This happened to me today! 2 flats, and the 2 other spare tubes I had were duds. There was noone who I could have called to pick me up (I’m away from home)…so had to hitchhike. Thankfully someone went well out of their way to drop me back to where I was staying (I bought him a 24 box of beer as thanks…)
This kindof thing happened to many people before?? I was quite panicky for a while as the road isn’t exactly busy!
yep- I got a good walk.
That’s a risk that sometimes you take.
So you completely exhausted your patch kit?
Had this very discussion tonight over chocolate cake. Yum.
Our self-proclaimed MacGyver friend said to tear the tube where the hole is, take the two ends and tie knots in each each and reinstall the tire and reinflate. As to reinflate when out of CO2, he didn’t have an answer. Creative idea nevertheless.
Another advantage of tubies. I rode home bumpty bump about 12 miles once in the 70s. Now I carry a bunch of the sticky patches for my clinchers and two tubes, with a frame pump. I have had 5 flats in one ride and made it home. Note to self … check your spare tube if you have not had a flat in a while. I had one dry rot and had huge cracks that made it unpatchable on my mtb once and had a long long walk to the car.
Happened to me just a few weeks ago, I too had a nice long walk. I now carry a small bike shop with me.
Call AAA ,they will come and pick you up and take you home,yes this is true.
Had this very discussion tonight over chocolate cake. Yum.
Our self-proclaimed MacGyver friend said to tear the tube where the hole is, take the two ends and tie knots in each each and reinstall the tire and reinflate. As to reinflate when out of CO2, he didn’t have an answer. Creative idea nevertheless.
May I tell you an absolutely new, never heard before secret!?
Pumps, requiring muscle force, exist!
I don’t take a patch kit with me, on the presumption that 3 spare tubes should be enough.
This is the second time I’ve had spares which have been duds?!?!
7 P’s
Prior Preparation and Planning Prevents P@ss Poor Performance.
The first time I " had spares which have been duds?!?!" woulda been a warning sign to buy different tubes, or atleast from a different batch.
Preflighting your spare tubes in the future will help prevent duds - pump 'em up to when you first get them to make sure there are no valve-leak issues. While you have air in them, put some talc (baby powder) on them - that will help prevent dry rot and make them easier & less hassle-free to install.
During the season, repeat this process every so often.
Cheers, Chris
I learned a trick from a friend when we were in that position. Both of us were out of spares. He stuffed his tire with leaves and made it back home the remaining 10 miles.
Throw your bike over your shoulder and practice the fine art of barefoot running.
AT least you’ll be ready for cyclocross season.
I had that problem once.
Frame pump and patch kit for every ride now, and I’ve never had that problem again.
I don’t even carry CO2, just the frame pump, patch kit, and 2 spare tubes.
Yep…
I was in Florida, riding from a hotel and not knowing many people, and took off on a long bike ride. Had a flat about 20 miles from the hotel, and when I went to change it, I noticed with horror that I had forgotten to switch my saddle bag from road bike to my tri bike, and had absolutely no way to fix the flat. Luckily, I was able to get ahold of a dude I knew who also staying at the hotel, and he came and got me. Gave him a 20 for his trouble.
Now, my cell phone is pre-loaded with the numbers of about 5 neighbors and a couple of local taxi companies in case I’m out riding and can’t get ahold of my wife.
Spot
I don’t know why you all can’t just ride a flat tire. I flatted my front last month and rode 10 miles in 31 minutes back to my car, and I run clinchers w/zipp 808s. The wheels can take it just fine, tire was fine too. Feels a little funny at first, then you get used to it. Tubulars are easier to ride flat.
BJ
I learned a trick from a friend when we were in that position. Both of us were out of spares. He stuffed his tire with leaves and made it back home the remaining 10 miles.
Yes, stuffing leaves/grass/pine-needles is the fall back that I know. Unfortunately, this leaves you somewhat SOL if you ride in the desert as I don’t think sand works. 
If you have a bunch of used tubes, you can double stuff your tire with the tubes as well. Even just inflating them by blowing into them will make a difference if you are putting two tubes into a wheel in terms of having something to ride on.
I don’t know why you all can’t just ride a flat tire. I flatted my front last month and rode 10 miles in 31 minutes back to my car, and I run clinchers w/zipp 808s. The wheels can take it just fine, tire was fine too. Feels a little funny at first, then you get used to it. Tubulars are easier to ride flat.
BJ
Uh, cuz we don’t want to risk trashing a $2k set of wheels?
PS - you averaged nearly 20 mph riding a flat?
<cough cough - BULLSHIT - cough cough >
Yeah, I rode 19-20mph on a the flat tire, the truth. (I average 27mph in a no-hills tri bike leg.) No harm to the wheel riding a flat tire, tire could get ruined though
Just because you can’t do it/haven’t tried it doesn’t mean its impossible! Open your mind
On many of the well travelled bike routes around here, such as Hines Drive, if you flat without a spare in a few minutes another cyclist generally arrives to help out. It’s nice.
When you’re own in the middle of nowehere, yeah, you’re putting your thumb out…