What to do about punctures.

[Old timer]

I`m fairly new back on a bike. I ride circular routes that bring me back home and it`s working out fine now that i`ve worked out when the traffic is likely to be light.(in the country)I don`t worry about breakdowns and puntures because my wife is at home and can come to my aid with our van. But! when the weather picks up I intend to head further out whether she is at home or not.Do you! always repair puntures on the side of the road? or carry a can of the compressed air which has the sealant within or apply the sealant before hand to prevent punctures.Also, do you ever try to repair a puncture with the wheel still in place?Thanks

 

[ianrauk]

I always carry a spare inner tube.. and take the old tune home to repair. Don't use compressed air, good old fashioned pump suffices.

 

[on the road]

I take a spare innertube, so when I get a puncture I first look for the offending object that caused the puncture and then put in the spare innertube. Or if I've got no spare innertube then I'll just repair that innertube.

Is it because your wheel has nuts instead of a quick release that you're thinking of not taking the wheel off? If so then buy some spanners, they're only cheap, you don't have to get top of the range spanners.

Take a pump and don't be afraid of getting covered in oil and muck.

 

[al78]

If you are not confident in repairing a puncture I would recommend practicing at home first. You need to be able to get the back wheel and tyre off and swap the inner tubes, then put everything back again (making sure the wheel is reinstalled securely). Once you have done it a few times you should be able to manage it when out on a ride. You will feel so much more relaxed out on a ride if you have the confidence to fix your own mechanicals.

You could consider getting some puncture resistant tyres if you don't mind a slight weight penalty and slightly higher rolling resistance.

 

[rusky]

I carry spare 2 tubes, patches (both olds style & glueless) a hand pump & a CO2 inflator.

Only 1 flat in aver 2000 miles of commuting & I just replaced the tube & repaired it at home.

 

[hackbike 666]

Spare tubes and pump.

So far this year I haven't been visited and trying to go through the whole year without one.So near but so far with 60 miles (3 commutes to go).Hopefully it's not a commute too far.

 

[Old timer]

I`m not worried with my MTB, both wheels have QR spindles and repairing a puncture or changing a tube no problem.

I`m more concerned when I take my E-bike out, there is a the cable in the rear hub that goes through the spindle to the hib motor. Not saying that it`s going to be a big problem but would prefer to tackle that in the shed.

I was reading about the gear that you put in the tube that supposed to self seal punctures but to be honest having that stuff sloshing around inside the tube all the time don`t seem like a good idea. I suppose a can of the gas with the sealant in would probably be safer. I won`t mind having to discard a tube on the occasions that I pick up a rear puncture.
Must admit from trying to remember back when I was a teenager and rode and rode (inc morning and eve paper rounds and a weekend greengrocer round on the "open all hours bike") I really can`t remember ever getting a puncture out on the road. Have tyres and tubes change that much? were the older tyres (circa 1960-65) that much tougher?

 

[AlanW]

Frame fit pump, as mini pumps are a total waste of time!!

Two spare tubes, 2 x tyre levers, pack of self adhesive patches, a small piece of leather cloth, 10sp quick link and a mini chain tool.

Oh.......and a mobile phone!

 

[buddha]

Frame fit pump, as mini pumps are a total waste of time!!

Though this is pretty good.

 

[potsy]

Oh and most importantly,take a pair of disposable gloves too.
Put a marathon+ on the back and you won't have to do it very often anyway.

 

[GrasB]

Frame fit pump, as mini pumps are a total waste of time!!

110 psi from one of these says different, in fact it beat a frame pump to get the tyre back up to pressure though I think that had more to do with the operators than the pump ... I hate group punctures.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Pump, puncture kit, spare tube and adjustable spanner, fixed wheel bike with track nuts, as others have said remove the cause, change tube and repair at home, the puncture kit is for when I get more than one. I spent half an hour this morning at the side of the road near Kingsbury water park, when I came down Wishaw lane they had been clipping the bushes, removing a couple of large thorns from my rear gatorskin and changing the tube, front racelite hard case untouched. I will be checking tyres and doing patching later on tonight.

 

[Paulus]

Make sure your tyres are pumped up to the required pressure before you go out. This will stop some punctures.

 

[Aperitif]

Good advice from potsy to carry gloves and I agree with Paulinrus about 'up to 8 bar' before setting off (not talking namby-pamby off-roaders here )
I carry CO2 - mostly to get things up and away without too much faffing - particularly in the rain and/or low temperatures. (Have only used it for other people's re-inflations though...)
M+ is also a very good idea - where speed is not of the essence in a tyre.

 

[hackbike 666]

Frame fit pump, as mini pumps are a total waste of time!!

Two spare tubes, 2 x tyre levers, pack of self adhesive patches, a small piece of leather cloth, 10sp quick link and a mini chain tool.

Oh.......and a mobile phone!

Mini pumps are a waste of time?

How have a managed for the last few years then?