the dreaded 2nd flat
 

First flat was 100 feet from the top of a 5-mile climb. I had been really going for it too. If I'd been a little closer to the top I'd have just run up to get the Strava honors :)

5 miles later, a second puncture in a different place, not a pinch flat. Straight up bad luck. I had to call in support ("hi honey...").

I'm not going to carry 2 tubes on 50 mile rides though. Even if I did, I think I would have been guaranteed a 3rd flat.

Long ride without support? 2 tubes. Consider heading home (or to a place where you can restock) after your first flat.

Unless I'm riding with others or in a biker-swarmed area, I always take two. Even if I'm with others - someone's always forgotten his...

One tube and one patch kit can help avoid the walk/call of shame...

This is precisely why I carry at least two tubes. It has happened to me more than once.

Here's the peanut butter jar solution in another thread. It works.

bring a small patch kit

If that second tube weighs too much for you, you might consider a patch kit.

2 tubes, patch kit, tire boot, Co2 and a mini-pump. IMO, it's selfish to make someone come and get you just because you're afraid of carrying a little extra weight.

I'm saving the phone calls for that trip home from the ER.

This.

No sympathy.

Consider it a life lesson.

I can't understand why people don't bring patch kits. They weight essentially nothing. They are my first choice for a repair anyway, not a spare tube

5-6 tubes, 5 patch kits, 2 boots.
I ride a handcycle (delta trike) so my right rear tire is nearer the debris zone and I pick up more than my share of goatheads.

Record ride-5 flats in 28 miles.

Some of us suck at patching on the fly. For me, I wait until I get four or five and patch them while watching MNF. What sucks more than a second flat is a second flat because of patch fail.

1st flat.
tube+co2

2nd+ flat.
Park preglued patch kit.
Lyzyne mini pump attached to water bottle brazeons.

I have two tubes duct taped together with my levers and two CO2s. Fits nicely in my jersey pocket. I take it on all rides.

Often the hole is too small to see(especially with aging eyes) and it's faster to replace the tube and use the full sink method at home.

Don't be dumb. When you can easily fit 2 tubes, 2 CO2s, tire levers and a multi-tool in a smallish saddle bag or jersey pocket, there's no reason not to have the extra backup.

Carrying N tubes still leaves you at the mercy of the N+1 flat.

Point taken on the patch kit though.

So replace the tube for the first flat and then use the patches if you need to. An easy way to find the hole is to inflate the tube while out of the tire and listen for the air. If it's too loud, then pass the tube by your face (very sensitive skin) to detect the leak.

More dumb talk. Even if you do get N+1 flats, you still get X more miles of riding before you have to pester the Mrs.

When I ride in the mountains, I take two tubes and at least three cartridges. Plus a patch kit I've never used. When I ride around town, though, I'm never far from a bus line, so a tube and a cartridge are plenty; the absolute worst is that I can get a ride without bothering the lady friend if I get two flats. Or just walk it to the nearest shops. Tubes aren't horribly bulky, but it can be hard to fit two in my kit.

Two different situations.

Preglued patches in seat bag for n+1 flats.

"Real" patch kit at home for batch patching.

I have a Topeak micro blaster T pump that weighs 70g. It mounts alongside my lower bottle cage on drive side. At this weight I don't bother with an inflator and cartridges, but I will admit it's a no-frills pump.

Last weekend I installed Mr Tuffy Ultra Lite (Orange) tire liners in the hopes of using the pump a lot less frequently. Ideally, never. I can't tell they are installed from riding. (30g each, I think someone may be full of it if they did claim to notice.)

I do have some Slime Skabs which I completely forgot about.

When I use a patch, it's far more likely to be used to cover up a larger/rougher hole in the tire that could damage the tube than to serve as a replacement for a spare tube.

Really? That's your argument against carrying two tubes? I'll counter with carrying two tubes gives you double the chance of making it home if you flat.

I only carry one tube as well, but I have to pile on with everyone else and say you're nuts for not having a patch kit.