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Stranded with a flat

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Old 10-18-22 | 11:47 AM
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Stranded with a flat

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?
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Old 10-18-22 | 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by bikehoco
Do you carry more than 1 spare tube?
Yes.

Originally Posted by bikehoco
Do you carry a patch kit?
Yes.

Originally Posted by bikehoco
Will Uber pick up you and the bike?
Irrelevant, since I have friends.

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
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Old 10-18-22 | 11:59 AM
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My underseat bag has 1 spare tube, a patch kit, CO2 inflator, tire levers, and a used dryer sheet--to run around the inside of a tire-a used dryer sheet will snag easy and show if there is anything left in the tire. That's not all in there-just what's there for fixing flats. Never called for anyone to pick me and the bike up.
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Old 10-18-22 | 12:05 PM
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I used to carry 2 tubes, but I've had much better luck with tires the last few years, so I'm back to 1. I carry "instant" patches, which generally work well enough to get home. If the tire is too damaged, I call my wife - in fact I had to do just that a month or so ago, when a piece of glass made two slashes all the way through the casing and into the tube. I couldn't imagine trusting that tire not to tear apart no matter how well I booted it in the 25 miles I'd have had to ride home.
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Old 10-18-22 | 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by bikehoco
- Do you carry more than 1 spare tube?

No. On a few bikes I have tubeless tires, and I carry a CO2 bottle and inflator valve, plus sometimes a small bottle of sealant. On my bikes with tubes, I carry at least a patch kit and a pump or CO2, sometimes one tube as well.

Originally Posted by bikehoco
- Do you carry a patch kit?

Always, on my bikes with tubes.

Originally Posted by bikehoco
- Will Uber pick up you and the bike?
I don't know about that.
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Old 10-18-22 | 12:30 PM
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Road bike: Even though I run tubeless, I still carry at least one tube (sometimes 2) and 2 CO2 cartridges.

Touring bike: When out on tour, I will take 3 tubes and a patch kit if bike shops will be few and far between (or not there at all). When bike shops will be more readily available, I will take 2 tubes and a patch kit. Either way, pump is a Road Morph G. if I am commuting close to home on it, I sometimes won't bother with any flat fixing stuff. My one office is only two miles from home. I can walk that if necessary.
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Old 10-18-22 | 12:45 PM
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I carry some inflator cartridges. But to answer your question, yes, an UBER XL will take you home.
I have switched to schwalbe marathon plus tires and tuffy tire liners. That has helped a great deal.
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Old 10-18-22 | 01:27 PM
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1 spare tube, 1 patch kit and one frame pump.

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.
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Old 10-18-22 | 01:42 PM
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I carry 2 tubes, patch kit and 5 or more dollar bills to serve as temporary boots to get me home. Zephal HP or HPX pumps on all my bikes.

Whenever possible, I patch the tube at the time. That gives me a marker to where the issue is. I then find said issue and fix/remove it. (I carry a Leatherman that has a very square tipped pliers. Best tool I've ever used for removing tiny car thread wires and thorn tips.)
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Old 10-18-22 | 02:17 PM
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I've normally got a tube and a patch kit. Patching at the roadside is a pain so I'd rather throw on a new tube and patch in my nice warm garage. The patch kit is there for when the new tube punctures too, because it's still quicker than getting a taxi home.
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Old 10-18-22 | 02:21 PM
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I don't (yet) carry a spare, or any tools.
Running tubulars with Orange Seal in them.
But I'm in London so if I'm stuck I just take the front wheel off and jump in any black cab
Edit: Or I can get on the tube.

Last edited by Aardwolf; 10-18-22 at 02:23 PM. Reason: Tubes
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Old 10-18-22 | 02:23 PM
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Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo

On my tubed bike:
1 tube
1 patch kit
1 tire boot - like a dollar bill (remember those?)
tire levers
1 multitool
2 CO2s and valve
1 mini-pump

and all of that fits in this:


Never been stranded.
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Last edited by rsbob; 10-18-22 at 06:45 PM.
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Old 10-18-22 | 02:40 PM
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Mini floor pump + elaborate patch kit. Carrying a spare tube was in practice pointless for me. I ride differently sized wheels on different bikes. I can remember to take along my tire repair set, but remembering to swap the tube for another size has been beyond me - I usually ended up with the wrong size taken along.
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Old 10-18-22 | 02:48 PM
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For most of my rides; spare tube, patch kit, co2 canister and a frame pump. I rarely know where I will be going, or for how long, when I ride. There is a lot of cell phone dead area where I live. I lighten up when/if I know I am going for a quick and/or fast ride. I do not have one of my bikes set up for just that purpose, I like to switch rides regardless of what kind of ride I am going to do.
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Old 10-18-22 | 02:53 PM
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I carry 5 Spare Tubes, One Spare Tire, CO 2 and a Pump to get back riding.
Never patch at on the road. Patch at Home and Test for 24 hours before using.
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Old 10-18-22 | 03:27 PM
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I know, I know, but seriously. Since switching to Bontrager HardCase 25mm (and 2.0") tires I don't carry patch tools on any rides, long or short. Nada. Not for years. Years I tell you.
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Old 10-18-22 | 03:41 PM
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Originally Posted by bikehoco

- Do you carry more than 1 spare tube?
- Do you carry a patch kit?
- Will Uber pick up you and the bike?
I carry 3 spare tubes on all my rides . If it's a long distance ride I will also add a patch kit. I don't use Co2, I prefer a pump...I won't make a call of shame unless I was injured or sick and unable to continue or stranded in some remote area far away.
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Old 10-18-22 | 06:43 PM
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I carry 20 spare tubes, a floor pump, a complete tool set, extra wheels and tires and everything needed to build my bike from scratch, 'cause you just never know. Or you can read my earlier post with the byline: in 40 years carrying that stuff has NEVER left me stranded.
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Old 10-18-22 | 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by 2_i
Mini floor pump + elaborate patch kit. Carrying a spare tube was in practice pointless for me. I ride differently sized wheels on different bikes. I can remember to take along my tire repair set, but remembering to swap the tube for another size has been beyond me - I usually ended up with the wrong size taken along.
I run a toolbag on each bike with the appropriate tubes. No brains or memory required. And I've done enough rides where tubes have died. Failures near the valves, the seam between tube and valve sleeve (very expensive latex tubes - both front and rear failed two miles apart), cuts that ran bigger than my patches ... Rides where I was running out of daylight. A ride that simply became "epic" with apparently several years of bad luck rolled into a solo century.
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Old 10-18-22 | 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by delbiker1
For most of my rides; spare tube, patch kit, co2 canister and a frame pump. I rarely know where I will be going, or for how long, when I ride. There is a lot of cell phone dead area where I live. I lighten up when/if I know I am going for a quick and/or fast ride. I do not have one of my bikes set up for just that purpose, I like to switch rides regardless of what kind of ride I am going to do.
My approach. 6 bikes. Two tubes, no CO2 but otherwise like you.
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Old 10-18-22 | 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted by 2_i
Mini floor pump + elaborate patch kit. Carrying a spare tube was in practice pointless for me. I ride differently sized wheels on different bikes. I can remember to take along my tire repair set, but remembering to swap the tube for another size has been beyond me - I usually ended up with the wrong size taken along.
I run a toolbag on each bike with the appropriate tubes. No brains or memory required. And I've done enough rides where tubes have died. Failures near the valves, the seam between tube and valve sleeve (very expensive latex tubes - both front and rear failed two miles apart), cuts that ran bigger than my patches ... Rides where I was running out of daylight. A ride that simply became "epic" with apparently several years of bad luck rolled into a solo century.
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Old 10-18-22 | 07:10 PM
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I mostly ride roads. I run tubeless, I carry:
1 spare tube
patch kit
small pump
several CO2 cartridges and valve
boot
Dynaplugs
tire levers

I've never needed the tube or of course the patch kit for the tube or tire levers. But do use the plugs and CO2 a few times per year when a large puncture won't seal. I could certainly get by without the tube etc. But, I like the idea of being almost certain I can deal with any sort of puncture without having to phone a friend. The tube etc. simply doesn't take up that much room and I'm not a weight weenie.

I pull goat heads out of my tires after almost every ride and these leak air for a moment until I spin the wheel to get sealant in there. I have a few bikes I don't ride often enough to keep up with sealant. In those cases I use tire liners, heavy duty tubes, and Slime. Still carry spare tubes etc. for those.
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Old 10-18-22 | 08:00 PM
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Originally Posted by rsbob
I carry 20 spare tubes, a floor pump, a complete tool set, extra wheels and tires and everything needed to build my bike from scratch, 'cause you just never know. Or you can read my earlier post with the byline: in 40 years carrying that stuff has NEVER left me stranded.
WHAT!? You don't carry a welding rig?

You are flirting with disaster.
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Old 10-18-22 | 08:17 PM
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One tube, one patch kit and 2 CO2 carts.

But the patch kit is so old I doubt the glue is still fluid enough to use.
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Old 10-18-22 | 08:28 PM
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