Winter advice!

essjaydee

Didn't go out with the club this morning as it was pouring down here, so thought I'd wait for it to blow through and go out a bit later. It did clear up as forecast, so I set out for a 40 mile loop.

Was a lovely ride and didn't feel as cold as forecast, but about 12 miles from home picked up a puncture

So bike upside down, wheel out, tube out and check for the cause which I quickly found (small thorn). Removed it, checked the tire and all good, so new tube in, air replaced, wheel back in and off we go. No problems and nice steady ride home

On reflection though a few things have come to my attention.

1. My hands got absolutely filthy and were numb with cold to the point I struggled to put the valve cap on. Not a lot you can do about the cold other than hot breathe on cupped hands at regular intervals, but because they were so filthy with oil and sludgy brake dust residue, I didn't want to make my clothing filthy too :!: So I will be stuffing in a thin pair of pvc gloves in my saddle bag, for such occasions. Probably won't help with the cold, but will keep hands clean.

2. I had one new tube, but really wouldn't want to have to patch a tube, so am going to take 2 new tube's on future rides.

3. The light was fading pretty quickly by the time I got home, and the only lights I had where a couple of cheapo LED's fitted to my helmet, so a set of lights are going to be fitted to the road bike before my next outing.

I always carry (in saddle bag) new tube, multi-tool and puncture repair kit.

Thought I'd share my experience with others, and welcome any thoughts, views and opinions

fish156

I always carry a Muc-Off hand cleaner. Like a heavy duty version of the hand wipes you get in some Chinese restaurants, just without the lemon scent. The main reason is that I don't like getting the my bar tape mucky in summer, or the insides of my gloves oily in winter.
Gloves sound a good idea, but I find that I end up starting the job without them on :roll: , or tearing them in the process of doing the job.

Always carry 2 tubes.

Gizmodo

Petrol stations have gloves for Filling up with Diesel and KFC finger wipes - it beats buying any.

velocanman

The gloves sound like a good idea. A small rag is a better idea to clean off the road grime before you change the flat. That way you will have good brakes for at least a couple miles after the change.

sungod

i keep a pair of nitrile disposable gloves in my repair kit, they take hardly any space, and as they're for use by mechanics are pretty tough, fitting tyres without levers doesn't rip them, i get multiple uses out of a pair

aside from keeping your fingers clean, in the cold/wet they really help maintain dexterity

giant_man

I keep a pair of latex gloves in my saddle pack for this very reason, and always in winter time. good tip.

racingcondor

CO2 comes into its own in winter. Drops the time taken to change a tyre by quite a bit which can save you from freezing half to death... I've never worried about grease but then my kit all has that 'well used' look to it, even if it's practially new.

MichaelW

I take a woolly hat and spare insulation layer to keep warm during repairs.