What do you carry on your folder to fix flats/pumctures? Education needed!
10-05-11, 07:39 AM
#51
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Rick / OCRR
10-05-11, 09:08 PM
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Dahon curve with 3-speed internal hub. In the saddle bag:
Bike Friday Tikit with derailer drivetrain. In the saddle bag:
- Spare tube
- Pressure gauge (This bike has a pump in the seatmast)
- Wrench to remove the rear wheel
- Pliers
- Multitool
- Tire levers
Bike Friday Tikit with derailer drivetrain. In the saddle bag:
- Spare tube
- Mini-pump (that'll get me to the next bike shop, if I'm lucky I can get up to 24PSI with this thing)
- Multitool
- Brooks saddle cover
- Small pliers
- Rag, zipties
- Tire levers
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10-05-11, 10:28 PM
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10-06-11, 09:55 AM
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Better yet: stick a cotton ball in your patch kit. When faced with something you can't find causing flats, rub the cotton ball on the inside of the tire-- strands of cotton will attch to whatever may be poking through, and you'll then be able to see it. Quicker and better than hunting with a pair of readers or a magnifying glass.
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10-06-11, 04:00 PM
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Just had my 2nd puncture on my folding bike, this time in the dark on the way to work. Fortunately it was a (kind of) slower leak, so I just stopped and pumped it up (3 times) and changed the tube when I got to work.
The good news is that this time (thanks to you all!) I had everything I needed to get the job done and am now ready to ride home on a fully inflated and not leaking set of tires/tubes. Thanks for the cotton-ball tip Poguemahone, hadn't thought of that. Will have to add that when I put in my new/clean pair of latex gloves this evening.
Neilfien, I'm good with the guage since my pump (Topeak Mountain Master Blaster) has one built in. Kind of hard to see in the dark though.
Rick / OCRR
The good news is that this time (thanks to you all!) I had everything I needed to get the job done and am now ready to ride home on a fully inflated and not leaking set of tires/tubes. Thanks for the cotton-ball tip Poguemahone, hadn't thought of that. Will have to add that when I put in my new/clean pair of latex gloves this evening.
Neilfien, I'm good with the guage since my pump (Topeak Mountain Master Blaster) has one built in. Kind of hard to see in the dark though.
Rick / OCRR
10-12-11, 10:47 AM
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The chuck at the end without the gauge is reversible for both valve types. The gauge itself is accurate to, oh, 10 or 15 lbs or so, but it's still handy to know. I'm not necessarily suggesting throwing away a perfectly good hose to use this, but if you lose or damage the hose that came with the pump, or if you are going to buy a hose to use the other valve anyway, I think this one is worth considering.
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10-12-11, 02:56 PM
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Better yet: stick a cotton ball in your patch kit. When faced with something you can't find causing flats, rub the cotton ball on the inside of the tire-- strands of cotton will attch to whatever may be poking through, and you'll then be able to see it. Quicker and better than hunting with a pair of readers or a magnifying glass.
10-13-11, 01:16 PM
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Since I don't usually ride my Dahon Speed D7 far enough that I wouldn't be able to walk home, I only carry a patch kit and a pair of Lezyne Sabre tire levers. These levels also include a 15mm wrench on the end opposite the tire lever. The bike uses a biologic seat post pump. This is suitable for my short utility rides, but if I am going to travel further (or take the train) I will include a spare tube, tire boot, and MT-1 multitool.
Lezyne Sabre https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UIV4QK
Park MT-1 multitool https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RZMWI6
Lezyne Sabre https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UIV4QK
Park MT-1 multitool https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RZMWI6
12-02-11, 01:08 PM
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A tip for those of you who have a Shimano Nexus (IGH) hub: There is a little tab with a 2mm hole in it that you can use to take the tension off the hub, i.e. swivel the opening for the cable attachment nut around so it's very easy to get to. It's about 1/2" around from the opening (mouth?) for the cable attachment nut.
I learning about this from watching a YouTube video on the Nexus hub. Anyway, applicable to this thread, I now have a piece of spoke (2mm / 14 gauge) that I carry in my rack bag which makes removing and re-installing the cable attachment nut quite easy indeed!
Best Regs,
Rick / OCRR
I learning about this from watching a YouTube video on the Nexus hub. Anyway, applicable to this thread, I now have a piece of spoke (2mm / 14 gauge) that I carry in my rack bag which makes removing and re-installing the cable attachment nut quite easy indeed!
Best Regs,
Rick / OCRR
12-02-11, 06:16 PM
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A tip for those of you who have a Shimano Nexus (IGH) hub: There is a little tab with a 2mm hole in it that you can use to take the tension off the hub, i.e. swivel the opening for the cable attachment nut around so it's very easy to get to. It's about 1/2" around from the opening (mouth?) for the cable attachment nut.
I learning about this from watching a YouTube video on the Nexus hub. Anyway, applicable to this thread, I now have a piece of spoke (2mm / 14 gauge) that I carry in my rack bag which makes removing and re-installing the cable attachment nut quite easy indeed!
Best Regs,
Rick / OCRR
I learning about this from watching a YouTube video on the Nexus hub. Anyway, applicable to this thread, I now have a piece of spoke (2mm / 14 gauge) that I carry in my rack bag which makes removing and re-installing the cable attachment nut quite easy indeed!
Best Regs,
Rick / OCRR
12-03-11, 10:38 AM
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I had an "educational experience" on my ride home yesterday when I got a rear puncture on my DaHon Curve 8. I thought I'd packed what I'd need to make the necessary repair in case this happened:
1. Spare Tube
2. Pump
3. Patch Kit
4. Tire levers
Yet I was forced to walk home (about 2.5 miles) since I forgot to pack a wrench (15mm) to remove the rear wheel. Once home and setting about trying to remove the rear wheel, I found I'd also need a pliers to pull the shift cable anchor bolt out of it's recess on the internally geared hub (Shimano Nexus). So, to the above list I've added:
5. 15mm wrench,
6. Small pair of pliers.
I thought it might be good to pack a bit of tire boot material in case I manage to slice up one of the Schwalbe Marathon tires I currently have fitted.
7. Tire boot material (I use Park's but a Clif bar wrapper or dollar bill can be used in an emergency).
I am a relatively new folder commuter user: 4.5 mi. from home to Metro Green Line station (1/2 hr. approx.), fold bike, ride Metro for another 1/2 hr. approx. Unfold and ride to work 2 mi. (10 min. approx.). Reverse proceedure in the late afternoon.
So . . . what do you experienced folding bike commuters carry in the way of on-the-go bike repair materials and tools? Please advise!
Rick / OCRR
1. Spare Tube
2. Pump
3. Patch Kit
4. Tire levers
Yet I was forced to walk home (about 2.5 miles) since I forgot to pack a wrench (15mm) to remove the rear wheel. Once home and setting about trying to remove the rear wheel, I found I'd also need a pliers to pull the shift cable anchor bolt out of it's recess on the internally geared hub (Shimano Nexus). So, to the above list I've added:
5. 15mm wrench,
6. Small pair of pliers.
I thought it might be good to pack a bit of tire boot material in case I manage to slice up one of the Schwalbe Marathon tires I currently have fitted.
7. Tire boot material (I use Park's but a Clif bar wrapper or dollar bill can be used in an emergency).
I am a relatively new folder commuter user: 4.5 mi. from home to Metro Green Line station (1/2 hr. approx.), fold bike, ride Metro for another 1/2 hr. approx. Unfold and ride to work 2 mi. (10 min. approx.). Reverse proceedure in the late afternoon.
So . . . what do you experienced folding bike commuters carry in the way of on-the-go bike repair materials and tools? Please advise!
Rick / OCRR
- I make a point to carry bus/train/taxi fare and a bag or slip cover when I go farther than about a mile/kilometer from my house. A folding bicycle (even a large one) can be taken aboard most any other vehicle in a real pinch.
- If I am near a friend's or relative's house, I could leave it there until I can go back for it later.
- Carry a cell phone for someone to pick you up if needed.
- know the locations of & familiarize yourself with the bike shops along your route. You never know if you need them for the mechanical failure(s)-not just flats-that might spring up suddenly which you might not have the right tools/knowledge for the problems(s) at hand.
Or I think the best option-prevention in the first place-for anyone to do is the one I have installed (or will be installed) on any of my bicycles I own:
- Make sure your tires are in good condition, are made of a good to excellent quality (don't skimp on this), and are the puncture resistant type. They may not be very racy or sporty, but that gets very old & tiring very quickly when you are struggling with a flat tire(s).
Last edited by folder fanatic; 12-03-11 at 10:51 AM.
