Made the 'call of shame' today...
 

After being so careful to always carry a couple of tubes, and a pump, and a CO2 inflator, I had to make that call today! I was rolling my bike out of the shop, getting ready to change clothes and go home, when I realized the front tire was flat. So I rolled it back into the shop and took the wheel off, then took the tire off and the tube out. Was torn at the base of the valve stem, so I got out a new tube and started to put it in, when I realized it was a 20" tube. Not going to fit on my 26"x1.25" tire too well! So I checked the other box, same thing! I purchased FOUR new tubes when I picked up my bike at the shop last time...all of them are 20". So, I called the wife, she left work and took me home and then went back to work for a couple hours. I looked at the boxes, and the tube sizes at the shop, and never noticed they were 20's. So, now I need to make a 100 mile round trip to the bike shop on Saturday to get tubes that fit (closest shop to my house) and then fix the tires. That also means not getting to cycle to/from work tomorrow, and no ride on Saturday (probably)....I HATE IT when I do something stupid!

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

There isn't a Walmart or Target or grocery store large enough to have inner tubes closer than 100 miles?

...or a Coast to Coast or some hardware store? Tubes are one item easy enough to get online...in fact I may order a couple extras right now.

The problem seems to be the 1.25 width on the tubes. The closest that I can find at Walmart is a 1.5-1.75...and not many of those to be found. I have never seen a "coast to coast", local hardware stores don't carry much in the way of bike stuff. Have never seen a bike tube at Publix or Winn Dixie either??? Where do you guys live that the grocery stores carry bike tubes in a 26x1.25********************

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

Now you will have to give her some rack space when her car breaks down!

Don't worry... get some tubes and you'll be back on the road.

I run 26x1.25" tires on my MTB commuter and the tubes are not always easy to find. Anything with presta valves is out of the question at the big box stores.

I think I currently have 6 or 8 spares on the shelf and in my repair kit. Of course, since I have such a good stockpile it means I haven't had a flat in over 1 year.

i'm pretty sure i'd buy a 1.5 tube and try it out first to make sure it wouldn't work before driving 100 miles.

Yep, that would be a problem if you live in the sticks, I've been there. On line is the way to go.

for that far to get tubes, I would consider getting a tires size that is more common.

He thought he had four which would have lasted a while. That's what's so maddening for the OP. I get it, I'd be furious considering the circumstances.

Major bummer, man. Sorry to hear about this. But thanks for sharing. We should double check our sizes before we walk out of the LBS with new tubes in hand from now on.

Same.

My beater commuter MTB also runs 26x1.25. It's a bit of an annoying size, to be sure.

I've made that call of shame. The last time was at 7am to my still sleeping wife. I went out for an early am ride, flatted, then tore the stem off my spare tube when removing the pump. Had to walk 1/2 mile thru the woods just to get to the closest road.

Well, I stopped at Wallyworld on the way to work and the closest size was 1 3/8 which would probably work, but all the tubes are schrader, and I'm presta, and I don't want to drill the rims to allow the larger valve stem, so I'm still stuck driving to Sebring for tubes tomorrow. I DID order four of them from the link to Amazon that CB HI was nice enough to post, but they won't be here until the end of next week, so I'm stuck with the commute to the bike shop tomorrow, and no rides today. I can ride my Strada tomorrow early for exercise, but lose a day of commuting this week.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

No wal mart? Every street in Florida has a Wal Mart.

Erm... what about a patch kit... Wal-Mart will have those. I always have a tube but I also always have patches (love the new press and stick one's!) in case something is wrong with the tube or, God forbid, a second flat in the same trip.

H

Exactly right. A NEW 1.5 tube will work in a 1.25 tire and actually offer slightly better flat resistance.

H

Read it again...can't patch a torn valve stem...I don't care how good you are, you can't make a patch stick to a metal presta stem. ;)