Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Deet 4.5mi on May 7, 2013 at 7:27am

extra tire, paper towel, spare links, advil, zip ties, compass,  

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on May 7, 2013 at 9:16am

Take  a chain tool. It's one of the few items that can't be MacGyvered. And take 6-8 inches of duct tape.

Permalink Reply by Scott Stelzer on May 7, 2013 at 11:25am

I travel light for 200k (and most rides)

No wrenches (I'm prolly an idiot there but they are lost half the time),

2 spare tubes

2 CO2's

a hybrid CO2/handpump

3 tire levers

Garmin GPS unit

phone

Cash/debit card/ID/health ins card/car key

1 water bottle (we have enough available @ checkpoints, especially in colder weather)

A couple packets of caffeine-laced Gu , CLIF, or whatever paste was on sale in case of sudden bonk between checkpoints.

Windbreaker probably, this time.

Sunblock applied, but left in the car for this forecast.

 

It has been a number of years since I had a broken chain (as a bike commuter, riding almost every weekday). I've had seatposts loosen, so I probably should find my allen wrenches.  But what usually ends my biking day is when my air pump breaks. Whether CO2 or small handheld, I've gone through a number of them lately. I also had a day recently where the nipples on both my replacement tubes were defective.  This is why, though changing a tire is not that tough, I still really dread flats. Maybe the pumps I always buy tend to be cheap crap.

Permalink Reply by mike w. on May 7, 2013 at 11:40am

2 tubes, patch kit, Park's tyre boot, tyre levers, valve adaptor, rescue mini tool (has hex keys, chain tool, etc.,) spoke  key, Swiss army knife, mini LED keychain flashlight, wet wipes, about 10" gaffers tape wrapped around the tyre levers, a spare toestrap or two to lash up jacket or the like to my seat bag. Full size frame pump (also good for defense against aggressive farm dogs.)

i fit up new tyres at the beginning of the season.

i've never broken a chain but a spare link is a good idea.

Also i tend to carry a couple of spare AAA cells for my tail light -i'm slow and sometimes finish in the dark.

Cell 'phone, although some of the course is a dead zone for my service.

Permalink Reply by ilter on May 7, 2013 at 4:22pm

consider carrying the saddle wrench if you have a leather saddle. Saved my ass once during a 200K.

Permalink Reply by djm on May 9, 2013 at 6:51am

I keep a couple of disposable nitrile gloves in my pack so I dont get everything mucked up after dealing with a puncture in the rain or a chain issue.  Last year I wish I had a spare tire when the casing failed catastrophically a few miles from Delavan.  :-)

Permalink Reply by Duppie on May 9, 2013 at 10:07am

There is some really useful information in this thread.

A couple of questions:

1. How do you store the duct tape? Do you wrap it around something?

2. I have never used a tire boot. Does a tire boot allow you to not having to carry an extra tire with you?

Permalink Reply by Scott Stelzer on May 9, 2013 at 12:26pm

Oh, I left out a critical one.  Especially for early season butts that may not have broken into the saddle yet - Chamois Butt'r!

Permalink Reply by mike w. on May 9, 2013 at 1:02pm

 i use a set of plastic levers -"Sport" brand made in Holland- they come in a red plastic holder case that i wind around with a length of tape about 1" wide by about 10"  long.

i suppose you could also wind a length around a pump or even a seatpost.

Actually, IMO gaffer's tape works better than duct tape, especially in the cold. It also seems to tolerate moisture better. Boots can come in handy when the failure area isn't too catastrophic. Parks makes a boot kit that goes for about $3, gaffer's tape can be useful, and i've read that a even dollar bill can be used in a pinch (seriously.)

In general, if you've got decent tyres and the road conditions aren't hideous, you probably only want to carry a spare tyre for peace of mind and if you've got the space for it. Maybe on a longer ride through more remote areas i'd want to have one, but so far so good. 

 

 
Duppie 13.5185km said:

There is some really useful information in this thread.

A couple of questions:

1. How do you store the duct tape? Do you wrap it around something?

2. I have never used a tire boot. Does a tire boot allow you to not having to carry an extra tire with you?

Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on May 9, 2013 at 1:24pm

a dollar bill DOES work well. The gentlemen on the north leg of the brewery tour can vouch for that. I had a tire that blew a chunk and I thought I was done for. Thank goodness for the internet and ingenuity.

Permalink Reply by spencewine on May 9, 2013 at 3:02pm

My plan is to store duct tape around my mini-pump body. I'm thinking it'll give me a bit more room to work with than trying to wrap around tire irons. Also, I've done something similar during multi-day hikes on trekking poles, which are about the same diameter as a mini-pump. I'd go with gaffers tape if I had some lying around.

Duppie 13.5185km said:

There is some really useful information in this thread.

A couple of questions:

1. How do you store the duct tape? Do you wrap it around something?

2. I have never used a tire boot. Does a tire boot allow you to not having to carry an extra tire with you?

Permalink Reply by Lee on May 10, 2013 at 7:02am

Master link for chain

Chain tool: Park CT-5 Mini Brute or Pedros Six-Pack

Multi tool: Park I-Beam

Pliers: Irwin 4.5" Groove Joint

Spoke: fiberfix emergency spoke

Misc: penknife (to dig debris out of tire); zip ties; grocery store produce bags; Park TB-2 tire boot

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