Double0757

I used to carry two CO2 cartridges with dispenser, patch kit and spare tube. It served me well during rec. rides and my two flats in a years commute. Today I had a flat, bottle cap, damage tire. Repair tube, ride one mile, to find I missed a small leak, out comes the new tube (should have done from the beginning), and as I'm unscrewing the CO2 pump from the nipple, the stem valve comes out and deflate the tire. Stranded with no more options, walk to gas station and fill. Good thing it was on the last leg going home. Went to bike store and bought new tire and frame pump.

I filled the tire at home with new pump, took one minute to get it to 90psi, that's 30-40 sec. more than with the CO2 cartridge! I'm sticking with the good old pump, even if it weights more!

Also I have been thinking of carrying a spare foldable tire!? Do you carry one?

I'm just curious to see what other people carry as far as flat kit goes! Thanks! Double O

kenji666

Pump, a spare new tube, and tire levers.

megalowmatt

I carry a flat kit, spare tube and Topeak Road Morph pump on my commuter. I always go for the spare tube before the patch kit but it's been a long time since a flat.

itsthewoo

Same here. A spare tire isn't necessary, though, unless you're touring or something similar. A folded dollar bill is more than enough to McGuyver your tire into working condition until you get home (or to a shop).

GeneO 

CO2 and spare tube, tire levers when I am not commuting. When commuting I also sometimes carry a pump in the backpack.

AstroEng

Pump, patch kit, and tire levers.

I'm to cheap for the CO2, and I figure the patch kit'll get me home to a new tube. Worst case, there's the bus...

jyl

Frame pump, patch kit, levers, spare tube.

majwell

Carry a pump, spare tube and lever when I am commuting. I decided against CO2 in general for the reason you mention as if you are out you are SOL, but "if you have arms you have air" (read it somewhere not sure who wrote it) with a pump.

bragi

I don't carry any pumps, repair kits or spare tubes at all. I do, however, carry rain gear with me wherever I go.

alexaschwanden

I carry a pump,2 tubes, spoke wrench, tire levers,swiss army knife,multi tool, zip ties, patch kit, chain breaker,two pounds saddle bag with all this stuff. I like to be prepared dispite the weight penalty.

Mr. Hairy Legs

Topeak Road Morph pump, 2 plastic levers, 1 metal lever, 2 tubes, multitool, patch kit, chain tool.

jrickards

Spare tube, multitool, 2 tire levers, small pump, chain oil and rag (both in a ziplock, primarily for wet or winter riding)

I'll do tube repairs at home.

What purpose does the metal lever serve that the plastic ones do not?

ItsJustMe

Pump (topeak pocket rocket on the road bike, road morph on the hybrid), spare tube, tire levers, patch kit (a tube of cement and a few patches from the 100 pack I bought). I only use the patch kit if I flat a second time or if I flat on the way to work and have spare time at work to do a patch, otherwise I wait and patch at home.

Also a multitool, FWIW.

mattgmann

I carry one of these: https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...2_523400_-1___

The tools work well enough and there's a tire lever. I carry 2 spare C02 cartridges (+1 in the pump), and a spare tube. It all fits with room to spare in a crown royal bag tucked in a pannier.

aggiegrads

When I am commuting, I really don't care about weight. I have a frame pump that never leaves the frame (except when I am using it) as well as a CO2 in my pannier. I didn't carry CO2 until I had a pump fail on me.

If I am out on a long, solo ride, I carry one spare tube and a few patches.

Dwayne

I always have a pump mounted on the frame as well as a CO2 inflator in the tool kit (along with a spare tube, patches, tools, etc).

If it's raining or cold, I'd use the CO2 for convenience, and the pump for when I'm not in a hurry or as a backup. If I only had to pick one though, it would be the pump, never runs out of air, just test it regularly.

WestMass

pump on my commuter. co2 on road bike

Steely Dan

the seat wedge repair bag on all of my bikes contains: a CO2 pump, 2 cartridges, spare tube, patch kit, levers and multi-tool (and 15mm wrench for my IGH bike).

i also always keep spare cartridges at home and work, so in case i burn through the two i carry i can just restock at either end.

i use CO2 primarily because it's so freaking fast to get a road tire up to proper pressure. a matter of mere seconds. helps get me on my way faster when i get the rare flat. i used to use frame pumps, but once i saw how fast a CO2 inflation really was, i became a convert.

spivonious

Patch kit, pump, and levers. The pump I have has a compartment to hold the patches and levers, so it stays pretty compact.

Haven't had to use it yet in about 9 months (knock-on-wood).

tarwheel 

I cover all the bases -- spare tube, tube repair kit, tire boots, frame pump and CO2 inflator with two cartridges. I generally use CO2 and a spare tube for flats because it is so much quicker to repair. However, after getting two flats in one day and having to walk home 3.5 miles in cycling shoes, I started carrying a frame pump and tube repair supplies as a backup.

I get flats very infrequently. In six years go bike commuting more than 23,000 miles, I've probably had about 4 flats. However, Murphy's Law dictates that when they occur, flats will cause the most inconvenience possible. It also not uncommon to pick up a wire or other hard-to-find item that will cause multiple flats if not found and removed.

ItsJustMe

I'd be more understanding of people who use CO2 if it weren't for the fact that everyone I've seen use one seems to think it's fine to just chuck the empty in the ditch when done. I've picked up a few CO2 carts from the side of the road and taken them home to recycle. I wouldn't use them personally even though I would take them home and put them in recycling, just because it is more material to have to process needlessly; I can't even understand the mindset of thinking the world is a trash can.

Steely Dan

^ i use CO2 and i would never even entertain the thought of ditching a spent cartridge on the street.

those little things are pure metal, one of the easiest items to recycle.

chaadster

I suffer flats capably with just a hand pump and without the waste of CO2 cartridges. A tube, levers, patch kit, two zip ties, a few dollars and Ritchey CPR9 tool round out the road kit.

chaadster

the cost of manufacturing and recycling just to carry air for a single use seems excessively indulgent, particularly given the general ease of carrying and using a multiuse hand pump. I'm not against the use of CO2 cartridges absolutely, but they should be used less regularly IMO.

Mr. Hairy Legs

I've had the experience of breaking the third (plastic) one as I attempted to remove the tire. Using a metal one for the final pry means this won't happen. It's probably just my bad technique, but I don't want to be stuck using a screwdriver on my wheels.