Lindenwood

I recently got back into mountain-biking and I have been carrying a can of Fix-A-Flat (the pressurized can of sealant designed for emergency repair of automotive tires) with me while out.

Do any of you guys carry these kinds of products while out riding? If not, what alternatives do you recommend? I am running factory 29" tubes and tires, btw.

I hope this isn't a report. I googled for a while and then tried searching on this forum and all I could find was info about "fixing a flat," general tire sealant (the liquid that stays in the tire), and tubeless setups. So, if there are any good threads about carrying or using these types of products on the trail, please just link me to them!

Thank you!

sknhgy 

I carried them at one time - until I had to use it. My tire picked up a bunch of sand burrs and I used Fix a Flat. That stuff leaked out everywhere and made a mess. I learned to carry spare tubes and a pump. I also learned about tire liners, and kevlar tires. You may want to look into those things.

009jim

I carry tire levers, tube and pump - all in my backpack along with my U-lock and my anaconda. The U-lock is by far the heaviest thing and is essential, so the other stuff is incidental.

Lindenwood

Aahh good point. So just be ready to replace the whole tube rather than mess with the sealant? Sounds like a plan!

Thanks .

igotfatlaces

..

commo_soulja

spare tube/pump/tire levers > fix a flat can

Isn't the fix a flat can designed for schrader valves? Won't work with a presta valve unless you have an adapter.

Most of my bikes are set up tubeless but I still carry a spare tube/pump/levers in my camelback.

ShimmerFade

Yep..I just roll with a pump and tube. Haven't had a flat in a month or two (knock on wood)...actually since I took off my smart sam and put on an excavator.

Lindenwood

I do have one of those adapters that the guy at my LBS gave me.

But yeah, my LBS is closed today so I can't find a tube anywhere, but I will pick up a spare ASAP and just go that route. Lighter, anyways!

Thanks, guys!

Daspydyr 

A tube is better than patches. I hate trying to find a hole in the field. Patch the tube at home.

Zephyr11

+1

I carry a few patches in case I flat twice (it's not unprecedented...especially when stupid me somehow misses that there's two prickers in the tire), but I'd rather just replace the tube.

Cheyou

Stan's before the flat then the flat don't happen.

Lindenwood

What do you mean, Cheyou?

rekmeyata

When I MTB'd I never carried cans of tire fix, why? Just fix the flat and go. If you're too lazy to fix the flat then why not just use Slime in the tires before you even roll? Then you don't even have to carry cans of tire fix! Then add to the Slime tube a really good tough puncture resistant tire and maybe a Mr Tuffy tire liner and your good to go.

Lindenwood

It wasn't a lazy thing, more just that I never thought of actually changing the tube on the trail .

adacas

We run stans at our shop and so far haven't had a flat on the trail. Its super light-weight and works quick. I do sometimes carry a can of zefal if I'm riding with other folks who may not have their own stuff. Pumping up a tire on the side of a trail at 100 degrees doesn't sound appetizing. Fix-a-flat doesn't work very well on thin bicycles tubes.

NCMTBIKER

I carry sealent in my wheels Stans

rekmeyata

I understand, but with the right combination of a tough tire, Mr Tuffy liner, thorn proof tube with Slime added, you would rarely get a flat.

adacas

Don't forget a serious set of legs cause that sounds heavy!

rekmeyata

Sure, certain combinations could be heavy, but your mtb riding, you're not trying to average 20mph. But my suggestion is only for those trying to eliminate flats while riding. To the would be off road racer they wouldn't want a heavy tire, plus they know how to fix flats without resorting to a heavy can of flat fix. And when you look at it that way, the can of fix a flat probably weighs as much as the extra weight of a Slime tube and a Mr Tuffy combined...yeah I know, the can is not rotating weight.

Blackman

I did. Once. But after a pinchflat and no spare tubes, Never again. Ended up walking 8 miles on a 107 degree day.

Lindenwood

Would you guys recommend heavy-duty tubes, or regular tubes filled with some sort of sealant (or both)?

I have a regular spare tube in my under-seat pouch now, but I have been thinking of going to a tougher tube setup before I go on any of my planned backpack trips.

Thoughts?

rekmeyata

Did you ever hear about tire irons, pumps, and patches? You see, if you had tire irons and a patch you could have fixed the flat, and then used a pump to put air into the tire, then you could have been home in about an 3/4ths of an hour instead of 3 hours. I think you deserved a 3 hour walk in 107 degree weather for not knowing how to fix a flat on a bike your riding more then a few blocks from home!!

Lindenwood

"Deserved" is a little harsh, no?

But yeah, I'm thinking about investing in some of those heavy-duty tubes before I go on any long rides. Even though I'll have spares, an ounce of prevention and all.

ShimmerFade

I don't get too many flats, so I run tubes and bring an extra tube/pump. From what I've read, if I were to be in a place with way more flat potential, noticed myself getting a flat every other ride, or if I were just generally worried about getting flats I would definitely go tubeless with some sort of sealant in the tire.

Daspydyr 

Because of the remote nature of our sport I think the old Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared!" works best.

First, run your wheels as light as possible. Use a good light weight tube or go tubeless. Stan's seems to be the sealer of choice, and is light compared to a liner or heavy tubes. Carry both a spare tube and patches and never leave home with out a pump!