Fixing a flat is at the very limit of my technical ability. I can, with difficulty, tension the brake cables. When I have tried to adjust the gearing, I have always messed up. I can tighten loose bolts, but if my bike was professionally tuned up before I go, everything seems to stay tight during my tours. The job of cleaning/re-oiling a chain is easy; even I can do it!

If my rear dérailleur bent, or a spoke snapped, or the chain broke, or a tire blew out, I would walk, or start hitchhiking. I have been riding a bike for 50 years plus, and touring for over 30, and these things have never happened to me. The way I see things, it is not worth carrying parts and tools that I might need once in a lifetime. On any tour I have ever been on, I don't think I have never been further than 50 miles (90 km) from a bike shop. When I have actually needed a bike shop, I have, so far, always been able to ride to one.

Despite my limited mechanical skills, improvising repairs is part of the fun. On one tour, the weld on the rear rack snapped; I repaired it by wrapping the break with dental floss soaked with Crazy Glue. Another time, I fixed a cracked mirror mount with Sugru. When I discovered my map case had the annoying habit of flapping in the wind, I anchored it to the handlebars with double-sided Velcro.

It makes a difference where you go. The further away you go from well-stocked bike shops, the more you need to be able to do yourself.