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-   -   Stranded with a flat (https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/1261069-stranded-flat.html)

rumrunn6 10-19-22 07:15 AM


Originally Posted by bikehoco (Post 22683494)
- Do you carry more than 1 spare tube?
- Do you carry a patch kit?
- Will Uber pick up you and the bike?

  • I do sometimes carry 2 tubes. depends on where I'm riding, like if I'm far from home
  • Yes, to the patch kit, more than 1 actually (this is helpful when carrying only 1 tube)
    • I've patched a tube even tho I was carrying a spare
  • I've used a traditional "taxi' on 2 occasions & my Daughter bailed me out twice
  • I've heard that AAA will also help you if you are a member

rumrunn6 10-19-22 07:18 AM


Originally Posted by jon c. (Post 22683995)
But the patch kit is so old I doubt the glue is still fluid enough to use.

Wulidasheng Bicycle Tire Repair Glue

biker128pedal 10-19-22 07:45 AM

On the patch kit tubes of glue. After a few year I’ve found some dried out even when never opened. Just opened one yesterday. While fixing a tube in the garage luckily.

Reflector Guy 10-19-22 07:54 AM


Originally Posted by Paul Barnard (Post 22683607)

During hot weather, it wouldn't be kind to an Uber driver to drench their seats with sweat, so I don't consider that an option.

I work with a guy who drives for Uber on his days off. I don't think there's a bicyclist alive who can out-sweat this guy!

Jimriides 10-19-22 08:07 AM

Flats
 
I ride Schwalbe Marathon Supremes, haven’t had a flat in years on the road. I have had a low tire after several days. Those tubes get a patch at home.

VegasTriker 10-19-22 08:13 AM

Instead of messing with those small tubes of glue at home, buy a 4 ounce bottle of Elmer's rubber cement. It's universally available at local stores for a couple of bucks. I just clean the area where the patch goes with a little solvent on a Q-tip and then apply the glue with the applicator in the bottle. Let it dry a bit and apply the patch. It bonds just a tightly as the glue that comes in the tubes and the solvent smell is a lot less obnoxious. If the rubber cement gets a little thick, just add some solvent to re-thin it. I use Coleman stove fuel that I use for camping to thin mine.

Gyro 10-19-22 08:37 AM

Ahhh, another use I've found handy for my wife and bike rack.

Reflector Guy 10-19-22 08:59 AM


Originally Posted by VegasTriker (Post 22684399)
Instead of messing with those small tubes of glue at home, buy a 4 ounce bottle of Elmer's rubber cement. It's universally available at local stores for a couple of bucks. I just clean the area where the patch goes with a little solvent on a Q-tip and then apply the glue with the applicator in the bottle. Let it dry a bit and apply the patch. It bonds just a tightly as the glue that comes in the tubes and the solvent smell is a lot less obnoxious.

+2

I tend to think there isn't much difference between the glue in the dedicated bike-tube kits vs. automotive tire plug cement vs. a bottle of ordinary rubber cement except possibly the price.... With the tiny bike cement tubes being the most expensive obviously.

I have a little 1/2-pint can of automotive tire plug cement in the garage.... I am sure it'll work on bike tubes, has a nice applicator brush and it'll probably last forever as long as I keep it sealer tight.

Maelochs 10-19-22 09:01 AM

To the OP----I have had it happen where the wire embeds itself into the tread and even riskily running my thumbs along the inside of the tire (great way to get nasty cuts) won't show a wire .... but when you hit a bump just right the wire will protrude into the tube ... sometimes giving such a small puncture that it is impossible to find without a bucket of water and really high air pressure ..... but still somehow enough to drain the tire to unsafe levels after a few miles of riding. (Someone needs to teach these tube Physics.)

I always bring two tubes and usually temporary patches .... and even so sometimes everything fails repeatedly. Welcome to Life---it doesn't always suck.

shelbyfv 10-19-22 11:03 AM

I remember a thread where the goof went on for pages arguing that he didn't need to carry stuff for flats because he could always call a "friend." Not a spouse or relative.... Plus he said he couldn't be bothered to learn how to fix a flat. Wonder if any of those "friends" are still speaking? :lol:

csport 10-19-22 11:14 AM

1 spare tube, Rema patch kit, Park patch kit, Park glueless patches, tweezers, Park valve core tool, Park tire boots, tire levers and a pump.

At least 2 spare tubes and a spare tire on tours.

rumrunn6 10-19-22 12:28 PM


Originally Posted by downtube42 (Post 22684019)
Where is that Zen story that suggests you don't need to carry ****? Even the bicycle is superfluous. No matter your material preparation, life will throw something unexpected your way. With the right attitude, you can deal with anything. I like it.
Suppose all your **** goes bad. I've seen these things occur on rides: All flat repair used up. BB spindle breaks (me), crankarm comes loose (me), frame breaks, front wheel tacos, seatpost breaks, rear derailleur goes into spokes, handlebar breaks, cell phone charger fails, pedal threads come loose from carbon crankarm, tire rips along bead, axle breaks, bike stolen, bike lost by sleep deprived rider, wallet lost on multi-day ride.

or your headlight shuts off, on a night ride, a dark night, while you are rolling ...

alcjphil 10-19-22 02:16 PM


Originally Posted by bikehoco (Post 22683494)
Went for a ride in the middle of the work day, got a flat from a small piece of metal wire, pulled it out of the tire, replaced the tube then immediately got a second flat.

Obviously I did a poor job all getting the metal out. Since I only had one spare tube I was screwed. Eventually phoned a friend who wasn’t working for a ride.

- Do you carry more than 1 spare tube?
- Do you carry a patch kit?
- Will Uber pick up you and the bike?

Most of the time when I ride standard tube type tires I carry a couple of lightweight inner tubes. I sometimes carry glueless patches just in case, but not always. I don't do as many longer distance rides as I used to, so basically I rely on just the extra inner tube. However, for the last 12 years I have been mostly riding on road tubeless tires. I was very much ahead of the curve on this technology and have been fortunate to have had very few negative experiences. Now, I should share a bit of history. Tubeless tires on automobiles had a similar history. I am not sure at what time they became the standard for cars, but I believe that it was in the 1950's. That said, I owned a 1972 Peugeot 304 station wagon that sported Michelin X radial tube type tires . Think about it, at a time when most cars sported bias ply tubeless tires not nearly as advanced as the radial ply Michelin X radials on my Peugeot, My car still had tube type tires. The point is: There are a bunch of tire choices out there now. Tubeless is just getting started for road bikes(only about 12 years so far). It is now pretty much choice #1 for off road(gravel, mountain bike). Road tubeless? 12 years with only 1 time having to install an inner tube early on. One time with a slow leak that I could simply pump back up and ride home. One time with a major puncture (not using sealant) Pumped back up and rode the last 3 km back to the end of the ride.
Point here is that I carry what I might need base on 50 years of riding on the roads I ride and my own experience on riding on the parts of the road that are the safest

Maelochs 10-19-22 02:28 PM


Originally Posted by rumrunn6 (Post 22684633)
or your headlight shuts off, on a night ride, a dark night, while you are rolling ...

if I am going for a serious night ride I bring two headlights.

My oldest Urban 500 just stopped holding a charge (I am in the process of replacing the battery) but it announced that it had stopped holding a charge by dying. Sure, I can manage .... only a couple times in my life when it would have been too dark to ride without lights, and since I used to commute starting back before rechargeable batteries were a thing, and when they were first introduced, they sucked .... I have done plenty of riding by ambient light. I still like to go dark sometimes on moonlit nights ... but it is a pain, having to turn on my light when I see cars approaching from a distance .... but I don't want to be one of those unlit ninja casualties, or just scare some car when something big and dark passes in the oncoming lane.

mschwett 10-19-22 02:37 PM


Originally Posted by bikehoco (Post 22683494)
Went for a ride in the middle of the work day, got a flat from a small piece of metal wire, pulled it out of the tire, replaced the tube then immediately got a second flat.

Obviously I did a poor job all getting the metal out. Since I only had one spare tube I was screwed. Eventually phoned a friend who wasn’t working for a ride.

- Do you carry more than 1 spare tube?
- Do you carry a patch kit?
- Will Uber pick up you and the bike?

no, no, and yes… but before switching to tubeless, my anywhere would have been

yes, yes, and yes.

you’ll need to order an uber XL and you may get rejected once or twice. no way in hell am i going to ask a friend or family member to take an hour out of their day because i’m stranded with a flat.

Eric F 10-19-22 03:52 PM


Originally Posted by Koyote (Post 22683499)
Actually, it's all irrelevant since I run tubeless in my most-ridden bikes, and I also know how to clear a tire before putting in a fresh tube

I run tubeless, too, but still ended up with a situation where I needed a ride - sidewall slash too big for sealant, and a stuck valve stem nut that prevented me from installing a tube. My only friends that are awake before 8am on a weekend are also on their bikes, and my wife does not sleep next to her phone. Uber got me and my bike home.

kcjc 10-19-22 04:13 PM


Originally Posted by bikehoco (Post 22683494)
Do you carry more than 1 spare tube?

Generally two.

Originally Posted by bikehoco (Post 22683494)
Do you carry a patch kit?

Yes. I normally patch first instead of replacing unless I'm part of a group ride and there are people waiting on me.

Originally Posted by bikehoco (Post 22683494)
Will Uber pick up you and the bike?

? Check with the driver first?

greatbasin 10-19-22 04:39 PM

To the OP,

For that type of riding, I recommend "flat-less" tires like Schwalbe Marathon Plus. They're not the airless tires, nor do they have the foam donuts instead of tubes, but they're highly puncture resistant. Combine them with some Conti Hermetic Plus tubes and you are very unlikely to get flats.

I carry two spare tubes and a patch kit on my touring-type bicycle that I use for all purposes because I can't get the setup I recommend above for its 27 inch wheels.

I'm not a fan of slime, but it can help if your tires are moderately tough -- Marathon Green Guards or Big Ben Plus for example.

Obviously, an elite road cyclist is going to balk at these heavy tires, but they're not as bad for non-competitive cycling as some people think. While the additional rotational inertia is harder to overcome to get going, once you're going, the additional mass gives great stability, comfort, and forward momentum.

Lots of tubeless answers so far, but that can be expensive if your wheels aren't already compatible. It doesn't end flats either, but is basically like a lighter weight, high performance version of tubes and Slime. I just picked up a couple of 700c Marathon Plus tires from Chain Reaction for about $60 out the door.

veganbikes 10-19-22 06:00 PM

Slime is just terrible and when you have to change a flat because the goo in your tube didn't do anything it can get quite messy (not that tubeless isn't similar but many of those smaller punctures don't happen. Good quality tires with good quality tubes at the proper pressure as wide as you can go is a good recipe for fewer flats.

In terms of what I carry, usually a single tube on my road set up but for commuting or touring I usually take two and usually always have CO2, a pump and patches of both kinds. If I do get truly screwed I can call family or friends if needed be or über but I try to avoid that and figure a way home.

urbanknight 10-19-22 06:21 PM


Originally Posted by Aardwolf (Post 22683684)
Running tubulars with Orange Seal in them.

I posed a question with that idea and didn't get a definitive answer because none of the responders had tried it. How well does that work? I figured if sealant instantly plugs a hole in tubeless tires, would it work for tubulars as well? I love the ride quality of tubulars, and they don't sound like any more of a pain to replace than tubeless.

ralphs 10-19-22 06:29 PM

Pretty sure the AAA benefit is only to move you and your bike (10 miles free), not flat repair. Doesn't include tandems.

urbanknight 10-19-22 06:49 PM

To answer the OP, the more you carry the more mishaps you are prepared for, but stuff happens. Before I went tubeless, I carried 2 tubes, 1 patch kit, 2 CO2 cartridges, and 1 mini pump. The tubes and cartridges were to get me rolling quickly even if I punctured both tires with the same obstruction. The rest was so that I could get myself home if more than 2 flats happened (which did sometimes). I've had pumps fail, tubes fail, and CO2 inflators fail. So, I carry my phone as well.

bikehoco 10-19-22 07:02 PM


Originally Posted by Gyro (Post 22684422)
Ahhh, another use I've found handy for my wife and bike rack.

I initially misread, I thought you said another use for your wife’s rack.

3alarmer 10-19-22 07:18 PM

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8f9e944cbe.jpg

Chuck M 10-19-22 07:37 PM

Road riding out in the sticks, I carry a tube, patch kit, inflator, frame pump and tire levers. The neighborhood, in town or the MUP on a vintage bike, I don't give a crap. Worst that can happen is I sit and drink coffee until my wife gets there.

CAT7RDR 10-19-22 08:35 PM

If I am going to be on closed roads and rescues will be impossible and phone reception is null, I will carry a spare tire and use SPD pedals/cleats.
There are some mountain roads in SoCal where you have to be prepared for a possible long hike down a mountain.

rsbob 10-19-22 09:36 PM


Originally Posted by CAT7RDR (Post 22685110)
If I am going to be on closed roads and rescues will be impossible and phone reception is null, I will carry a spare tire and use SPD pedals/cleats.
There are some mountain roads in SoCal where you have to be prepared for a possible long hike down a mountain.

and big cats.

Aardwolf 10-20-22 02:04 AM


Originally Posted by urbanknight (Post 22684988)
I posed a question with that idea and didn't get a definitive answer because none of the responders had tried it. How well does that work? I figured if sealant instantly plugs a hole in tubeless tires, would it work for tubulars as well? I love the ride quality of tubulars, and they don't sound like any more of a pain to replace than tubeless.

Seems to work fine.

I put some Vittoria Rubino 28mm on and got a flat after 93 miles: 1.5mm glass shard in front tyre.
Did some research and put some Orange Seal in it, spun the wheel, and put some air in.
A few drops spurted out of the hole, but it sealed after about 2 secs.

I've done about 900 miles since then and haven't had any pressure drops, so either it's working very well
or it's had nothing to do.

urbanknight 10-20-22 08:48 AM


Originally Posted by Aardwolf (Post 22685332)
Seems to work fine.

I put some Vittoria Rubino 28mm on and got a flat after 93 miles: 1.5mm glass shard in front tyre.
Did some research and put some Orange Seal in it, spun the wheel, and put some air in.
A few drops spurted out of the hole, but it sealed after about 2 secs.

I've done about 900 miles since then and haven't had any pressure drops, so either it's working very well
or it's had nothing to do.

I didn't know Rubinos came in a tubular version. Wonder if they ride similarly to the old CX and CG I used to race on. I'm kind of committed to tubeless for now with the new wheels, but will keep this in mind in the future.

Aardwolf 10-20-22 08:58 AM


Originally Posted by urbanknight (Post 22685606)
I didn't know Rubinos came in a tubular version. Wonder if they ride similarly to the old CX and CG I used to race on. I'm kind of committed to tubeless for now with the new wheels, but will keep this in mind in the future.

I had a look around about 9 months back and Rubino seems like a decent reasonably priced tyre, I like them anyway.
Definitely better than the Tufo S33 Pro I tried when I first got tubular rims.

Vittoria seem to do Rubino in all configurations: https://www.vittoria.com/ww/en/tyres...res/rubino-pro
And they're fairly cheap in the UK: £35 https://www.merlincycles.com/vittori...0c-140868.html


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