Devil Dog

what equipment do others carry for repairing flats on the road? Is it easier to just carry a couple spare tubes than to mess around with patching? Also, my bike has presta valves and most of the pumps I see look to be set up for schrader valves, is there an adapter or special pump for presta valves? Whats a good basic list of must have tools/gear to have in my toolkit to effect roadside repair on my bike? Thank you.

Kev

Most mini-pump and frame pumps support Schraeder and Presta valves. It is pretty rare to find ones (except ones found at x-mart) that do not support presta. There is a adapter you can get for about $1 to convert a presta valve to schraeder. What you should carry patch kit, spare tube, pump and tire levers. Also a multi-tool for other on the road repairs.

MichaelW

Race riders can save time by using a CO2 canister for inflation, but since you are limitted to a couple of inflations, most commuters/touring/fitness style riders are better off taking a minipump.
You can swap any minipump to Presta by unscrewing the valve surround, removing the rubber part, remove the plastic part below. Reverse both and replace.

Dr. Manhattan

In addition to what they just said, make sure the pump you get is the size/p.s.i. that's right for your bike. Some of those smaller pumps are mountain bike specific, and only get up to 60p.s.i. The longer frame pumps usually will get a road bike to it's recommended pressure. Also, the difference between a $15 and a $30 pump is huge! (I use a zefal HP on my road bike without complaint)

Bruco

My first aid kit (saddlebaggie/jersey pocket):

- One or two spare tubes.
- Two plastic tire levers, glue, a small piece of sanding paper and some patches. (You don’t want to be without it when the 2nd/3rd flat hits you/your riding buddies.)
- A piece of cloth (strong linen) to cover dramatic cuts in the tire (from the inside, to prevent the tube from bulging out).
- A minipump capable of producing adequate tire pressure. (I use the Genuine Innovations Road Air. Very good pump. Note that most pumps do not deliver enough PSI.)
- Valve adapter from ‘normal’ to presta. (When available, a large foot pump is always preferrable.)
- A mini/multi tool with some hex and allen keys. A chain tool (for non-SRAMs) is nice. (E.g., the Topeak Alien has everything you need.)
- Cell phone.
- Some cash.

sch

I have been on two century rides where I or my riding partner suffered 3 flats.
I have taken to carrying three tubes for that reason. On one occasion I double flatted when I bounced off a sloped edge traffic island avoiding a car and discovered the spare, unprotected tubes had holes worn in them from jostling against the tools! Now I always use some sort of wrap and rubber band about the tubes to prevent this. A 1x2" or piece of tyvek nonwoven paper (house wrap or untearable mailing envelopes or half of a sterile medical pack for many small medical supplies) is a good backup for rock or glass cut tires to get you home at 60-70psi, where the tube would otherwise herniate through the cut. I put several pieces of different sizes in. Performance has a table in their catalog showing how many strokes different pumps need for various pressures. Avoid pumps with more than 150 strokes if possible. I also vouch for the avoidance of ATB pumps on road bikes, they are higher volume, lower pressure pumps. Also concur with recomended Zefal HP for road bikes, superior quality, endurance and gets you to 100# with relatively low effort. Mini pumps almost always suck. Steve

cyclingshane73

Those presta to schrader adapters are handy. I remember a while back when I flatted and had everything except my mini pump. Good thing I was close to a gas station so I could use the air pump there to get me home. I wouldn't recommend using a gas station pump all the time though. Those air pump gauges are not very accurate and you could very easily over-inflate and blow your tube. Which defeats the purpose.

F1_Fan

Clif Bar wrappers are very useful for this. I think they're made of Mylar. Anyway... there's a good reason not to litter after eating a Clif Bar. The flat tire gods will get vengence on you.

roadrage

Well, you probably won't over inflate as those are only designed for about 50 to 60 psi as they are used primarily for vehicle tires. You might have to watch for putting the air in too fast and blowing off the tire possibly.

roadrage

For state of the art as you asked. I would say CO2 inflator and two or three CO2 cartridges and carry a tube for a quick swap. If you want you can patch it when you get home. Besides CO2, a nice frame pump like the Zefal HPx works great. I agree with the statement that most mini pumps that are actually small enough to be called mini pumps don't work real good. For me, it's a frame pump or CO2. Two Park TL-1 tire levers in your seatbag should be plenty to remove and replace a tube and they work great and are cheap.

AquariaGuy

What's a sand baggie? How do you fint all those stuff on ur bike! LIke won't it be heavy? I have a hydropack, and i can't carry everything in it..sometimes i have to attach stuff to my frame when i hit the hills.

TrekRider

I carry what Bruco does, minus the extra tubes. I should carry a spare, but I like living on the edge!

It really isn't that heavy. I have a seat bag in which most of it fits and a fanny pack for the rest.

For patching a tear in a tire, a piece of denim works. Since I lost so much weight, I have several of size Omar The Tent Maker levis that are being used for various chores, from replacing the main tent at Ringling Brothers to covering my SUV during the winter

ngateguy

What KEv said and as for pumps I have a small Blackburn double shot that works well on both the MTB and Road bikes that I ride when you buy the adapters just get the small one for a $1, usually less don't bother with anything else you are spending extra money when you don't need to. I always have an adapter in my patch kit as well as an extra cap and stem saver(? whatever they call that little round nut that you thread onto your presta valve to hold it in place.

dougc

I am now carrying a Road Morph pump. I find it much easier to use than my Zefal HPx. The hose and the folding handle let me get that last 20 lbs. of pressure into the tire without risking a leak at the stem. The built-in pressure guage is not terribly accurate, but it is close enough for government work. It does seem flimsier than the HPx, though.

I also carry:
3 tire levers
2 spare tubes
patch kit (glue type)

When riding with my wife, we went through 3 tubes in one ride. I also had to call for a ride once when I broke one of the two tire levers I had with me. The Michelin tire was impossible to get off the aero rim with one lever. Did I mention that I hate walking?

supcom

For most rides I carry 1 spare tube as well as a patch kit. I have one CO2 cartidge and a mini pump. The way I see it, the first flat gets fixed quickly with the spare tube and CO2. Any additional flats get patched and pumped.

I always carry a pump since you get one shot per CO2 cartridge, but you can pump air until your arms fall off.

All that being said, I did get Armadillo tires at the beginning of the year and haven't had a flat since.

Bruco

Hi AquariaGuy! It is a saddle bag, i.e. a small bag that is attached under the back end of the saddle. Everything I listed fits in there, except for the Road Air pump (does the necessary 120 psi) and the cell phone, which I carry in my jersey pockets, together with the bananas and the muesli bars. Like Trekrider said, it really isn't that heavy.