Beautiful day. Colorado Blue Bird Day. Rolling with friends. Today is going to be great. We are a few miles into the ride and not quite out of town. We are still on the bike paths and cutting through neighborhoods on our way to the mountains but already having a blast.
PSSSST. FLAT!
We pull over. We are all friends, so everyone steps in. I step back because there are enough hands involved. My significant other gives me the look. It says, “get in there.” I return the look that says, “they got it.” The look changes to a word. It is a whisper but definitely a word, “Get in there, they are going to take forever.”
I look. That rear wheel is so dirty that the 3 people handling it already have grease and dirt up to their elbows. How was there that much gunk on there? I step up and there is no discussion or hesitation as they simply hand it to me without word or question. Their faces say thank you. I change the flat and get it back on the bike. As she packs her seat bag up, I reach in mine and grab a Wet Wipe. You know that individually packaged Wet Wipe? You carry one on your ride, don’t you?
My friends snicker. I continue on, undaunted and not the least bit embarrassed by my wet wipe. I wipe my hands clean as they continue to snicker, but before I am completely done, my friends all have their hands out – 6 dirty hands out in front of me. Now I am verbal as I say. “Oh, you were laughing at me a moment ago about my Wet Wipe, but now you are begging to have my used and dirty wet wipe.”
A chorus of voices synchronized as if they had rehearsed it said, “yes … please.”
Ahhhh, the joys of being proven correct.
The ride was great and we had no more mechanicals – thanks for asking.
Yes, I always have a Wet Wipe with me on the bike. I also wrap my spare tubes in a cotton rag then a plastic bag. This protects the tube. There are few things worse than carrying a tube around then pulling it out only to find a hole because it rubbed against something in those months/years of joyriding in your seat pack. That cotton rag (piece of old t-shirt) is also great for wiping off dirt, grime, blood, tubeless goo, etc.
Sound like I am prepared? Mostly I am. I carry 2 tubes, 2 CO2 cartridges, CO2 inflation head, and 2 tire levers. If dirt is involved, I add a pump, a patch kit, a small multi-tool, a tire plug and a master link. Very long rides might find a few more items in my bag, but that is a pretty good setup. So, what is a must carry for you?
I have a friend that carries nothing but her phone. I am not that brave. My rides often take me into territory where a phone is as useful as ‘a screen door on a submarine’ (credit to singer/songwriter Rich Mullins for that phrase). I have walked out the of woods and off mountains due to injury and mechanicals, so I try to be prepared for the ‘what if?” Always better to roll if possible.
Are you prepared for a mechanical? How Prepared? Do you rely on your phone to call help, or do you bring tools? Tube(s)? Pump or CO2? Wet Wipe? What is a non-negotiable item that you always have on a ride?
On Sunday morning last weekend I was on a solo ride and came up to a rider who was in the middle of a major repair project. He had all his tools and supplies out and was working hard. I stopped to ask if he had what he needed. He had a gap in a tubeless tire that wasn’t addressed by the sealant. He had a spare tube and all the tools he needed, except for a tire boot. I had one in my pack and gave it to him with instruction on how to use it (it’s a patch for the tire rather than for the tube). He was very thankful for this item as it’s what he needed so that he could boot the tire, install the tube, and keep rolling. I have since replaced that item in my saddle bag so I have it again for “next time”. I’ve used tire boots a few times and find that they’re not very well know, but are very useful and very small to carry.
A tire boot is a great and useful item. I have taken the lazy way out and have used whatever ‘energy bar’ wrapper I have as a boot, but maybe it is time to commit to a more permanent solution. I have a friend that carries a ‘boot’ (translated – old wrapper) that he has used and loaned out many times. If he loans it to you, you must return it … guess it is his lucky tire boot. Thanks for the tip and for being willing to help out other cyclists on the road. It is always encouraging to find help when you need it most.
I’ve made a note to add wet wipes and wrap the tube the way you described. I like those ideas!
Glad you found something helpful. Seems we both exchanged some helpful information.
I carry Gunk in a small container, wrapped with some McD’s napkins, secured with a rubber band. Enough to share and refillable. A small amount of waterless hand cleaner does a great job on greasy hands
Sounds like a good solution.