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Commuters; how many...
 

[Closed] Commuters; how many spare tubes do you regularly carry?

 dazh
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2 plus patches. Had numerous double punctures on the road. They come in clusters.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 2:45 pm
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2 tubes plus the stick on patches just in case. Glue ones take too long to dry. Used to only be one but learnt the hard way on that!!


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 3:13 pm
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1

It is only 6 miles and pretty rare I puncture. Easy enough to walk a couple of miles if the problem is at either end. Last time I got a flat I was on my way home, it was wet so I just rode the last mile on a flat tyre because I didn't want to stop and faff. My commuting bike is a cheap old thing though so not too bothered about it.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 3:51 pm
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Two tubes plus using slime inner tubes (loss of glass/flint in my route). Slime tubes work well but tyres feel hard and heavy, very little comfort in them now


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 4:12 pm
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Tubless but still carry two tubes when commuting.. I'm normally carry a rucksack with lunc / chnage of clothes etc so no reason not to put a decent repair kit in front pocket.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 4:15 pm
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2 plus instant patches plus a pump and a spare C02 inflator. I have never ever needed the C02 but started carrying it when my pump broke about 12 years ago fixing a puncture, I know the day I take it out is the day i need it!!


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 4:15 pm
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2 plus instant patches plus a pump and a spare C02 inflator. I have never ever needed the C02 but started carrying it when my pump broke about 12 years ago fixing a puncture, I know the day I take it out is the day i need it!!
19 miles each way some off road and some bits are a long walk to a road.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 4:16 pm
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2. Needed them both once this year


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 4:32 pm
 Ewan
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One tube + puncture repair kit.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 4:36 pm
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2 whenever I ride (except mtb when it's none or 1) plus some self adhesive patches.

(and just under 1000 at work!)


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 4:39 pm
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Carry one tube and patches

Keep one tube in the office

Have three decent bike shops within 10 minutes walk of the office, two of which have track pumps outside as well.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 5:14 pm
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it's the snapped chains that get me

also carry a small chain tool and a couple of quick links


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 5:25 pm
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1 tube and some patches. Only carry CO2 too, no pump

But I use marathon plus tyres, they've been reliable so far. 10 miles each way


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 5:32 pm
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One, but my commute is 5 miles and often easier to walk then fix it at home in the warmth/light particularly at this time of year. Loads of bike shops near work too.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 7:01 pm
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No commute but usually ride a couple of hours each day while mrs B is at work (and would not appreciate having to recover me.) Carry one spare butyl tube, a set of glueless patches, and something that can be fashioned into a tyre boot. One CO2 and a micro pump/inflator combo.

Ride nice rubber all year round on the training bike (Gp4000s) with latex tubes. Only punctures I get are flint cuts, maybe 4 or 5 a year. Tyre boots essential. I’ve not been caught out yet, though I have punctured my spare due to a poorly positioned tyre boot and had to patch and inflate with a micro pump.

I have tried tubeless but it proved almost impossible to fit Pro One’s on my rims. And when I did get them on they had a tendency to unseat mid ride. And I didn’t much like the Pro One’s either.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 7:28 pm
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2. A decent one for me and a cheap one for throwing at randoms with punctures.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 10:52 pm
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7000km of commuting on tubeless and never needed to use the tube that's in my bag. Two punctures I know of (could see/hear them) in that time, but the latex gunk fixed them both. I didn't even need to pump up till I got home.

Must also mention that most of those km's have been on schwalbe s-ones, which still have some life left!!!


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 11:16 pm
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Cummuting?
I carry a can of foam sealant. But its only a mile. When I was doing 7 miles I carried a tube- but also puncture proof tires which work so I never got punctures
Also living in a city with black cabs if its unfixable I just get a cab home


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 11:23 pm
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Northwind - Member

2. A decent one for me and a cheap one for throwing at randoms with punctures.

🙂


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 11:24 pm
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2. A decent one for me and a cheap one for throwing at randoms with punctures.

Learnt this lesson the hard way on a group ride a while back. The guy hadn't brought anything with him, no tube, no pump, nothing. Gave him my tube which cost about 7 quid (was a fancy light weight one.) Said he'd see me right. Never saw him again 🙁

Now carry a cheap thick butyl tube as my spare. Partly for this reason and partly to reduce the risk of pinching a light weight tube when fitting. Works better with tyre boots and is easier to patch too if it does get a hole in it.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 11:39 pm
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Two in Camelbak but not used since fitting Schwalbe Plus Tour Marathons, 26 x 1.75 ftr, and indeed ftw.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 11:48 pm
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When I commuted properly used to carry a pair plus a patches. Learnt a pair is best after taking both tyres out on a pothole.
However after switching to armadillos they were mostly there for mental reassurance. With the weight of my laptop they werent much in the grand scheme of things.


 
Posted : 24/11/2017 11:51 pm
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1 and puncture kit.

Only used it once in the last 3000miles. It was a snake bite

Need another tyre soon so might got up to 700x35 or bigger.

Basically because I keep getting heavier.


 
Posted : 25/11/2017 4:33 am
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Marathon tires and use tubes, but:

bought 500 ml schwalbe doc blue and I fill a bit over 100 ml into each tube. After 1 year I throw the tubes away. Means the 500 ml are good for about 2 years. And set of new tubes every year.

Very rare: you run into some evil stuff and there is doc blue coming out of the tires... Don't stop. Keep on biking a bit (like nuts. With panic in your face). Everything will be fine!

Extreeeemely rare: flat tire. Repair kit still works even with doc blue left in the tubes (bit messy so). But take some spare valves with in your repair kit - the doc blue sometimes makes them jam up.


 
Posted : 25/11/2017 6:52 pm
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One tube, plus a patch kit. Used the tube once in about five years, never had to resort to the patches.

26" wheeled mountain bike fwiw


Snap (except for the 5years bit).
Spec Slaughter Grid on front, Hutchinson Cobra Hardskin on rear.
Rarely punctures even riding through broken glass and turd lined streets.


 
Posted : 25/11/2017 7:18 pm
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One plus a repair kit with Conti GP4's. I keep a couple of spare tubes and an old trackpump at work.


 
Posted : 25/11/2017 7:20 pm
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You tubeless people... If you have a puncture you can't repair... Rare as it might be, when you put a tube in to keep going, don't all the thorns that you have collected over the months that may still be be in your tyre casing just puncture the inner tube all over the place?


 
Posted : 26/11/2017 9:31 am
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@gowerboy - It's not happened to me (yet) but it's a matter of checking the tyre in the same way you would after getting a puncture when using tubes.


 
Posted : 26/11/2017 9:41 am
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You'd just check the inside of the tyre for anything that might puncture a tube before putting one in, much like you do when replacing a tube,


 
Posted : 26/11/2017 9:44 am
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