Getting a flat during a Time Trial
 

I'm doing my first time trial and was wondering what I would do if I got a flat in the middle of a 20 mile time trial. Walk 10 miles back to the start/finish?

Your chance of getting a flat in a 20 mile TT is very, very small. Don't worry about it. They probably have a sag wagon for such eventualities anyway.

Happened to me in a stage race. DNF'd the TT. Still got third.

Is carrying what you need to fix a flat that big of a disadvantage on a TT?

Must have been an omnium scored on points.

Actual stage races by rule are scored on time and DNf on a stage equals DQ

It would be a slight aero disadvantage in your pocket or a seat bag.

Spare tube co2 cartridge, inflator, tire iron could save a walk.

But when you flat without wheel support your race is over anyway.

I strap a can of Pit Stop under my seat. Best case it costs me 30s to blast it into the tire and start riding again. Worst case I have to call the phone number for mechanicals/medicals and tell them I'm stuck at km whatever. Most people don't carry anything, as the chances are very low anyway, so it's best to not worry about it. Stopping to change a tire or tube would be pointless as you've already lost anyway.

The only point would be to prevent a 10 mile walk, so if that's a real concern... stick a patch kit and a single tire lever in your jersey pocket and be done with it. Or wedge it up under the seat. (or your example of Pit Stop)

Do you ever get Pit Stop to work? My results with it were not good.

It depends on the size of the hole. For small holes caused by glass shards or wires it works great. For big cuts or nails/screws/staples it does nothing. It seems to work better with tubulars or clinchers with latex tubes, even though they say it works fine with butyl tubes.

Pit Stop actually fixed this for me last week:

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...hmentid=459339

The tire is a Vittoria Corsa SR 24mm tubular.

During the 20K bike leg of a sprint tri years ago I hit a nasty pothole maybe 3 miles in- flatted right away. Still in competition mode and totally winded I tried to change out the tube as fast as I could- was carrying a pump too- really tight fitting tires and I wasn't careful enough to get the tube in right. Flatted after 20 yards. Nice 3 mile walk in a speedo back to transition at which point the race was over.....no patch kit!