Guys I've noticed that some of you talk about carrying a air pump on your bike and I've seen cyclist carry pumps on there bikes. My question is, if your carrying a pump you are obviously preparing for a flat, but if you get a flat your gonna need a tube because you obviously can't put air in a tube that has been punctured. So are y'all carrying a spare tube and a pump with you and if you get a flat you just fix it on the side of the road? I hope this isn't a stupid question, I'm still new to this commuting business and want to learn all this. My commute to work is only 4.8 miles, if I got a flat I could just walk the rest of the way if I had to. If you are changing these tubes on the side of the road, what kind of trouble are we talking about here? And what tools? Is there a tool kit you can buy just for that?

Yes, carry a tube, pump and a tire lever. With practice, it takes less than 5 minutes. Check youtube for instructional videos.

I take the belt and suspenders approach: I carry CO2 and a pump; a spare tube and a patch kit. The first flat gets the spare tube and CO2; if I get a second, it gets a patch and the pump. I also carry a mini tool and a tire boot. This is pretty minimal. Lots of riders carry more stuff.

Pump, tire levers, patch kit, spare tube, tire boot.
I've needed all of them at some point in time.

i patch the tube if i got time
use a new tube if im running late or its cold/raining/etc

you need tools to:
take your wheel off/on
take the tire off/on
a tube or patch kit (both is best)
some way of getting air into that tube (pump, co2, superman lungs)

Do practice Changing tubes a few times at home

Good deal, next time I go to the bike shop I'm gonna pick up a spare tube. Gonna look for a light weight pump also. I don't need any tools to take the wheels of because I have that fancy lever that you pull and it comes rite of. So the only tools I need is to get the tire of the rim. I remember as a kid I would always puncture the new tube with a flat head screw driver while installing it lol. I'd have to get my grandma to make another trip to Walmart lol...

Just watched some YouTube videos on changing tubes. Looks pretty simple. I'm gonna pick up a extra tube and get a kit real soon! Thanks for all the great info!

i recommend a pair of tire levers that arent made entirely of plastic, smooth metal or i prefer coated metal

Same.

Don't just look at a pump from the standpoint of weight. Effectiveness trumps weight (within certain limits). There are lots of very lightweight pumps out there that are difficult to use and take a lot of effort to get the tire up to pressure. Topeak's Morph pumps...road or mountain bike, depending on your bike...aren't the lightest pumps around but they are among the best pumps in terms of ease of use.

Also, don't just depend on a tube for replacement. Flats are random and can occur at any time. If you flat once, there is nothing that says it won't happen again. Replace when you can but have a patch kit along just in case you get another flat. Don't buy your patch kit from Helmart! Get a good one at a good bike shop. Rema Tiptop is the best I've ever used and it's the only one that I trust to do the job correctly.

Spare tube, patch kit, pump, tire levers, thin gloves...

... and darn good tires to start with!!

+1 on Rema Tiptop and Topeak Morphs

p.s don't forget to check the tire to find the cause of the flat.

cyccomte has a good point. Get a decent pump or you will be cursing yourself when you get a flat. The really small pumps are a PITA to use, IMO. Like imi, I carry a spare tube, patch kit (both traditional and scabs), pump, tire levers and a pair of vinyl gloves.

I suggest a practice run or two, especially on the rear wheel, so you get used to dealing with the RD an chain.

Thanks, folks, for the suggestions on the Rema Tiptop patch kit. I'll have to look into this - are these found at my LBS or auto parts store?

My pump for my road bike - Lezyne Road Drive:


This is the one that I carry on my regular commuter - Lezyne micro floor drive hv-hvg:

All patches and glues are not equal!
Mix and match at your own risk!

+1. I started patching on the side of the road. Mainly because I have a huge pile of tubes that need to be patched sitting in my garage. IF I don't take the time then, I never seem to find it later. I kicked the CO2 to the side of the curb. I found I wanted a pump anyway and take an extra minute or two just to pump the tire up. I love the Leyzne micro floor pump.

My pump came with a patch kit and tire lever. They all store inside the pump, which mounts to the frame.

I've been riding for almost a year now and have yet to a flat, but I'm sure it will happen sooner or later. Better to be prepared than to have to push the bike the rest of the way.

On my road bike I have a dedicated seat bag filled with tube, $20, 2tire levers. I have a zip lock bag with spare contact lenses, and a Lezyne multi tool, a pactch kit and 8 inches of tape. I also keep a Lezyne pump mounted under the bottle cage.

My commuter has nothing on it. the rid is only 2 miles, so I gamble. I had a flat 2 weeks ago and just walked home. no biggie.

Bike shop. Rema makes patch kits for car tires but you want the bike patch kits.

I only carry tube and pump when I'm going out on a remote ride. If I ever flat, while commuting I'll call for a pickup. I've only had 3-4 flats in the last 40+ years. I use kevlar tires which helps but the roads are generally clean of anything except small gravel and or pebbles.

I'm fairly new to commuting as well. I have had 1 flat in the last 1000 miles of urban commuting.

- C02 Pump
- 1 Extra C02 Cartridge
- 1 Extra Tube
- 1 Patch Kit
- 1 Tire Lever
- Wet Wipes (just a few to cleanup afterward)
- Vinyl Gloves (I hate latex)
- Small multi-tool

I did one test change at home before I started commuting to ensure I would be comfortable using the C02 pump. The one time I had a flat on the way to work it took about 10 minutes to change. The next time it will take less time.

Personally, I would rather just change it on the spot rather than walk/call for a ride. It doesn't take long to fix the flat and it has to be fixed anyway.

Never had a tire I couldn't get off with these:


I've got my original pair that are 8yrs old. Barely show any wear. I agree the skinny plastic levers are crap;I've ruined three pairs of them.

For pumps,anything with a hose. Holding the pump directly on the valve is a serious PITA. I like the Topeak Morphs because of the 'mini-floorpump' design.

I carry a pump, 2 tubes, a tire lever/ 15mm wrench, a multi-tool, some duck tape.
I just stopped carrying the CO2 cartage some time ago. It's cheaper to have a pump and also better for the environment.
I patch the tubes when I get home. Like the idea of wet wipes and vinyl gloves.
+ 3 on the Lezyne micro floor drive

I always have:

CO2+Inflator
Spare Tube
Compact multi-tool kit with levers

Floor pump at home, boss keeps one at work. See no need for a mini-hand pump - most are built really cheaply - last one we had couldn't pump up a basketball properly.. lol

2 flats in 2500 miles, both on the old Specialized Armadillo tires. The Panaracer Sports seem to be holding up better (600 miles on them).

I carry a cheap Avenir mini floor pump with gauge. Found those on close out for $8 somewhere online. Comes with mounting bracket for standard water bottle braze-ons. Goes to 120 psi, and I have little issues getting it to 90 psi, which is what my 700x32c commute tires take. Yes, always carry tube, extra tire levers and pocket tool kit, small first aid kit and patch kit. It all fits inside a large seat bag. I've had many uses for the pump. I must flat at least once a month. For like 2 yrs I didn't get a flat, but like many of you, I bragged about it on BikeForums, and my karma changed. I've been cursed with flats and riding through construction zones for the last year. I swap out the road, and the next day, some other crew is doing something on the new road I picked. And inevitably, some dude will drop a glass bottle of that best glass on earth - a Snapple bottle and there goes the bike lane. Okay, it's not always Snapple. But I remember the snapple most because it cost me 3 holes in the same tube.

What goes around comes around. Best to be prepared. The Scourge of the Flats will eventually come for every one of us. Be Prepared!