Today’s ride home started out great. Not a cloud in the sky, a strong tailwind, my highest average speed today on the ride home then something just did not feel right. I look down at my rear tire and it is almost flat. Crap, go for as long as I can then decide to change it. I check the tire and rim to see if there is anything in there. Nothing. So in goes the new tire, CO2 and away we go. I get 15km down the road and sailing along and again something does not feel right. CRAP the new tube is going flat. I know I checked the rim and tire but nothing. Lucky for me I have a spare CO2 in the bag. I inflate the tire a bit but only get about a km down the road.
Of course I have left my cell phone at work today, great. So I decide to put both tubes into the tire, and ride the next 5km with the two tubes in the tire. Got home about 15 minutes later than normal and have to go see what is happening. To top it off I was going to be late for my massage appt. and there was just no way I was missing that.
Any of you have this kind of luck with flats. I honestly have not had a flat tire in about 4 years. I am very piticular with preping my rims and tires, well except for what I did today.
Try carrying a Park glueless patch kit as cheap insurance. They are mega small, you can tape it under your saddle and forget about it until one day when you really need it…
I have one but have been juggling it around on 4 bikes as of late. I totally forgot it today. Plus there was just no way I was missing my massage. All in all it worked out but yes I will be taping the patch kit under all of my saddles. Great idea.
I always have two tubes in a velcroed bag under my seat (to easily xfer to different bikes) and a patch kit and several other mini tools in one of my back pockets.
I agree with the patch kit - very small. But here is a little tip: if you are in a pinch, peel the black electrical tape off the end of your handlebar tape, and use that to repair the tube. I also have a few wraps of very soft black electrical tape on my seatpost to mark the position and to also double as a patch as well.
That is great advice. Always have tape on the bike somewhere. I just stuck both tubes in and I was able to ride at about 15km max and still make it home. Was a bit tough but worked out. Still sucks and I will be a lot better prepared next time and hopefully have some time to figure it out on the road.