[Closed] Commuters; how many spare tubes do you regularly carry?

None.
Road tubeless.
There's also a track pump and some spare tubes at the office.

1

One tube plus patches.

Also have Marathon tyres AND I've added Panaracer Kevlar guard puncture proof belt.

Only ever carried one spare tube when commuting.
Still I was riding a proper bike (MTB) with slicks, so none of this snakebite nonsense.

None.
Road tubeless.

I still carry a spare - not all punctures will seal.

Anyway, one tube for commuting plus patches plus puncture resistant tyres.

One. Not had to use it in 5,000 miles of commuting since I've been on tubeless, although I do need to use the tubeless plugs once every couple of months (quite a bit of glass on the cycle paths I ride on). At least the plugs are much easier than changing the tube as you don't need to remove the wheel/tyre and all that faff.

One plus patches

1 tube, patches and puncture resistant tyres.

2, both crammed in a small saddle bag that lives on the bike. Debating adding a frame pump to my bike for full cover.

None. Used to carry a patch kit and pump but when I moved to decent tyres I didn't get a single puncture so stopped carrying anything about 10 years ago. Had two punctures since then. One was a huge nail. Luckily I was near a bike shop. One was very slow so made it home. Shortish commute, mostly urban so no big deal, Might use a different plan if it was longer and rural

1 in saddle bag and 1 in my desk drawer. I use tubeless on my most used set but still put a hole in my tyre once that wouldn't seal. Put tube in and couldn't pump up as my pump was knackered 👿

One.

Fixed wheel on Schwalbe Landcruisers. The commuter bike is always disgusting and has track hubs, so I'm never keen to remove a wheel.

The spare inner tube's just a backup to the main solution - a length of gorilla tape wrapped round a decent mini pump. When I get a puncture, I find the hole and unseat just enough of the tyre bead to pull the affected section of tube out, patch it with a little bit of gorilla tape then reassemble. The actual fix (patch or new tube) can then be done at home. I've worked on that basis for years. Gorilla tape is amazing stuff.

None, but then each journey (up to 4 per day) is 3 miles or less.

1 tube + puncture repair kit

32mm Marathon Supreme tyres @70psi. Far better comfort and pinch resistance than narrower tyres.

Punctures are very rare, although when I did suffer a puncture the other week (farmer had cut his hawthorn hedge and left the cuttings on the track), I had left my pump at home.....

wtf, why wouldn't you carry a puncture repair kit with you as well? It's about 20 grams.

More often than not i'll just fix the tube that came out than put the spare tube in. I'll admit, that's generally because I can't remember the spare ever got fixed itself.

One tube, plus a patch kit. Used the tube once in about five years, never had to resort to the patches.

26" wheeled mountain bike fwiw

One tube in a bottle on my bike, 2 in my bag, 2 in my desk drawer at work.

Twice bitten, five times shy.

Edit - Oh yeah, some stick on patches in my multitool case too. And I run a Durano Plus on the back.

2 tubes. But I commute 20 miles each way across a moor so don't want to be left with a flat if I'm on the moor and still have 12 miles to go. I also keep one at work so if I get a puncture in the morning I have a spare spare.

I'm running tubeless however still carry one for the just in case

2 tubes +1 at work. I don't want to be stuck.

^^ this

Been on tubulars this past year so no tubes here - carry some tufo extreme sealant which I've had to use a couple of times, and has worked in each case.

1, no repair kit - because I only ride in 5.5 miles each way

When I used to do 20 miles each way it used to be 2 plus a repair kit. Only once exhausted that following a mammoth 4 unrelated punctures in one sub zero temps winter day followed by a blow out after a bus pushed me into a pothole with a mile to go.

Walked the rest of the way, fuming.

2

Much quicker to replace than repair at the roadside - speed is important when commuting.

Lucky that I cycle past a halfords and Evans at halfway point - though only open for the commute home

None.

Tubeless tyres, even if they get punctured, take hours to go down, so you can get home on it.

I'm not sure I have any tubes that fit.

Obviously I'll get 2 punctures tonight on the way home - looks a nice evening for a walk 😉

Nick

Debating adding a frame pump to my bike for full cover.

It's a good idea, there's one on mine. It sits below a water bottle so not super visible, and there's a reusable cable tie around it to make it a bit harder to grab...

1 spare tube and puncture repair kit. Swap tube out at roadside and repair broken tube in the office. Will now be switching to my Marathons as the winter season and rain seems to increase the occurrences of punctures.

I carry two tubes and a patch kit in a bottle tool kit on the bike. I also have a full size frame pump on my admittedly audax-y looking training bike (Kinesis 4S).

1. Panaracer strips in 'normal' 35c tyres.
Had a puncture last week and realised a spare spare is a good idea, plus patches.

Marathon/ Durano plus for over three years (no flats). I didn't carry any tubes tools for ages; although i am now. I don't know how many tubes.

The shop at work does sell tubes, but cheap ones, and probbaly not in 28c.

Might stick one in the desk drawer - I've been caught out before: on a mountain bike and in my commuting bag was a 700 23c tube. Had to call for a lift!

I have two crammed into a small saddle bag that stays on the bike plus spares at home and at work.

Two lurking in the pannier. The commuter bike is so heavy that it could easily be two bricks and I wouldn't notice the extra weight.
Only ever used both on one occasion, had a puncture and then the first tube I put in didn't work (or I'd put it in badly and pinched it on the rim or something)

One plus patches. And a spanner for the wheel removal and the default is an [b]80 mm valve [/b]because I swap bikes so often, the last thing you want is to be left with a tube you can't inflate. If I puncture on the way in, I just patch it at lunchtime.

Tyres vary but are normally robust (GP4S today, tubeless Schwalbe Ones yesterday, Duranos on the trike) unless I'm racing midweek.

[img] [/img]

it's the snapped chains that get me

There's one that's been in my saddle bag for over a year. Tubeless so never needed it.

I do remember years ago having to call the wife for assistance as I had cheap (blue I think) Vredestein tyres - got a puncture and couldn't get the tyre off!

None - got those solid tannus tyres.

Roll OK, brake OK, want to follow road features a bit more than I'd like, but good knowing that I won't get a puncture...

One tube, big puncture proof tyres (32c Ribmo at the moment), tubeless stuff in the tubes (not sure if this works but?) and some patches.

Will only repair if absolutely necessary!

Being stuck on a country road with a puncture in the dark and no way to get home is a bit of a disaster...

I'd love to go tubeless but not sure if my rims are up to it. (Mavic Aksium)

About 6, 3 of each size (I swap bikes between MTB and road).I haven't used one for a few years, but if I reduce the number I know what will happen.

Two - one in the back pocket for rapid deployment along with a pump on the frame under a bottle cage. Also a little saddle bag which always has a spare tube, park tool patches, CO2, tyre lever, chain link, tyre boot and multi-tool in.

Can patch tubes in the office if I need to.

Have not needed to change a tube (yet) since switching to 32c Marathon Greenguard tyres though. (I was previously on 28c Panaracer Gravel Kings and needed the quick access tube regularly.)

One tube plus patches (those Park self adhesive ones).

Keep track pump and a couple of tubes in the office though.

Normally one (I'm tubeless). Today due to a rucksack swapover error, none, not a pump, not a multitool, nada. I have a good knowledge of the train stations as my backup plan.

1 tube and a set of quick patches but I'm road tubeless so never had need to use them, other than sharing with other stuck folk.

erm, now that I think about it. none.
slight oversight on my part, but since ive been back to regular commuting ive not........

my mtbs are tubeless, so I don't really think the p word any more

guess I better change that before Monday.

2 plus patches. Had numerous double punctures on the road. They come in clusters.

2 tubes plus the stick on patches just in case. Glue ones take too long to dry. Used to only be one but learnt the hard way on that!!

1

It is only 6 miles and pretty rare I puncture. Easy enough to walk a couple of miles if the problem is at either end. Last time I got a flat I was on my way home, it was wet so I just rode the last mile on a flat tyre because I didn't want to stop and faff. My commuting bike is a cheap old thing though so not too bothered about it.

Two tubes plus using slime inner tubes (loss of glass/flint in my route). Slime tubes work well but tyres feel hard and heavy, very little comfort in them now

Tubless but still carry two tubes when commuting.. I'm normally carry a rucksack with lunc / chnage of clothes etc so no reason not to put a decent repair kit in front pocket.

2 plus instant patches plus a pump and a spare C02 inflator. I have never ever needed the C02 but started carrying it when my pump broke about 12 years ago fixing a puncture, I know the day I take it out is the day i need it!!

2 plus instant patches plus a pump and a spare C02 inflator. I have never ever needed the C02 but started carrying it when my pump broke about 12 years ago fixing a puncture, I know the day I take it out is the day i need it!!
19 miles each way some off road and some bits are a long walk to a road.

2. Needed them both once this year

One tube + puncture repair kit.

2 whenever I ride (except mtb when it's none or 1) plus some self adhesive patches.

(and just under 1000 at work!)

Carry one tube and patches

Keep one tube in the office

Have three decent bike shops within 10 minutes walk of the office, two of which have track pumps outside as well.

it's the snapped chains that get me

also carry a small chain tool and a couple of quick links

1 tube and some patches. Only carry CO2 too, no pump

But I use marathon plus tyres, they've been reliable so far. 10 miles each way

One, but my commute is 5 miles and often easier to walk then fix it at home in the warmth/light particularly at this time of year. Loads of bike shops near work too.

No commute but usually ride a couple of hours each day while mrs B is at work (and would not appreciate having to recover me.) Carry one spare butyl tube, a set of glueless patches, and something that can be fashioned into a tyre boot. One CO2 and a micro pump/inflator combo.

Ride nice rubber all year round on the training bike (Gp4000s) with latex tubes. Only punctures I get are flint cuts, maybe 4 or 5 a year. Tyre boots essential. I’ve not been caught out yet, though I have punctured my spare due to a poorly positioned tyre boot and had to patch and inflate with a micro pump.

I have tried tubeless but it proved almost impossible to fit Pro One’s on my rims. And when I did get them on they had a tendency to unseat mid ride. And I didn’t much like the Pro One’s either.

2. A decent one for me and a cheap one for throwing at randoms with punctures.

7000km of commuting on tubeless and never needed to use the tube that's in my bag. Two punctures I know of (could see/hear them) in that time, but the latex gunk fixed them both. I didn't even need to pump up till I got home.

Must also mention that most of those km's have been on schwalbe s-ones, which still have some life left!!!

Cummuting?
I carry a can of foam sealant. But its only a mile. When I was doing 7 miles I carried a tube- but also puncture proof tires which work so I never got punctures
Also living in a city with black cabs if its unfixable I just get a cab home

Northwind - Member

2. A decent one for me and a cheap one for throwing at randoms with punctures.

🙂

2. A decent one for me and a cheap one for throwing at randoms with punctures.

Learnt this lesson the hard way on a group ride a while back. The guy hadn't brought anything with him, no tube, no pump, nothing. Gave him my tube which cost about 7 quid (was a fancy light weight one.) Said he'd see me right. Never saw him again 🙁

Now carry a cheap thick butyl tube as my spare. Partly for this reason and partly to reduce the risk of pinching a light weight tube when fitting. Works better with tyre boots and is easier to patch too if it does get a hole in it.

Two in Camelbak but not used since fitting Schwalbe Plus Tour Marathons, 26 x 1.75 ftr, and indeed ftw.

When I commuted properly used to carry a pair plus a patches. Learnt a pair is best after taking both tyres out on a pothole.
However after switching to armadillos they were mostly there for mental reassurance. With the weight of my laptop they werent much in the grand scheme of things.

1 and puncture kit.

Only used it once in the last 3000miles. It was a snake bite

Need another tyre soon so might got up to 700x35 or bigger.

Basically because I keep getting heavier.

Marathon tires and use tubes, but:

bought 500 ml schwalbe doc blue and I fill a bit over 100 ml into each tube. After 1 year I throw the tubes away. Means the 500 ml are good for about 2 years. And set of new tubes every year.

Very rare: you run into some evil stuff and there is doc blue coming out of the tires... Don't stop. Keep on biking a bit (like nuts. With panic in your face). Everything will be fine!

Extreeeemely rare: flat tire. Repair kit still works even with doc blue left in the tubes (bit messy so). But take some spare valves with in your repair kit - the doc blue sometimes makes them jam up.

One tube, plus a patch kit. Used the tube once in about five years, never had to resort to the patches.

26" wheeled mountain bike fwiw

One plus a repair kit with Conti GP4's. I keep a couple of spare tubes and an old trackpump at work.

You tubeless people... If you have a puncture you can't repair... Rare as it might be, when you put a tube in to keep going, don't all the thorns that you have collected over the months that may still be be in your tyre casing just puncture the inner tube all over the place?

@gowerboy - It's not happened to me (yet) but it's a matter of checking the tyre in the same way you would after getting a puncture when using tubes.

You'd just check the inside of the tyre for anything that might puncture a tube before putting one in, much like you do when replacing a tube,