caught out by a flat tyre, help me pack a rucksack

[mattuk89]

Got my mountain bike today, been waiting weeks for it, with the delays from corona virus , thought it was never going to come.

I got a voodoo bizango, picture the scene, been looking after my daughter all day waiting to go out for a ride, mrs came home from work, finally freedom!

Did a few miles on the road, and entered some local heathland, cycled a mile, boom, flat tyre, had to walk 30 mins back home.

So, I guess now next step buy a new inner tube, any recommendations? The bikes a 29er, going to buy a rucksack later, what shall I fill it with.

I literally know nothing about mountain biking, just bought one to get out for a hour during lockdown, is it better to buy a few spare inner tubes and keep them? Or is there better alternatives?

Other than a lock, decent multi tool, mini pump anything else I need to get?

Thanks

[funinhounslow]

Levers to get the tyre off the rim

ETA Gloves to protect your fingers when trying to find the cause of the puncture.

And yes just pack a couple of spare inner tubes. I really can’t be bothered trying to patch up a puncture when caught out.

Edited by funinhounslow on Tuesday 14th April 17:56

[bristolracer]

A puncture repair kit ?
You dont need to change the tube because you have a puncture.

[extraT]

Armadillo tires

[hairy vx220]

Dumbell spanner and a leatherman

[lyricalgangster]

Yup, tyre levers and a puncture kit - something similar to this I use. Very effective!

https://www.merlincycles.com/lezyne-smart-kit-punc...

[TurnedEmo]

bristolracer said:

A puncture repair kit ?
You dont need to change the tube because you have a puncture.

Tubes are cheap enough to throw away - I never trust a repaired tube. I do carry patches, but only for the unlikely event I get more than 2 punctures on one ride - I usually carry 2 spare tubes with me.

It's also a lot less hassle just to swap a tube out.

I'd also consider swapping to slime inner tubes on a mountain bike - you're not too worried about the additional weight and it means not having to swap tubes or carry out repairs on the trails.

[Bill]

Personally I go out with a multitool, a spare inner tube, self adhesive repair patches and a tenner in a small under saddle pouch (plus a ventolin and some tubeless specific bits...). Plus a water bottle in a cage.

I can't see the advantage of a rucksack unless you're carrying spare clothes and food. They just make you sweaty IME.

[Gareth79]

Bill said:

I can't see the advantage of a rucksack unless you're carrying spare clothes and food. They just make you sweaty IME.

I have a "camelback" (but Chinese) type mini pack - large enough for a tube, tools, snacks, keys, phone and a mini cable lock. It's narrow enough to not be a huge problem, plus it holds heaps of water, no worry about having to fill up on a ride.

I also carry 1x tube, 2x CO2 and a patch kit, despite running tubeless, it covers all the bases.

[Bill]

I have one too, but ditched and haven't looked back. A 750ml bottle is plenty IME for 2-3 hours.

I mention it simply because a rucksack is expensive and not essential if you're starting out.

[mattuk89]

Thanks for all the replies! Time to get shopping then.

Any recommendations for inner tubes. Seem to be so many out there.

Seen slime recommended, these do? Least I can click and collect tomorrow from Halfords.

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-parts/inner-...

[hotchy]

You'll need a special pump for half these new tyres. Who"d have thought they changed to weird skinny things instead of the usual bike pump. I found that out the hard way.

[J4CKO]

I remember getting my last MTB, came on some impressive looking Bontrager tyres but it couldn't make a 14 mile round trip commute without a puncture, three punctures in a week, fixed at the side of the road, spare tube, tyre levers and a pump attached to the frame is usually enough to get me home, have a little top tube bag on the road bike with that in an a crappy little cetreparcs lock in case I need to stop and be away from the bike so nobody can just easily walk away.

Main thing is tyres though, can go months without a flat on decent one, cheap ones, like cheap bikes can be enough to put people off cycling forever.

Spend fifty quid on some decent tyres.

I find the slime has been more trouble than its worth compared to just keeping a spare tube, levers and a small pump, cant get it to full pressure but enough to continue riding.

[daddy cool]

In the saddle pack there's a spare innertube, some tube patches, tyre levers, a chain tool, and some quiklinks. The small carbon pump goes in my pocket. 500 or 750ml (or both) bottles on the bike, depending on duration/weather.

Wouldn't dream of using the camelbak unless I'm doing a very long ride in the middle of nowhere and need to carry a lot more kit. Riding light is riding nice!

[h0b0]

J4CKO said:

Spend fifty quid on some decent tyres.

This was going to be my advice as well. I have found having the right tyres means I don’t need to carry puncture repair kits.

[IJWS15]

Small underseat bag with tyre levers, spare inner tube, CO2 canister and inflater, must add a couple of chain links.

If I have a second puncture on a trip the wife will have to come and get me.

[MiseryStreak]

Don’t take a rucksack, all it’s good for is a sweaty back.

I can get everything I need in my shorts pockets. I sometimes wear a cycling jersey too which can carry everything, but that’s not allowed on a mountain bike. You don’t want to look like roadie scum.

Mini pump
Spare tube (make sure it’s the right size)
Patches (in the unlikely event you get more than one puncture, Parks are reliable: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tool-puncture-repair... )
Tyre levers (these ones, don’t buy anything else: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/pedros-tyre-levers-pair/ )
Mini tool (one that has the chain tool on it, like this: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-mini-20-pro-20-fun... )
Energy bar / banana

If you run tubeless then you need co2 and slime and all kinds of other st. And a spare tube. So I find it a bit pointless but many riders swear by them.

That’s it. And I put energy/electrolyte powder in my drink and so take a spare sachet if it’s a long ride, as I hate water.

What tyre pressures were you running? You may have not had enough pressure so they can collapse on hitting something and pinch the tube (this is why some riders swear by tubeless!)

[mattuk89]

Thanks everyone!

MiseryStreak said:

Don’t take a rucksack, all it’s good for is a sweaty back.

I can get everything I need in my shorts pockets. I sometimes wear a cycling jersey too which can carry everything, but that’s not allowed on a mountain bike. You don’t want to look like roadie scum.

Mini pump
Spare tube (make sure it’s the right size)
Patches (in the unlikely event you get more than one puncture, Parks are reliable: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tool-puncture-repair... )
Tyre levers (these ones, don’t buy anything else: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/pedros-tyre-levers-pair/ )
Mini tool (one that has the chain tool on it, like this: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-mini-20-pro-20-fun... )
Energy bar / banana

If you run tubeless then you need co2 and slime and all kinds of other st. And a spare tube. So I find it a bit pointless but many riders swear by them.

That’s it. And I put energy/electrolyte powder in my drink and so take a spare sachet if it’s a long ride, as I hate water.

What tyre pressures were you running? You may have not had enough pressure so they can collapse on hitting something and pinch the tube (this is why some riders swear by tubeless!)

Thanks, not sure on pressures like I said bike arrived already made, I just had to attach pedal and turn steering wheel, the tyres were rock hard though, they must of been filled to the max!

Here’s the bike!

[sam.rog]

Set the tyres up tubeless. No more flats.
A bike shop will do it or you can buy a kit for around £40. I have used gorilla tape, stans valve and stans race formula with success. Cost about £25 to do both wheels
I have been tubeless for over 6 years with zero punctures. Plenty of ripped sidewalls and the like tho, but nothing other than higher pressures will solve that.

[The Mad Monk]

mattuk89 said:

Did a few miles on the road, and entered some local heathland, cycled a mile, boom, flat tyre, had to walk 30 mins back home.

So, I guess now next step buy a new inner tube, any recommendations?

Right.

You will thank me for this later.

Do yourself a favour.

Listening? Tyres? Right?

Schwalbe Marathon Plus. They are not expensive. They are the best tyre for NOT having punctures.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/schwalbe-marathon-plus-sm...