How many spare tubes do you carry?

[Panter]

Or would you carry if your commute was pretty remote and took in lots of leafy lanes etc.

I've always carried two, as well as a repair kit, but am wonering if this is a bit OTT now that my tube replacing skills have improved to the point where I don't sometimes wreck a fresh tube by catching it on the rim or failing to remove a thorn etc.....

It's just a lot of extra bulk to carry so I'm wodering what you seasoned commuters would do?

 

[jay clock]

a lot of extra bulk to carry

not really. Take two

 

[John the Monkey]

At the moment, one.

When I rode the Kenda Kontender tyres that came on the SCR2, I'd carry 3 or 4.

 

[BentMikey]

I take one for each wheel since they are different sizes, but I reckon I'd take two in your situation.

 

[bonj2]

commuting, only one, plus parktools superpatches. I very rarely need even one, so i figure i would have to be VERY unlucky to need more, but having patches means i should have a reasonable surety of never getting stranded.
A (long) audax i might take two.
Sportives, i'll only take one with me, but a couple more spares in the car - lesson learnt from the last sportive where i was topping up the pressure and because my pump's got a new head on it, it's stiff to get off, so i stupidly tried to wiggle it off and managed to snap the tube's valve off - then when i replaced it i did it in a bit of a rush and must have pinched it, when i got to about 80psi - bang! two tubes gone. had to ask the organiser if he could sell me a couple more, he fortunately obliged.
If i'm going mtbing on my own i tend to take two or three, as i once had two snakebites at once before and i only had one spare! with other people i might risk only taking one.

 

[bonj2]

If i was you Panter, I would only take one, but take patches as well. If you often find yourself needing to use the patches, then start taking two tubes.

 

[beanzontoast]

Two and a little repair kit. Doesn't weigh much, but nice to know they are there.

 

[mr Mag00]

one and tools, repair kit

 

[jonredhornet]

At the moment, one.

When I rode the Kenda Kontender tyres that came on the SCR2, I'd carry 3 or 4.

Heh, I have an SCR2 as well and those tyres are terrible for punctures. Feel really thin as well when you take them off.

I carry one spare for my commute but it's only 5.5 miles, anything longer I take two tubes. I can never be bothered to repair them, just tend to chuck them away when they go

 

[gavintc]

I only carry one on a training ride / commmute together with the bits and pieces for puncture repair. On a sportive, I will carry a second.

Regarding statistical probability of a puncture, I was providing service for a road race in East Lothian last week. 60 miles and 60 riders, so a total of 3600 miles covered. I was somewhat surprised to change 6 wheels (3 rear and 3 front).

 

[fossyant]

Two and a kit for the commute.

 

[garrilla]

Two and a kit for the commute.

+1

for those rare days where the first tube goes wrong, the 2nd spare is a godsend

and for those days when something happens to the 2nd spare, a repair kit is the perfect insurance

 

[John the Monkey]

Heh, I have an SCR2 as well and those tyres are terrible for punctures. Feel really thin as well when you take them off.

Very grippy though - I guess that's the trade off. I liked the wire on Schwalbe Stelvio better (25c, my lbs did a pair for £30).

I carry one spare for my commute but it's only 5.5 miles, anything longer I take two tubes. I can never be bothered to repair them, just tend to chuck them away when they go

I'll have 'em!

I only bin tubes when they have long slits in them, the valve fails, or they're more patch than tube

 

[garrilla]

I try not to throw them away even if they are unsuable again as innertubes. Recent re-use as included as a sleave for a chain to stop the chain scratching a bike, bar tape on a kiddies bike stuck with a bit of PVE, and as a rope substitue in my poly-tunnel holding some staging to the structure.

 

[Rassendyll]

One and a repair kit.

On a very long ride or under pressure of time I might take two.

But in the unlikely event you get a second puncture you can repair the first tube. Once you start taking two, why not three, or four...