Do any of you people carry alcohol to clean the tubes before applying glue?


I've noticed that tubes these days sometimes have a waxy feel about them, so I've taken to carrying a tiny bottle with some alcohol inside to wipe the tube after sanding it with emery. That way, I feel I can expect the glue to take properly. I use a small pill bottle and the thing weighs nothing along with a tissue in my emergency box. I also carry a very small hotel shampoo bottle (the freebie stuff you get with a room) so that if the tyre is problematic in going over the rim, I can lube it. This REALLY makes a big difference on the roadside. I know Jur can get his tyres over without levers - so can I with some, but others are B*st*rds to mount and dismount. The stelvios on my old Moulton were really hard. It felt like if I used any more lever force, I'd tear the tyre wall off. Soap made them far easier.

By the way - in terms of how much stuff I'm carrying with these alcohol and soap solutions it is truly nothing at all - we're talking a few ccs in total - maybe a ounce at the outside.