thrllskr

I was riding this weekend and got a flat and that was no big deal. Started pumping up the tube and nothing. Under observation it looks like the multitool caused enough damage to the tube to make it unusable. My question is...On long rides how do you protect your tubes (space efficiency is good) so they do not get damaged from heavier or sharp objects in the saddle bag?

10 Wheels

Saddle bags are way to small....Use a trunk rack bag or panniers to carry spare items.

bmike

put it in an old cycling sock.
put it in a ziplock baggie with a pair of gloves for repairs.

motorapido

Wrap the spare tube in some Tyvek cut from a Tyvek mailing envelope, and tape it so the Tyvek completely protects the tube. Then use the Tyvek as a tire boot if you slash a tire. Lightweight. Super strong. Multi-use. Hallelujah.

10 Wheels

NY to LA...carried 5 tubes. Had 12 Flats.

Bandera

Yep, each tube in a ziplock bag w/ a wetwipe.

-Bandera

Carbonfiberboy 

Besides the above good advice, store your spare tubes with the valve cap on. If you don't want to run with a valve cap, put it back in the ziploc bag. And always have 2 spare tubes. Always. Plus a patch kit for when you don't find the radial wire until too late. Plus I carry a light spare tire so I don't have to waste time trying to find the offending object or try to get home on a bulging boot job.

Wanderer

This is what old worn out folders are good for.... Worth their weight in gold. I even give 'em away to others who want them just for this!

RoadTire 

Put heavy and sharp objects in their own protective cover, like a mini rollup. Then you never have to worry about other stuff that might end up in the bag.

unterhausen

I keep my spare tubes and tools in a Soulrun tool roll which I carry in a seat bag.

Their store says they are only doing custom now, so I would email them

trailmix

If the bag is large enough, stick them in an old water bottle.

delcrossv

I use an extra sock , but I like that Tyvek idea.

jwarner

Another for the extra sock, then everything tool and part related goes into a flat Cordura tool bag that used to hold my multimeter when I really worked for a living.

Machka 

Tubes (2+ of them) go into a ziploc bag on one side of the Carradice.

Multitools go in a cloth or leather zip-up container with other sharp stuff ... or at the very least they're located at the other side of the Carradice, separated by extra clothes.

LAJ

My multi-tool folds up, and has no sharp edges.

Bandera

"Back when" I learned that there is an inexorable amount of friction on spare tubes from various items and the pack fabric itself when stashed away for many miles and miles on lousy roads. The tire levers, patch kit and CO2 inflator don't care but a few mils of ziplock baggie provide a nice lubricious barrier to prevent wearing a tiny hole in the nether crease of a long stashed tube just when you need it.......

PS: If you squirrel-away a wet wipe w/ each tube there will come a miserable hot day when you say: "I cannot stand these awful chafing shorts for another mile, Hey wait!" Ahh, proceed......

-Bandera

LAJ

Great point. It seems tubes don't last long enough for me to have friction do it's thing, but still duly noted. Goat heads, as well as the shoulder being like a junkyard, see to that fact.

thrllskr

Thanks for the ideas. I wrapped the tube in tyvek and used some nylon packing tape to seal it. Cut out a boot and included that in the package also. Also going to put the multitool in a sock. The weight of the tools are just destructive. I had it in a ziplock bag and noticed the bag is destroyed. Thanks for the suggestions all.

Machka 

Other suggestions for the multi-tool and other repair equipment ....

Go to your local dollar store and browse through the women's make-up section. Look for little cloth or heavy plastic bags which women use to carry their makeup. Some are fairly large, but you can get some that are quite small.

As an example ... Walmart has some. And if I recall, some of the smallest, least expensive ones you'll find in Walmart are sometimes located in a display near the check-out.
makeup bag - Walmart.com


Over in the stationary, you might be able to find pencil cases that might work.

And don't forget to look in the wallet and purse section ... look for little coin purses.


I've picked up several of these things in various sizes over the years, and use them for various things. Tools might go into one, baby wipes, painkillers, and my inhaler might go into another ...

Bandera

I proudly carry a 'phone, credit card, ID & Healthcare card copies & cash in a lovely pink "Hello Kitty" bag bestowed upon me by my training partner, respectfully referred to as The Pixie From Hell. Fits in a jersey pocket or a Carradice, adds a jaunty lack of seriousness and can't be confused with any other object when dead-dog tired.

-Bandera

Machka 

That's a good point too ... if you've got different bags, it's easier to put your hand on the one you want when you're dead tired in the middle of the night.

Bandera

It's pretty embarrassing to try to pay for a Snickers bar & six bottles Gatrorade with a 700x28 inner tube and a Rema patch kit while a dozen large locals are waiting to purchase Lotto tickets and a cases of Lonestar Light behind you at 5:00AM on a Saturday morning in East Texas.........

"Uh, just a second.....it's here somewhere........"

-Bandera

ThermionicScott 

Some great ideas in this thread. I keep the spare tube in a sock, and tools in a Ziploc baggie that has been "reinforced" with duct tape to keep them from poking through.

joewein

My multi tool and patch kit case go into a handlebar bag compartment, while the first spare tube goes deep inside another. The 2nd spare tube (which I only take on long rides) goes into the seatpost bag, along with clothes, food, etc.

I like separating stuff into different pockets of multiple bags, it makes it easier to find things when it's dark and you're tired. Also, that way some essentials always stay on the bike while other items are part of the long ride-only kit.

LastKraftWagen

My nder sadde bag has two separate compartments, one I keep general tols in and the other is specific o flat repair (tubes, levers, CO2, $1 bill, ect...) Within the flat repair compartment is a cloth pocket to separate the tools from the tubes