12km into a ride when...
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And to add insult to injury then your multitool doesnt give you enough purchase to remove the well corroded bolts holding the cleats onto your shoes, which you havent touched since you last changed them at the start of winter... I was sincerely tempted to switch to spds on the road after that!
Sheets Tabuer said:
Me too, pedal and crank arm fell off 10 miles from home last week, feet are in a right state 
I've had this happen. Felt like a right plonker walking along country lanes with what at a glance looked like a perfectly serviceable bike. Now carry a whole selection of essential tools which is great for training too!
Markp13 said:
I always carry a mobile phone now so I can ring around and beg for rescue
We did. My dad came and picked us up. He was at the gym though so we walked for over an hour first.h4muf said:
I honestly can't understand anyone going out without a pump and tube.
After this, me neither!neilski said:
Well to redress the balance, I've just got back from cycling to the Midi-Pyrenees and back - 1350km in all and not a single puncture or mechanical. 
Git!Although some of that can be down to conditions?
I did a 52 mile route on Sunday (Basingstoke Big Wheel), through the north hants countryside, had the rear go twice, and the front went with 5 miles to go. Only had 2 spare tubes, and no patches with me. According to the fella at the bike shop that supported the event, there was a ridiculous number of people getting punctures.
So now I'm back to using Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres with Dr Sludge tubes, having previously tried to cut down on the weight.
I've done at least 1,500 miles since my last puncture on my road bike. That's 18 stone of me, plus frequently a laptop and spare clothing in panniers, including a 200yd stretch of my commute which is over a stony track rather than on the road.
This is using 700x28 Continental Gatorskins. I can't remember what I was running before them, but I would consider myself lucky if I made it 100 miles without a puncture, and used to break rear spokes with tedious regularity too. Haven't broken a spoke since changing either.
This is using 700x28 Continental Gatorskins. I can't remember what I was running before them, but I would consider myself lucky if I made it 100 miles without a puncture, and used to break rear spokes with tedious regularity too. Haven't broken a spoke since changing either.
yellowjack said:
Oops! Jinxed now, I'm afraid. Better check the pump and patches, and pack another spare innertube.
I was actually wondering how much weight I could have saved by not packing a pump, tube, patches, tyre levers and 2 x multitools (bike shops are few and far between in rural France so I need to be able to do almost everything at the roadside) and it's 950g. Maybe I won't bother next time.... 
clonmult said:
Git!
Although some of that can be down to conditions?
I think it might come to tyre choice and just being lucky. I use Continental TopContact and [touches wood] so far, haven't had any punctures despite covering 3250km during two two week tours in France plus all the year round training mileage I put on them. This time around I was carrying camping gear on the back of the bike and rode over everything from silky smooth tarmac to dirt road, smashed up / pot-holed road, grassy tracks, sandy beaches and everything else in between.Although some of that can be down to conditions?
curlie467 said:
Ooh, its a toss up between taking a tube and pump or a nice set of trainers to walk home in!
I always carry spares, tubes, patches, pump, chain tool and link etc etc.
I have had three patches fail on me in the last 100 miles. I am not sure if its the brand (skabs) but I will never use them again. Only new tubes for me from this point forward and maybe an old school patch when I feel like the risk.I always carry spares, tubes, patches, pump, chain tool and link etc etc.
yonex said:
I have had three patches fail on me in the last 100 miles. I am not sure if its the brand (skabs) but I will never use them again. Only new tubes for me from this point forward and maybe an old school patch when I feel like the risk.
Never had a patch fail on me, but I've never viewed them as a permanent fix. Always thought of patches as enough to get you home, akin to a space saver tyre - never intended as a long term fix.clonmult said:
Never had a patch fail on me, but I've never viewed them as a permanent fix. Always thought of patches as enough to get you home, akin to a space saver tyre - never intended as a long term fix.
I think that's true of these new-fangled self adhesive bits of rubbish, but a proper rubber patch with proper adhesive should leave the tube arguably better than new, if minutely heavier.I reckon I must be getting at least one puncture every two rides out, all off road and nearly all Hawthorns. I got fed up fixing them and invested in a couple of slime tubes which are totally brilliant.
No need to carry anything more than a pump with me now just to top up the pressure if they needs it which usually they don't. I wouldn't be without them now, worth every penny......
No need to carry anything more than a pump with me now just to top up the pressure if they needs it which usually they don't. I wouldn't be without them now, worth every penny......
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