Reply to How to prepare for flat tires on the trail

I've noticed some consternation expressed by folks online and IRL regarding flat tires on the bike trail.

I've had my share of flat tires myself, and I thought I'd share some tips for rides on how to prepare yourself to deal with flats on the trail with minimum fuss.

Carry the following with you in an under seat bag on rides, and you'll be good to go:

1. Spare tube. Some people pack this in a ziploc bag with a pinch of talcum powder.

2. Tire levers. Personally, I carry a lever and a Quik Stik tire tool.

3. Tire patch kit. This is in case you get a second flat after installing your spare tube. I personally recommend the REMA TT02 kit. Follow the directions closely, don't skip steps.

4. CO2 inflator tool head and at least two CO2 cartridges. I like the Pro Bike Tool inflator head myself.

5. Small pump. This is a backup to your CO2 system. A number of companies make good little pumps, your local bike shop can square you away, or Amazon.

6. Park Tool TB-2 tire boot.

7. Practice changing a tube / tire in your garage or driveway even if you don't have a flat, if you've not done it before. The best time to change a bike tire for the first time in your life is not on the trail.


By the way, when you remove your tire to change or patch a tube, make sure to carefully feel around the entire inner surface for something sharp stuck in the tire. If the thing that poked a hole in your tube is still embedded in your tire, it's going to flat your new tube in short order.

Just thought I'd post this for the less experienced cyclists out there.

Good advice Matt, my two cents worth.

Seat bag, handlebar bar, trunk bag, frame bag, fanny pack, panniers all work and you'll be good to go. There is no magic in a seat bag.

The most compact way to carry a tube is new in the box and its protected by the box.

Name brand patch kits usually work best, Lezyne or Park. If you don't ride a WalMart bike because you don't want the hassle, don't rely on WalMart equipment or repair kits. If you ride a WalMart bike, chances are you're going to need other equipment for trail repairs.

Use a small piece of cloth when checking the inside of a tire for wire/nails, etc. to preserve your finger tips. Wet wipes work well, are compact and can be used to clean your hands when you're done.

Bug spray is nice to have on the trail. The only thing more annoying than having to fix a flat are the mosquitos and bugs that swam you when you stop.

Excellent advice above especially the bug spray. I about got eaten alive when helping someone fix a flat tire. Now I carry a small container of bug spray in my pocket. It's about the size of a cigar, and works well.

About the only other thing that I'll add is to get puncture resistant tires that are close to the maximum size that your bike will allow. That way you can run less pressure and not worry about pinch flats. I ride on 700x32 tires inflated to around 75 psi and have never had a flat on the Katy. (I'm doomed now). I weight around 215 lbs.

If you don't want to buy puncture resistant tires, buy a puncture resistant belt to place between the tube and the tire. Slime makes a good one. Rode 1000 miles in Scotland on Specialized Armadillos. Eventually found a 1/4" piece of glass embedded in the tire where it could not be seen. Between the Armadillo's protection and the Slime belt inside there was never a problem. It appears to be a national hobby for the young lads in Scotland to toss glass bottles in the air to watch them break on the paved cycle paths.

I would add one thing to your kit. Something to mark on the outside of the tire the location of the valve stem. After finding and patching the hole in the tube lay the tube on the tire with the stem aligned the mark and inspect the section of the tire that corresponds with the patch. Often with small rocks or thorns you won’t feel anything on the inside of the tire but if you know the actual location on the tire of the puncture you can usually find the culprit.

Consider bringing a spare *tire* with you. On solo multi-day trips on the Katy I always carried a spare tire. Never needed it.

Then on the state-supported ride I didn't bring a spare. Front tire blew out badly. Couldn't be fixed with a boot. I had to beg for a tire and someone kindly donated (I offered to pay). And I was lucky to get a spare since it was a 20" (recumbent) tire.

I also recommend the Schwalbe Marathon tires. I gave up on the tire liners. They seem to shift around and eventually cause flats. In my experience.

Good advice up-thread. I'll add: When changing a tire on the trail, be very clean about it. This is difficult especially when you and your hands are sweaty. Any material from the trail surface that gets on your tube or inside your tire will likely contain a few grains of sand. Have you ever looked at a grain of sand under magnification? It's usually jagged and sharp and a bit like shards of broken glass. Sand can work its way through your tube and leave you walking in a few miles after flat repair.