Flat Repair Tools

[SPINMAN]

I came across two riders with flats on yesterday's ride. The usual response as I roll by and ask, "Do you need anything?" is, "No, I'm good," but today, someone was in need. The first guy, fit, full kit, nice Colnago, was good to go. Then, about seven miles later, on the opposite side of the road, a guy sitting on the side of the road with a wheel between his legs and with his wife, I presumed, standing by. I called over, "Need anything? The woman replied, "Maybe!

I rolled back and saw the guy with a screwdriver on the rim! He said, "I think this is tubeless; all I have is a tube," and he also had a small hand pump. It was from his wife's E-bike. I took out my levers and removed the tire, removed the tube that was holding some air, and found the pinhole and the glass that pushed through the tire. I had to meet someone up the road, so I left the tire levers with him and asked if he would hide them by the light post nearby. I returned and collected my tools.

How do you leave for a ride without a plan for flatting? Granted, they may only be going on a 10-mile cruise, but still.

My post is about what you take with you for a ride if you get a flat.
I take two tubes, a patch kit, a CO2 pump, three cartridges, gloves, and paper towels to feel for unseen tire intrusions.

[ichitan]

(09-25-2023, 08:00 AM)SPINMAN Wrote:  My post is about what you take with you for a ride if you get a flat.
I take two tubes, a patch kit, a CO2 pump, three cartridges, gloves, and paper towels to feel for unseen tire intrusions.

I take a spare tube, and the tools to change it. Also a pump, and paper towels to clean the tire and rim.

If I am going for a very long trip, I might take 2 spare tubes. If I am going somewhere really close, I don't take anything.

[GirishH]

On my daily commute, I will be honest in saying that I was like the stranded bikers Spinman helped. I rarely carried anything probably because there were a few bike shops.

While during my South America trip, I carried two tubes, a spare tire, a patch kit, a pump, gloves, and paper towels. Until I saw this post, I truly didn't know the use of paper towels. Spinman's reasoning makes sense as I used to use bare skin to feel for those tire intrusions and always felt queasy.

Here in India, I am carrying one tube, patch kit, and pump. Sadly no tire as I haven't been wasn't able to find a foldable tire.