Yes. Why would someone act in such a way?

Awesome reference. Kudos.

Caring is great, but it's even better if you can help the person with their problem.

The problem with your approach, Larry, is that if EVERYONE relies upon the kindness of strangers, then NO ONE will be prepared for a flat tire or other problem.

100% Agree.
#1 I ride alone more than half the time.
#2 I live in "fly over" country, where the nearest tube could be 30 miles.
So I had better be self-sufficient on the bike.

I bolded the important part. Also, perhaps you could reread the part where I mentioned ignoring his threads.

Your attempt to defend him by attacking me is honorable, and ultimately reveals your decency. I chose to directly address the issue, encourage him to seek help, and wish him well in the process. I think we’re both on the same side here.

Yes, it's irresponsible to ride in a group and not be prepared to fix the most basic issues and to suck off other riders generosities. We can't prep for every emergency but keeping your bike updated, cleaned, and ready to go will cover most of the bases and a cell phone will cover the rest, why burden the group with your BS.

I bet you’re just pack fodder

These threads are priceless.

Because cash is lighter weight. Duh!

I'm pretty sure I know who drives a car without a functioning spare tire, jack, and lug wrench, just expecting that somebody will pull over and help them.

I’ve got your self sufficient right here. I’ve even got one dinner and two breakfasts in there. Ate the day’s lunch earlier.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4a5f022a0.jpeg

Some time back I started a thread about this very thing. I simply dont understand a cyclist that dont carry at least a minimum of things to get them home. I am at the other end of the spectrum, my trunk pack is a mini bike shop, it has tubes tools pumps, and a few spare parts. I have never had to walk home.
And yes I carry 6" crescent wrench. Amazingly enough when I stop to help people it is probably what I have used most.

I carry crypto.

That is very kind of you, but continuing to announce it in more threads just seems like calling him the R word. You have made your suggestions, the community has seen your analysis, time to move on.

My new car didn't come with those things. Triple A all the way. And they will actually rescue you if a bike breaks down.

Precisely. Let's all look at the bright side: by dropping eight ounces total, Larry finishes his ride twelve seconds quicker. :fred:

I think there is some correlation about women not wanting to ride with you and not carrying an extra tube or tools to help her if she gets a flat.

In my experience women like guys who are self sufficient with mechanical aptitude. But as it is the two of you will be stuck on the side of the road until a kind soul stops and fixes her flat and the two of them ride off into the sunset.

Somehow a fitting ending.

John

Yeah, but 1) you have to pay for a membership and 2) it is possible to exhaust their kindness. A friend who owned a car with a broken gas gauge used to rely on AAA to rescue him when he ran out of gas, but after a few times they told him to lose their number.

Yeah, I only use AAA as a last-resort -- once in the past 15 yrs or so. That was an incident with TWO destroyed tires and a broken wheel, so the car was getting towed for sure.

On the bike I always carry CO2, a mini-pump, two tubes, patch kit, large multi-tool, etc.

Yes, I like being self-sufficient, and I do have Triple A, but I only plan to use it for a tow for an unfixable mech. failure. One time 30 yrs ago, a new oil filter gasket leaked and the car completely shut down while going 75 mph in the high speed lane on the highway, and I had to roll without power steering to the breakdown lane. That was the first and last time I cashed in on my AAA membership. There's no way I'm "planning" to wait for who knows how long for them to arrive, just to swap a spare tire that I can do in probably less than 10 mins. I just about always carry jumper cables in all of my cars, and have needed to use them several times.

My long-distance saddle bag is crammed full of little things that I'll probably/hopefully never need to use (multi-tool w/chain breaker, quick links, tie-wraps, tire boot, several tube slime patches, 2 extra CO2's, nipple wrench). Sometimes if doing solo rides in somewhat remote areas, I'll strap a spare folding tire to the underside of my saddlebag. I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it (within reason, I'm not strapping a 2nd bike to my back).

Yikes!
Back before cell phones were universal, I used to carry one tube. Then I had a flat 6 miles from home which damaged the tire. I booted it and used my spare tube. At 2 miles from home, that blew, boot notwithstanding. I 'clack-clacked' the two miles home. AND started carrying TWO tubes.

Now, with cell phones, I'm back to carrying one. I also gave up on CO2 after TWICE blowing out two cylinders trying to get them in the inflator and yes, I HAD practiced at home. So it's pumps for me, frame or mini, whatever fits.

Yep. And I forgot to mention that I run tubeless on my two main bikes, so punctures are very unlikely -- but if it does happen, it's like catastrophic. So I also carry a couple tire boots and some other bits and bobs.

Anyway, for our shirtless friend Larry, I would recommend starting with a saddle bag stuffed with a tube and couple tire levers along with one of those little inexpensive Lezyne mini-pumps. I mean, you're gonna need a tube eventually anyway, so why not have it? That kit will take care of the (overwhelmingly) most common on-the-road problem.

I run tubeless and until very recently also carried a spare tube and tyre levers. But I've come to the conclusion that I can fix 99% of tubeless flats with a Dynaplug kit and the other 1% I'll just have to call someone or beg a tube. It's never happened yet. It's just a calculated risk and it's not the end of the world if I ever do have to call a taxi.

Yeah, I forgot: I carry the plug kit, too.

I live in a semi-rural area, so uber and other taxis are non-existent. And my wife isn't necessarily able to drop everything in the middle of a workday to come rescue me -- so I try to be self-sufficient. But a good kit doesn't really take much space.

Most of my bikes have these or similar on them https://safetypizza.com/products/safety-shroom
https://safetypizza.com/products/the-safety-s
they aesthetically clash with the saddlebag on my dads bike and I’m worried it will be the same on mine. Apparently they are for safety but I like it when it flutters in the wind, it means I’m fast.

I want helmet streamers but 2 of the lbs don’t have them and I don’t like getting stuff delivered to my house