On Rails

I'm doing the Green Bay Duathlon this weekend and I'm new to this. What do I need to carry on the bike. On training rides I carry a tube, patchkit, multitool, tire irons, pump, and two co2 bottles. Should I leave this stuff behind, or carry less. I'm not competing to place, I'm just doing it for fun, but I don't want to look like a goof.

Sprocket Man

I'd leave behind the multitool, the pump, the patchkit and one of the two co2 bottles. With this kind of setup, you'll be fine if you have one flat, but you will be in trouble if you have any more than 1. But as long as your tires are inflated properly and the course doesn't have a lot of hazards (such as glass, nails and other sharp debris), you should be safe.

snookdude

I had a flat last weekend in my second tri. If I had had another, I would not have been able to finish. I would say, bring whatever you want. I will start carrying a patchkit in addition to the extra tube. Finishing is more important that a couple of ounces in my pack. I ALWAYS carry my multi-tool.

I am not trying to win time trials, I just want to do my best and have fun. I would keep your pack just the way it is.

Snookdude

jennings780

Take the stuff necessary to fix at least one flat.

TheKidd

I've done about 10 triathlons, and haven't carried anything yet. In the past couple, I've started thinking I should do it more and more. I even went as far as packing a seatbag with 2 co2 cartridges, a spare tube, 3 levers, and a patch kit. But I didn't put it on the bike.

Next one, maybe.

jrennie

On my first du race I didn't carry anything(paranoid weight wennie) and got a flat. I had to run barefoot for the last 1.5 miles. Since then i carry a mini pump, tube and tire irons.

racergirl

In a sprint, I don't bother.

In an olympic or long course race you might have problems, although I've done nearly 30 tris without flating during one. For clinchers you do need a pump to prime the tube and check for a pinch. Otherwise when you pop the co2 cartridge in all you get is a fab explosion.

I use tubulars to race on now and tape a razor blade to the top tube rather than carrying levers. Since you need a whole other tire, you just cut the flat one off.

Don't worry, no one looks like a goof. Except the man in the speedo (j/k after a lifetime of swimming I still think they look funny). Just have fun and ride safely.

cjbruin

While I hate to disagree with racergirl...you don't need a pump for clinchers. You can prime the tube by blowing it up. It doesn't take more that half a breath. I've been doing it for 20+ years (learned from being lazy).

Also, if you pay attention, you can install a new tube without priming it and not have to worry about pinch flats.

On Rails

Thanks for all the replies. I ended up carring a patch kit, pump and c02 and thankfully didn't have any need for them, but I did see alot of people fixing flats.