Bicycle Mechanics - Why

Why do so many people go out and ride without tools patches tubes and a pump? I carry all those and more in the trunk pack on my bent. In the last 3 years I dont know how may times I have stopped and assisted a stranded cyclist with a totally bare bike. I guess they dont think bad things happen to good people.

Possibly they think flats won't happen on their bike because they don't happen on their car often enough to worry about. Or, more likely, they have no clue what to do if it does happen and what tools/supplies they will need. The cell phone has replaced needing to fix it yourself.

Basic skills in bike repair/maintenance are sorely lacking. They've never learned to replace an inner tube, never really wanted to learn for the most part, and especially in this age of cell phones, they see making a phone call to arrange a pick up as the preferable way to deal with a flat tire. Work in a bike shop for a while, and you'll be amazed at the lengths folks will go to in order to avoid fixing a flat themselves.

Personally, I've seen the ability to do on-the-road repairs as a part of riding a bicycle since I was a kid. Crap happens, you gotta be prepared. Currently, I carry one or two extra tubes, tire lever(s), inflation device (pump or Co2 depending on the bike), small patch kit, basic multi-tool w/chain tool, and a chain connector link on all of my bikes on all of my rides.

well biked

I carry all that plus boots for a tire, a leatherman tool, a 6 in cresent wrench, a bottle of alcohol and rags. Over kill------maybe, but assisting people I have used them all.

well biked

I carry all that plus boots for a tire, a leatherman tool, and a 6 in cresent wrench. Over kill------maybe, but assisting people I have used them all.

I forgot to mention in my post above that I carry two or three small tire boots as well as the other items. You got me beat in carrying the Leatherman tool and the crescent wrench, though. :D Actually, I do carry something similar to the Leatherman on one of my touring bikes, now that I think of it.

Keep in mind that we (i.e. members of this forum) are by far atypical of most bike riders. We know about and care about bike maintenance and repairs. Most casual riders have the same level of mechanical knowledge about their bikes as they do about their cars; NONE. This as particularly true of the folks you see tooling aroung their neighborhoods on a summer evenings or on the local MUT on weekends.

I also carry two tubes, tire levers, a small multitool, a small chain tool, a chain master link, patch kit, CO2 inflator, a minipump, tire boot material and a small pocket knife. I've used them all at one time or another for myself or to assist others. As I mentioned, this level of preparation is not typical.

BTW, I do carry a cell phone and have used it once in 26 years of riding. I ran over a ring-shank roofing nail that punctured the rear tire, both sides of the tube and penetrated the rim far enough to stick out between two spokes. It was stuck so firmly I couldn't pull it out and I called my wife to come get me.

Because most of those people barely know how to put air in the tires, much less remove a wheel from the bike!

Perhaps the tool-less are just optimists, but it puzzles me too. I've helped many riders (on road and dirt) way more than I've helped myself. Lately, I've been loaning my mini-pump to riders who've shot thru their CO2 cartridges (mainly because of poor tire installation techniques - pinched tubes, improperly seated). But concur some are not mechanically inclined. I'm not saying cyclist must be mechanically inclined, but a couple common road side repairs, mainly swapping out a tube is necessary. I can use a can-opener, but I can't cook a Thanksgiving dinner.

Keep in mind that we (i.e. members of this forum) are by far atypical of most bike riders.

Good point. After all, this is the Bicycle Mechanics chapter of the BF. It's be like the band kids in high school wondering why everyone else doesn't play an instrument.

Somewhere there's a sweet spot between foolishly carefree and obsessively uptight. Everybody draws that line differently.

The OP hasn't been to Bike Party in San Jose, where where tubeless, tooless, and patchkitless riders are a plaque.

=8-)

Most casual riders have the same level of mechanical knowledge about their bikes as they do about their cars; NONE.

+1

If you think changing is an easy task you'd be amazed at the amount of riders that have no idea how to use a quick release skewer.

The last time I got a flat I had to walk it home, fortunately I was only a couple miles out. Since then I try to keep a pump/tube/tire levers on my bike but I have so many bikes and so few supplies that I often ride "bare."

The last time I got a flat I had to walk it home, fortunately I was only a couple miles out. Since then I try to keep a pump/tube/tire levers on my bike but I have so many bikes and so few supplies that I often ride "bare."
Get a small underseat pack to hold the essentials and switch it from bike-to-bike. Many have velcro or other quick release attacments and can be switched in a few seconds. Make it a point to have the pack on the bike you are going to ride just as you would your water bottle.

rydabent, IME it's mostly the rookie cyclists that aren't prepared. I started bringing the floor pump and a small tool kit for club rides as it seemed common that someone had underinflated tires or something mechanical amiss. There seemed a couple of folks that didn't 'get it' until their own problem.

I know riders that just stay in their neighborhood, I don't think they need repair items. The walk home may teach them to be prepared before the ride?

Brad

Why do so many people go out and ride without tools patches tubes and a pump? I carry all those and more in the trunk pack on my bent. In the last 3 years I dont know how may times I have stopped and assisted a stranded cyclist with a totally bare bike. I guess they dont think bad things happen to good people.

Same reason some don't ride with a helmet?

(^^^ Oh, no he d'n't just say that...!)

"Why do so many people go out and ride without tools patches tubes and a pump?"

Maybe they are counting on folks like us, who ride prepared, to stop and bail them out.

I assume that the people that don't tools, tubes and patch kits, don't really know how to fix any mechanical problems. My spouse would have no need for any of these items. She would just use a cell phone.

I assume that the people that don't tools, tubes and patch kits, don't really know how to fix any mechanical problems. .

Even though they might not know how to use them, that's no excuse for them not to carry the basic items, and perhaps a more mechanically inclined cyclist would lend a hand and fix.

I probably wouldn't feel too happy if I stopped to help someone who wanted to "borrow" my tube, my pump, my levers, my hands.... And have the same person smoke me up a climb because I'm carrying extra weight and he's riding a 15 lb rig.

Even though they might not know how to use them, that's no excuse for them not to carry the basic items, and perhaps a more mechanically inclined cyclist would lend a hand and fix.
The problem is they don't know what they don't know. They have no idea what to carry that would allow an experienced mechanic to help them.


I probably wouldn't feel too happy if I stopped to help someone who wanted to "borrow" my tube, my pump, my levers, my hands.... And have the same person smoke me up a climb because I'm carrying extra weight and he's riding a 15 lb rig.
Not going to happen. Anyone riding a 15 pound bike should have the ability to at least fix a flat. Or you can ignore their plight and be guilt-free.

Every time I sell a bike, I include a tube and a set of tire levers. Until that point, most folks aren't even aware that flats happen. One woman I talked to told me she just walked to the nearest road (from the mup) and flagged down a ride. Multiple times.
I, of course, carry the kitchen sink. I have an entire bag dedicated to tubes, folding tire, patches, glue, tire guage. The other bag carries the tools, including a chain tool and a faux leatherman. It's nice to have those needlenose. The handlebar bag carries the sandwiches, street shorts, sunscreen, etc. I need to get a rack or two for that bike.

I think they usually are people that never had a problem. I bet 90% (if they plan on riding more) pick up
all the essentials after a flat or 2.
If I remember back to when I started biking regularly, I don't think I took any tools. I think I rode for a couple of summers
flat free before a few flats made me pick up a patching kit. I rode for many years with just a patching kit
until someone said they carry an extra tube and just replace the punctured one and fix it when they
got home. Then I started carrying an extra tube.

Somewhere there's a sweet spot between foolishly carefree and obsessively uptight. Everybody draws that line differently.

Wisdom so pure.

If somebody is quite a ways from help, or the weather is bad, or it is a nice looking lady, I stop and get them going again. I suggest a few tools and parts they should be carrying. If they are close to help, or display a bad attitude, I wave as I ride on by. How are they going to learn if somebody always bails them out?

The one good thing about people who don't know diddly about bike repair/maintenance is that sometimes they are sources of good bikes cheap. I've picked up a few entry and mid-level bikes for little or nothing because they wouldn't shift or the brakes didn't work and all they needed was cleaning, lube, adjustment and maybe a new cable or two. Found a 1990 Schwinn Caliente in excellent condition literally on a scrap metal heap last spring. Its only problem was that it needed new tires and some general cleaning and tuning. Less than $40 and a lazy afternoon later, it worked a treat and looked almost new except for a few specks in the chrome and some minor blemishes in the decals. Sold it for $125 but almost wish I had kept it.

I am a commuter, and while I do carry tools, I have no interest in repairing my bike on the side of the road. I leave myself only enough time to get to work, so I wear my office attire on my bike, and I don't have the clothes or time to repair my bike on the road.

My bikes are extremely well maintained, and I run puncture resistant tires so I very very rarely have a problem. On those rare occasions, I lock up my rig and take the nearest bus the rest of the way. Then come back later and repair my bike when it is convenient. I have only had to use the bus once so far this year, and I was able to pick up my bike with my wife's car and repair it in my garage.

This may sound ridiculous, but after 6 years of commuting every day I have found this to be the best use of my time.

Somewhere there's a sweet spot between foolishly carefree and obsessively uptight. Everybody draws that line differently.

+100 . People who can cook probably can't fix bikes. I can't cook. If you can do both, more power to you.

Somewhere there's a sweet spot between foolishly carefree and obsessively uptight. Everybody draws that line differently.

This is an excellent point. However, the carefree attitude may not necessarily be a personality trait but due to lack of confidence.

It is wise to have, at the very least, the knowledge to repair a flat. This is typically the issue one would encounter most (yes, I know, someone will chime in and say that they've busted spokes or cables more often than flatted).

At the risk of sounding sexist, I mention this as an interesting fact:

In the bicycle safety courses I give, we cover the basics of bicycle maintenance; flat repair, gear adjustment and brake adjustment, in addition how to safety-check your bike, know the parts and identify a problem.

Women are more incllined, than men, to take a safety course (because men obviously know everything) :rolleyes:

But when it comes to maintenance in those safety courses, I more often than not hear from the women;
"I have a husband for that"
"I have a cell phone"
One lady even said, "I'll just sit on the side of the road and cry until some guy stops to fix it for me."

This seems to be a combination of a lack of interest in maintenance and a lack of confidence.
I often have to step in and shut the males up (because the issue often goes off on a tangent) to allow those ladies to learn the particulars.

Admittedly, when I first started teaching, I had to learn to see the issue from their perspective. In general terms, females often lack the hand strength to get a tire back on over the rim, for example, so we have to discuss ways to do this.

So, maybe carefree, but perhaps for other reasons than is obvious.

I am a commuter, and while I do carry tools, I have no interest in repairing my bike on the side of the road. I leave myself only enough time to get to work, so I wear my office attire on my bike, and I don't have the clothes or time to repair my bike on the road.

My bikes are extremely well maintained, and I run puncture resistant tires so I very very rarely have a problem. On those rare occasions, I lock up my rig and take the nearest bus the rest of the way. Then come back later and repair my bike when it is convenient. I have only had to use the bus once so far this year, and I was able to pick up my bike with my wife's car and repair it in my garage.

This may sound ridiculous, but after 6 years of commuting every day I have found this to be the best use of my time.
You are not the problem we are discussing here as you don't expect someone else to bail you out due to ignorance or selfishness. You take care of yourself but on your own schedule.

A couple more comments if I may. Yes a few times I have stopped to help someone, they did have a new tube, but really didnt know how to use it.

Then as to carring a spare tube. ONe time when I flatted, I patched the tube, but the presta stem broke off when I was inflating the tire. I of course replaced the tube, and used my CO2 cartridges to inflate the tire. Now I always use the CO2 and just carry the mini pump as back up. BTW I have had at least 2 mini pumps fail. For Christmas I have a mini pump with a small hose and gage on my list so as not to stress the presta stem. I will still carry CO2 mainly when riding with a group for faster repair so as not to hold up the ride.

A couple more comments if I may. Yes a few times I have stopped to help someone, they did have a new tube, but really didnt know how to use it.

Then as to carring a spare tube. ONe time when I flatted, I patched the tube, but the presta stem broke off when I was inflating the tire. I of course replaced the tube, and used my CO2 cartridges to inflate the tire. Now I always use the CO2 and just carry the mini pump as back up. BTW I have had at least 2 mini pumps fail. For Christmas I have a mini pump with a small hose and gage on my list so as not to stress the presta stem. I will still carry CO2 mainly when riding with a group for faster repair so as not to hold up the ride.

That sounds like just a series of "Murphy's law" moments to me and it happens.

But the OP question is why don't people try to learn some of the basics of repair or carry the basics? If you're never alone when riding, then sure, "get your husband to do it." But many ride alone, get a flat, and have no clue what to do.

A gave a tube to a guy once who DID know what to do, but didn't have any of the items needed to fix it his flat tire.

I also came accross 2 kids (14ish) on their mountain bikes, and fairly higher quality mtb bikes to boot. One of these kids was riding around with a rear flat tire. When I had taken off the tire to fix it, I counted 17 patches! I patched it (by using another 3 patches). I couldn't give him a tube as I was on my road bike.....

These same types of people drive motor vehicles...and we let them.

Basic skills in bike repair/maintenance are sorely lacking. They've never learned to replace an inner tube, never really wanted to learn for the most part, and especially in this age of cell phones, they see making a phone call to arrange a pick up as the preferable way to deal with a flat tire. Work in a bike shop for a while, and you'll be amazed at the lengths folks will go to in order to avoid fixing a flat themselves.

Personally, I've seen the ability to do on-the-road repairs as a part of riding a bicycle since I was a kid. Crap happens, you gotta be prepared. Currently, I carry one or two extra tubes, tire lever(s), inflation device (pump or Co2 depending on the bike), small patch kit, basic multi-tool w/chain tool, and a chain connector link on all of my bikes on all of my rides.

+1

well biked

I carry all that plus boots for a tire, a leatherman tool, a 6 in cresent wrench, a bottle of alcohol and rags. Over kill------maybe, but assisting people I have used them all.

What do you do with the alcohol? Drink it when the repair goes horribly wrong perhaps.? ; )

jolly

The acohol is mainly for cleaning dirt and grease off my hands, or the other person I have stopped to help. Altho it would sting like hell it could be used to clean road rash in a pinch.

Not exactly on point but last week I went on a ride with a guy I'd never rode with previously. About a mile short of our 34 mile ride I noticed he wasn't behind me any longer so I backtracked and found him lying on the path next to his bike. He was suffering from leg cramps, after a 10 minute break we finished.

4 riders (about 50%) slowed to asked if we needed any help or if he was in trouble. Pretty cool if I may say so. Bicycle riders rock!

4 riders (about 50%) slowed to asked if we needed any help or if he was in trouble. Pretty cool if I may say so. Bicycle riders rock!
I've found that pretty common if someone is stopped along side of the road for any reason. I do it for others myself and have been asked if I need help even if I just stop to look around or remove/put on a jacket.

Other than in town, I can't remember coming across a rider who did not have what they needed to patch a tire. I have helped out those that had more flats than they were prepared for, helping with CO2, tubes, patches, etc. Almost every time I slow and ask a stopped rider doing repair if they are ok, I get an OK or a thumbs up as a response.

Now traveling on my motorcycle, that is another story. Very few carry tire patch gear and I have repaired my share of others tires on the road.

Personnaly, I do not like to carry tools with slight exception. I recall a long time ago back when I was racing Junior category I was on a training ride and stopped to adjust the height of my saddle. I did not NEED to adjust it but I wanted to and that was facilitated by the fact that I had some tools to do it in the pouch under my saddle. I wound up snapping the seatpost binder bolt in half and had to ride about 30 miles home standing.

Since that day the only tools I carry when I ride are tire levers, a pump, spare tube, a small patch kit, and a $10 bill.

The $10 bill serves double duty as emergency funds and tire boot if I need it.

My philosophy is that repair and maintenance work should be done at home not during a ride. The side of the road is not the ideal place to true wheels, adjust headsets, etc. Of course there are unforseen circumstances that can render even the best maintained bike unridable unless fixed...my thoughts are that when this happens it is time to call home/a friend/a taxi for a ride home or back to the car. My philosophy is the side of the road is not the place to make major repairs...If the bike suffers a mechanical failure bad enough that I need tools to fix it then either I have either not been properly maintaining the bike or the mechanical problem is too great to be doing road side repair and I should be looking into alternate means to get back to my point of origin.

Granted I only apply this philosophy road cycling general training/pleasure rides. Loaded touring and venturing into the woods on a mt bike are different beasts all together and require a different type/level of preparedness.

-j