Why do people bother to carry puncture repair kits with them?
- Thread starter Thursday guy
- Start date
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- puncture
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shouldbeinbed
Rollin' along
- Location
- Manchester way
shouldbeinbed
Rollin' along
- Location
- Manchester way
I ride in the middle of Manchester and environs, busses aren't door to door unless you're lucky or plan your home and job accordingly, the entire Metrolink tram network was out of service for 5 hours today and what's to say you can't have a non urban commute?
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but the most important reason to carry spare tubes and a repair kit is to prevent punctures.
If you leave them behind - you will puncture. If you take them with you - you won't.
I can see the point when riding a Brompton in town. If you get a puncture you can instantly convert yourself from a cyclist into a pedestrian with a rather cumbersome suitcase.
If you leave them behind - you will puncture. If you take them with you - you won't.
I can see the point when riding a Brompton in town. If you get a puncture you can instantly convert yourself from a cyclist into a pedestrian with a rather cumbersome suitcase.
youngoldbloke
The older I get, the faster I used to be ...
Agreed, but maybe the OP is in that lucky position, so in his personal case it may not be such a stupid question
. I always carry 2 tubes, puncture kit, and glueless patches, but only once have I had to use all of them, and that was to help another in distress.My commute goes through the sticks.
Something similar happened to me. Was carrying a heavy 10mm allen key for weeks until I decided that my cranks were firmly fixed on, so took it out of my tool bag. The next day, my cranks came loose!
kernowpaul
Regular
- Location
- Penwith
I always carry a couple of spare tubes and patches, unfortunately buses don't run at the time I often commute into work and a taxi as a back up is a no go - even if you could find one it's probably cheaper to charter a helicopter from mine into the local town.
As for relying on the public transport as a back up how would you feel if your journey got cancelled because 'sorry this service is cancelled because the driver got a puncture on his cycle to work and didn't come prepared', well that's what would happen if I wasn't organised
As for relying on the public transport as a back up how would you feel if your journey got cancelled because 'sorry this service is cancelled because the driver got a puncture on his cycle to work and didn't come prepared', well that's what would happen if I wasn't organised
D
Deleted member 35268
Guest
No busses where I ride, and a taxi would have to do some serious miles to reach me, i'd rather be self sufficient.
Traditional puncture repair kits I kind of agree with you, if it's cold and wet and miserable there is no chance you are going to be patient enough to let the glue set and successfully repair the puncture. Save the repair kit for when you've got a bunch of tubes to repair indoors at home (and even then I reckon only 50% of the tubes I attempt to repair actually work...).
Spare tubes though, I would never leave without at least one if I am am riding for more than a few miles + a pair of tyre levers, a small pump and a basic bike tool (useful for random fettling with brakes/gears/mudguards etc). It really doesn't take much more than 5 minutes to replace a tube once you've done it a few times (unless you have tyres that are ridiculously tight on the rim). A pair of latex gloves also takes up no room at all in your rucksack/panniers and saves you from covering your hands in oil as well.
Less than a mile away from home/work, might consider walking the rest of the way and fixing it later. But no need to get public transport.
Spare tubes though, I would never leave without at least one if I am am riding for more than a few miles + a pair of tyre levers, a small pump and a basic bike tool (useful for random fettling with brakes/gears/mudguards etc). It really doesn't take much more than 5 minutes to replace a tube once you've done it a few times (unless you have tyres that are ridiculously tight on the rim). A pair of latex gloves also takes up no room at all in your rucksack/panniers and saves you from covering your hands in oil as well.
Less than a mile away from home/work, might consider walking the rest of the way and fixing it later. But no need to get public transport.
Profpointy
Legendary Member
I reckon it depends on the distance - maybe 2 miles is the most I'd ride without puncture kit and some tools. Half hour walk isn't too bad. Much further and it's a bit of a tedious push. Much less than 2 miles I'd probably walk anyway
In London, you cannot take bikes on busses at anytime, on national rail between 0700-1000 and 1600-1900, and on tubes at any time... For the 10 minutes it takes to sort out a puncture I would never not carry one. My pump is only 15cms long, and a spare tube also fits in a pocket. I carry patches too, but only in case I end up with a second puncture on a ride (This really has happened to me!). I also carry a spare chain link pin now as well as a multi-tool with a small chain breaker on it. Nothing ends a ride quicker than a broken chain, and nothing is more uncomfortable than walking 3 miles in cleats to find a shop...
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
You'll be really sorry when you get a puncture and the driver won't let you on.
