Preparing for punctures

rumbataz

I've never had a puncture in three years despite riding over broken glass, potholes, deep road expansion joints, small branches, stones, etc. Yes, I've been extremely lucky. The only thing I did was upgrade the stock tyres with Schwalbe Marathon Plus London Edition tyres. These dramatically improved the ride and are extremely tough and puncture-proof. I've never carried anything for punctures with me.

My new bike will have tyres that are a lot more susceptible to punctures (higher pressures, much thinner tread and sidewalls) so I guess I need to be prepared for the odd puncture. I already have Schwalbe tyre levers and the bike shop has provided a Flatboy Patch Kit (patch pre-glued discs). What's the best way to carry these items (including a small pump) on bike rides?

JackPozzi

Personally, I prefer to carry a couple of tubes to swap at the roadside and then repair the puncture when I get home.. Either a small seatpack, modified water bottle in 2nd holder or in jersey pockets. Small mini pump clipped to frame and a couple of co2 canisters. Mini pump only in case of co2 failure

grenw

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19702641#p19702641]JackPozzi[/url] wrote:

Personally, I prefer to carry a couple of tubes to swap at the roadside and then repair the puncture when I get home.. Either a small seatpack, modified water bottle in 2nd holder or in jersey pockets. Small mini pump clipped to frame and a couple of co2 canisters. Mini pump only in case of co2 failure

Exactly this. Changing a tube is a pain in the censored anyway and it's just a straight swap. Don't make it any more complicated than it has to be as sods law says that the puncture will happen in the rain. CO2 with a backup pump (helps to 'shape' the tube before putting it on the rim) seems to the the best if you have the space.

rumbataz

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19702641#p19702641]JackPozzi[/url] wrote:

Personally, I prefer to carry a couple of tubes to swap at the roadside and then repair the puncture when I get home.. Either a small seatpack, modified water bottle in 2nd holder or in jersey pockets. Small mini pump clipped to frame and a couple of co2 canisters. Mini pump only in case of co2 failure

Carrying spare tubes seem to make more sense. How do the CO2 canisters work? Do I need something else with them to pump up a tyre?

JackPozzi

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19702658#p19702658]rumbataz[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19702641#p19702641]JackPozzi[/url] wrote:

Personally, I prefer to carry a couple of tubes to swap at the roadside and then repair the puncture when I get home.. Either a small seatpack, modified water bottle in 2nd holder or in jersey pockets. Small mini pump clipped to frame and a couple of co2 canisters. Mini pump only in case of co2 failure

Carrying spare tubes seem to make more sense. How do the CO2 canisters work? Do I need something else with them to pump up a tyre?

Yes, it's called a chuck for some reason. Various types about but basically you plug the canister into the chuck, attach chuck to valve and fire, and tyre is at a rideable pressure on about a second.

rumbataz

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19702671#p19702671]JackPozzi[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19702658#p19702658]rumbataz[/url] wrote:

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19702641#p19702641]JackPozzi[/url] wrote:

Personally, I prefer to carry a couple of tubes to swap at the roadside and then repair the puncture when I get home.. Either a small seatpack, modified water bottle in 2nd holder or in jersey pockets. Small mini pump clipped to frame and a couple of co2 canisters. Mini pump only in case of co2 failure

Carrying spare tubes seem to make more sense. How do the CO2 canisters work? Do I need something else with them to pump up a tyre?

Yes, it's called a chuck for some reason. Various types about but basically you plug the canister into the chuck, attach chuck to valve and fire, and tyre is at a rideable pressure on about a second.

Thank you very much for your help and advice. Much appreciated.

Man Of Lard

As others have said - carrying a spare tube (or two) and because I'm a pessimist I also carry at least two different patching solutions (I got caught out with a regular vulcanising patch kit where the vulcanising solution had dried up into a small hard useless snot-like lump) - so I carry two different brands of glueless patches (the thinking being that if one ages and becomes useless, the other one hopefully won't have done the same) and a standard totally unused vulcanising patch kit.

oxoman

As most people have already said, carry a couple of tubes and the means to change them. I also still carry basic puncture repair kit just in case and also keep a spare innertube at work as i also commute into work.

rumbataz

In terms of inner tubes, are all tubes created equal? I've seen a bulk pack of Specialized inner tubes (5-pack) for just £15 (50% off). These ones here:

http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Specialized/Inner-Tube-Presta-Valve-48mm-Pack-of-5-Bundle/44IN?wmp=1637?wmp=1637

The spec seems to be compatible with my new bike.

laurentian

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19702694#p19702694]rumbataz[/url] wrote:

In terms of inner tubes, are all tubes created equal? I've seen a bulk pack of Specialized inner tubes (5-pack) for just £15 (50% off). These ones here:

http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Specialized/Inner-Tube-Presta-Valve-48mm-Pack-of-5-Bundle/44IN?wmp=1637?wmp=1637

The spec seems to be compatible with my new bike.

You can certainly get cheaper tubes than those and you can definitely buy more expensive ones, but it sounds like they would be fine for the riding that you will be doing.