with your spare tube (this way you KNOW your spare is good, 'cause it was your riding tube). Reinstall the wheel on the bike and do the same thing to the rear wheel.

If you have never done this before, this is going to be an experience and you are going to be so happy that you did this for the first time at the house instead of on the side of the road in the rain.

I carry a spate tube, patch kit and pump. Do it every time. The only time I've ever needed them seem to be days I went out for a 'quick one' believing I'd be just fine without. Eight miles is a good little walk pushing a bike with a flat time (and feeling like an idiot).

Originally posted by Chris L
I don't trust myself with the opportunity of spending excessive amounts of money.

Yep, I'm learning it's a dangerous thing to enter a bike store with a credit card...

What an appropriate post for me. After the Saturday I had...

I always carry a spare tube, a glueless patch kit, a multi tool, and a small pump I have mounted on the seat tube.
Saturday's ride...
1. Ride thru some glass, that noone called out as a road hazard. 2 of us get flats.
2. Replace the tube with the spare. Today I learn that it is almost impossible to put more than about 65 psi in the tire with my pump. Continue to the regular rest stop. Try again with the pump, I get it up to about 68-1/2 psi. Borrow someone's CO2 inflator.
3. bend the little screw on the presta valve while using the inflator, uh-oh, gotta close the valve.
4. it's made of brass, guess what, yep it broke off. It's still holding air, but for how long?
5. about 12 miles.
6. another flat, this time the group does not stop with me. Great. I decide to fix the other tube and put that on. Fill it up, find and patch the hole. Fill it up again. It holds air, all is good. Put the tube on, put the tire on, start to fill it up, 68-1/2 psi will have to do.
7. it's not holding air, I've torn the tube at the stem.
8. patches will not fix this type of tube damage.
9. Okay, I'll put the other one back on and just keep filling it up.
10. The piece of the stem has fallen inside the tube. I'm up the creek without a phone.
11. the nearest phone is 3 miles away.
12. That was Saturday morning... Let me say that roadbike shoes are ok for walking from the side of the car, to the back of the car... Or even to the bathroom at the rest stop. Then they start to get uncomfortable. After 3 miles the pain approaches unbearable. My feet still hurt.

A cel-phone is definitely being added to my "must carry" list.

Topeak Road Morph w/ Guage. 120 psi max, a hose so you don't bend the valve, and it works like a floor pump. I love mine! Highly recommended.

As far as fixing or replacing the tube when you have a flat while out riding is subject to different opinions, neither are right or wrong. I prefer to fix the flat instead of using a new tube due to several reasons; first I do not have to pull the tube all the way out of the tire to fix it, I just pull out about 1/4th of it where the leak is of course than fix it. The second reason I don't like using the new tube is because it is neatly stored in the seat bag and to get a used tube that compressed would take a lot longer, of course you could just stuff it in your jersey pocket. Some say you can replace the tube faster than you can fix it, I think it takes about the same time now that there are clueless patches. I have used clueless patches now for about 6 years and never had a problem holding up, I even have gone over 6,000 miles on a tube with a clueless patch and it never failed. So I LOVE glueless patches, their faster, and no worry of a dried glue tube; just buff the tube like before press on hard and stuff back in and you good to go.

I insist on a good pump.. I like the Topeak foldable floor style pump. Once over inflated and burst tire( long time ago..) Those who carry CO2 cartridges, I think often have troubles. One shot and you had it..
I also carry two tubes, patch for severe tire wound, patch kit, and multiple tool with chain breaker a part of the multi tool..Plus a hex wrench.. I have a special foldable tire lever that extends, rotates about the bead of the tire and the tire is removed from the rim instantly...

I also carry the Topeak Morph pump, as a matter of fact I just got a second one for the commuter. I always carry a spare tube, patch kit, multi tool, tire levers among other things in my seat bag, and when on my road bike a foldable tire. I also carry my cell phone if I remember, but I keep it turned off. After some of the posts, here and elsewhere I've been thinking of adding a second tube to the list. BTW, don't forget to check your glue periodically to make sure it hasn't dried up!

Forgot to mention, like BikeZeolot, I do not like CO's either, to much bother with whether or not you have enough carts or forgot to replace the one use used before and the trash. I carry a frame pump AND a mini for emergency backup; the way I see it, if I'm too weak to pump my tires by hand than perhaps I'm too weak to be riding a bike! Of course if I were racing I would probably use the CO's during a race since they are faster.