repair preparation for commuting
 

For ages, I carried a repair kit while riding. I stopped this fall because my bike is heavy and so is my bag. I have to walk up to the 5th floor at work. Our large building has one small elevator, and it hasn't worked in over a year, and NYC bureaucracy means that it will be another year or three before it works again. So I'm not carrying anything to fix flats or anything. I really ought to do something because if something happens, it could delay me a lot.

My rule until this fall is to ask myself how far from home I will be. If it's 2 miles or shorter, I won't carry anything. If it's more, I'll bring my standard repair kit. It has stuff for a flat tire (spare tube, tire levers, patch kit) plus some tools for other, less likely repairs.

I'm going to rethink this.

Thinking out loud, so to speak...

One of my goals is not to be late to work. I'm a school teacher now, and being there on time is very important. Things do happen, and occasionally I see an email from a colleague saying they'll be late. The school finds coverage, and we get by. But you don't want it to happen often.

Leaving with extra time is a good idea, but it only goes so far. I'm not adding 30 minutes to my morning commute for the once or twice I'm delayed in a year. (Is that sound thinking?)

I see that along my commuting route, I'm never more than a mile from the subway, so walking the bike to the nearest subway station and hoisting my bike onto my shoulder and carrying it on the subway is one plan. That's fine though annoying.

I suppose it takes me about 20 minutes to walk a mile. If I get a flat or other problem, the walk plus subway ride minus the progress I've made so far could take 40 minutes. And since it's going to happen only once or twice a year, I guess it makes sense to carry nothing. Or maybe I'll just carry a tube and tire levers.

One idea some might choose is to use tires that are not vulnerable to punctures. That's reasonable but I just don't like them, and I know it's crazy to ride on "performance" tires, but that's what I'm doing. (Continental GP 5000 in 32 mm.) I stocked a compromise tire (Continental Ultra Sport III), and I'll put that on the rear when the current tire wears out or gets frequent punctures.

What's your thought process in deciding what to carry?

Lots of ideas. I've commuted as a middle school/high school teacher 3 1/4 years now. I've gotten to work with lots of failures - one brake broken, seat broken off, derailleur failure, tire loosing air. Other things like loose bolts got fixed with a multi-tool.

A multi-tool and pump/tube weigh next to nothing in the grand scheme of things. I carry two of each, plus some other stuff.

Learn to do a 10-minute tire change. The tire doesn't have to be seated and inflated perfectly. It just has to get you to work.

Having the ability to contact your colleagues is obviously great.

Ask yourself how much time you can save by simply going faster after a repair. For me, its not much.

Plan to be late. Arrange your work the day before. Eat breakfast at work so you can leave earlier.

Know every bike shop in the area, and also every place that could sell you a tube.

Another option might be to arrange with a colleague that can pick you up on their way if you need a ride.

Keep spares of everything at work - lights, chargers, gloves, tools, clothing, shoes, tubes, folding tire, to get you home.

Just thinking out loud. It sounds like you have a lot to carry, as a teacher I can understand. Can you put a repair kit with your other things and then lock the bike up safe and securely on the first floor. Then you are not hauling a bike and other things to the 5th floor? Commuting in Los Angeles I have on several occasions had two flats going into work as well as my ride home. Thus I can't imagine not have a repair kit especially if there is a time commitment.

The small amount of tools and supplies that are critical, should not kill you in terms of added weight when carrying. My suggestions:

Tire levers, spare tube, patch kit, disposable rubbery gloves, compact tire pump with correct valve; Swapping the tube is faster than patch, but taking off the rear wheel is a bit more of a pain (on my bike, a LOT more, so I've learned to find the rear hole, lever off the sidewall on the non-drive side, pull out just the tube in the area of the hole, confirm with a quick pump and spit on the hole, patch, reassemble and pump up). But most bikes, pulling the rear wheel is not a big deal, and that's what the rubber gloves are for, if you need to manipulate the chain or rear derailleur.

A bike multitool. Mine is a great one, came as a bonus inside a bike bag bought at the thrift store, has like close to 20 tools, can do everything, and is very compact and pretty light; I'd name it here but can't remember and bike is not accessible at this moment.

If biking in dark, I have one headlight, and since they are so small these days, I keep a charged backup in the bike bag, as headlight can be critical if road or sidewalk are not lit up by street lights.

Like you said, you can limp to destination for other things; One brake goes out, you have the other. Periodic inspection goes a long way to preventing most things, except flat tire, though checking the tire tread periodically, can spot small sharp things that haven't yet gone deep enough to puncture tube.

What about Uber?

I went to tubeless because my frequency of flats was pretty high. It's been a huge improvement. I still carry flat repair - plug kit, pump, levers, tube - but could leave those and accept a small risk of needing a bailout.

Were I having a lower frequency of flats, I'd just carry a tube, levers, and mini pump. I think that weight is inconsequential.

I was thinking ride-hailing too. But if NYC proper, just hail a cab, same cost? But bike may or may not fit in trunk of cab. That's where a folding bike helps, even just a lower cost bifold on 20" wheels should fit in a cab trunk.

Is it possible to carry the bag and the bike on two separate trips? Temporarily lock the bike downstairs, take the bag upstairs and put it in lockable storage (a school locker or teacher's desk?), then skip down the steps and retrieve the bike. If there is no lockable storage for the bag, get a small zipper lock and light cable to secure it for the few minutes you're away from it.

I'm in video production and since turning 60 almost 4 years ago I find I like make more trips up and down steps , but with less weight/equipment each trip. I still have the stamina to climb steps all day, but my strength isn't what it was in my 40s and 50s.

My commute is 30 miles round trip so I definitely carry a repair kit plus 2 spare tubes.I like to be prepared. A little bit of extra weight isn't an issue.

I did not quite understand the time or distance of your commute.
If mine went under five miles (24 miles before retiring years ago), I would use my lightest bike.
Especially hauling up five flights and without the ability to lock downstairs.
It would mean plenty of repair pieces for a puncture, but no water bottles. Sixteen pounds total.

I'd never carry over a standard kit as you described. What is in your other kit? With quick release and an inflator it's no more than 10 minutes delay, which is already built into the ride.

Thanks for all of the thoughts. I forgot to mention a few things. I gave up on carrying the bike up. I might do it with my light bike, and a colleague does that. She rides a fixie without anything, no brakes, no lights, nothing. I won't mention to her that I don't recommend that. I think the rack outside on the ground floor is safe enough so I use that.

The trip is 3.8 miles.

My tool bag contains all of this, and I could pare it down:

1. ID with emergency contact information
   
2. Master links
   
3. Zip ties
   
4. Duct tape or something as a tire boot
   
5. Rag
   
6. Wet wipes
   
7. Spare tube
   
8. Valve adapter
   
9. Tire levers
   
10. Wrench for rear wheel if appropriate
    
11. Chain tool
    
12. Tire jack if appropriate
    
13. Patch kit with fresh glue – check periodically
    
14. Tools for adjusting seat and handlebar
    
15. Whistle
    
16. Spare headlight?
    
17. Spoke wrench?
    
18. Emergency snack
    
19. This list!
    

My headlight is bolted on and dynamo-powered. It's very reliable so I don't need a spare nor to worry about charging level. My taillight doesn't need frequent charging, and it hasn't run down yet since I charge it weekly. I take it with me after locking the bike.

My bag sometimes approaches 20 lbs (9 kg) including my lunch. I eat a lot! That's why weight matters.

I think I'll carry a tube, tire levers, and a Tire Jack™. I'll leave the rest home.

I can't use a taxi or ride share. Or maybe I could but I use them so rarely that I don't know how long it takes to get one. The Brooklyn Bridge bike lane is enclosed so I can't leave it and move to the vehicle roadway or the pedestrian path. I'm stuck on it for over a mile. I'll either ride gently with a flat rear tire or walk it. I won't ride with a flat front tire.

Thanks for helping me think this through.

I used to have a 13 mile commute, and there, the big tool kit made sense.

You carry more on a 3.8 mile ride than I do on 100 mile ride!!

Here is what I carry:

1.) Pump
2.) Butyl tube (very compact to carry)
3.) Tire Lever
4.) Chain Link.
5.) Chain Tool

For years I carried enough tools to accomplish any reasonably likely repair. Then I retired from work and didn't commute for about 6 months.
By the time I went back to work part-time, the tool kit had gotten buried somewhere in the house, so I commuted without it.
I have 20" Marathon Plus tires with Mr. Tuffy liners, and haven't had a puncture flat in over 10 years.
I feel a bit naked without those tools, but so far, so good.
Off to see if I can find 'em... lest Murphy's Law rear its ugly head.

I should mention that I worked for a few years as a mechanic in bike shops. I can do most repairs competently and quickly. I can probably do a flat in five minutes.

Once on my long commute, two spokes in my rear wheel broke. It was a fluke. The wheel was so misshapen that it wouldn't roll in the frame even with the brakes disconnected. Carrying the bike to a subway would have been very difficult. I happened to have a spoke wrench. I was able to get the bike rolling. I would not argue that I need to carry a spoke wrench. Now that I think about it, it seems like a fluke that I had it.

But yes, for a 4-mile commute, I think all I have to prepare for is a flat, and even when I get one, I might not choose to fix it. I can lock it up and jump on the subway or walk the rest of the way.

Must haves:
1) Rear tire is always Continental Ride Tour, one of the best flat resistance tires, to avoid flats.
2) Spare tube.
3) Tire levers.
4) Mini pump.
5) Kool Stop tire bead jack lever.
6) Crankbrothers M-19 multitool.
7) Adjustable wrench.
8) 2 pairs of spare bolts and nuts for bike rear rack, if I lose one on my way.

Optional:
9) Second spare tube.
10) Fantikk X9 Ace air pump.
11) 10mm socket.
12) 8mm socket.
13) Ratchet.
14) 15mm box wrench.
15) Electrical tape.

Whistle is illegal in my state, and it is also illegal in NY. Do not get yourself into trouble for impersonating a cop, which is a serious criminal charge.

https://www.dot.ny.gov/display/programs/bicycle/faq

Hubris! Noglider can predict the flats.

True story:

I had off work Tuesday for Veteran's Day. I already changed my rear tire to a winter tire when a flat gave me the opportunity, and I contemplated switching over the front. I never got around to it.

So today I go to ride the bike in the morning and the front tire is flat. Just thinking about dismounting a tire earned me a flat. That's how the flat gods play with me.

Always be prepared to walk with your bike and backpack.

Always be prepared to call/text/email the supervisor, to say, "Hey, urgent health issue, need to see the doctor on short notice, gonna be late by 2 hours."

Good choice to take at least the minimum to change a tube.
It could be used as teaching moment to show your students that being prepared with a plan and not always relying on others is a good life objective. Preparation and critical thinking are in short supply these days.....

It is always time to review and make changes to your tool bag when considering weight. Mine has pretty much settled in and I wont go through the list. I do know that when you are not carrying a tool bag, it means you are wearing really good walking shoes... Yep...

It would make more sense for them to ban "pea" whistles like a NYC/State police whistle (top in photo below), while allowing whistles with a continuous tone like the bottom ones below; Left to right, UK Metropolitan Police whistle (very different sound from US police pea whistle), very high-pitched single tone whistle, 3 tone-chord continuous tone marine safety whistle designed to be attached to life jacket.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ba209dc016.jpg

Eyes Roll and Duragrouch I don't use the whistle while riding. It's for calling for help.

In the lawless 1970s, a lot of cyclists in NYC used them in the way we use bells properly.

I would simply carry a spare tube, tire lever and a pump. I usually carry a co2 tube, but I rarely use them. They might work better for you, considering the time issue. I no longer work, so time is usually not a problem.
For tires, I like the Panaracer GK SS, semi-slick. Not much more weight, and little difference in the feel of the road. To me, the durability is worth that. Maybe try those in 30mm if clearance is tight with your 32mm Conti tires. Usually can find them on sale on the web.
Those things will barely even be noticed when riding or carrying the bike.

No Whistles! What about a recorder???

I'm a believer in the Scout motto and the ten essentials, but that philosophy includes perspective. You don't need to take a poncho and extra food when you are walking the dog around the block. If you are in NYC and there's always a subway entrance a block away, I could ask, what do you need anything? Just lock it up, put any tempting accessories like headlight into the backpack, and abandon it for now. Go back for it on the way home when you (more likely) have time. Maybe your colleague is right about headlights, it's NYC, how dark could it be?

Since switching to tubeless, I have frequent irritation about how it's not staying inflated overnight, but basically no worry at all that I'm going to have a puncture on the way. It just doesn't happen. I could be taken out by some big hit bad enough to ruin the tire, but if I get real, that kind of thing happens ten years apart. I am still carrying pump, plugs, more sealant in my MTB bag, which I sometimes carry on the commute. But they are never needed on the 20 minutes on the MUP for the commute.

I do always have a little Gerber branded knockoff Leatherman, which has little scissors as well. People carrying a big locking knife for their "EDC" seem a little silly to me. I keep all the bike stuff in a shaving kit in the laptop bag so I can quickly ditch it for work travel on airlines. Both multi tools have a chain breaker.

I can't think of a circumstance on my commute where I would want a whistle. Again it's the kind of thing I might have in the MTB bag. My kid has one built into his Osprey brand water bag, I am not sure if adult ones have that.

My mechanical failures this year have all been chains - it'd be funny if I add more quick links to my bag and then never have one again for years and years. It makes me feel pretty good about my decision to standardize on 11 speed across my modern fleet, for now. I can use those links on most of my bikes and those of my kids. I also learned that an 8 speed quick link won't work on a C&V chain, which I didn't expect and is good to know. My rear hub came out of adjustment, but needed cone wrenches to fix - that's not a roadside activity.

I have not always felt this way and there have been times when I've carried more stuff. How much peace of mind you need is not a constant.