It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, your bike was just tuned up by Bike Werks and you’re going for a ride. Helmet? check, Gloves? check, Sunglasses? check, water bottle? check….. and are you prepared if you get a flat tire? I hope so. There’s no avoiding it – it’s going to happen sooner or later, so make sure you’re prepared. I’ll save the details about repairing a roadside flat for another time. For now, let’s make sure you have what you need. Here are the four things you shouldn’t leave home without:
- Tube – make sure you have the correct tube for your bike. There’s 3 things to be aware of when buying a tube. First, make sure that the tube is the right diameter. Second, make sure that the tube is for the correct tire width. The diameter and width, along with the suggested tire pressure is located on the side of the tire. Finally, make sure that the tube has the correct valve. It can be one of two valves – presta or schrader. The valve on your car is a shrader valve. Presta valves are skinnier metal valves with a tip which is normally screwed closed, except for when going to inflate the tube.
- Tire Levers – The tire lever come in a set of 2 or 3, and are used to pry the tire off of the rim. One end does the prying, and the other usually has a notch for hooking the lever to the spoke so your hands are free to use the other levers to finish the job.
- Mini pump or CO2 inflator – Once the new tube is inserted and the tire is back on the rim, it’s time to inflate the tire. A CO2 cartridge has enough compressed air in it to adequately inflate the tire. A little regulator valve is necessary to do the job so make sure that you have one of those too. The cartridge and regulator are small, light and fit nicely into your seatpack. It’s worth your while to practice with one first because once the air escapes the cartridge, that’s it. You may find that you’re more comfortable having a pump and that’s okay. Many are designed to attached to the bike frame and out of the way.
- Multi-tool – There are dozens of multi-tools to choose from. Though not as good as your standard mechanic’s tools, they’re great for the occasional trailside adjustment. Don’t worry if you’re unsure how to adjust or fix something on the road. Cyclists are a friendly lot, and if they see you with the tool in one hand, and scratching your head with the other – they’ll typically stop and help.
So there you have it. The four things I listed are a must, but there are other things you should consider as well. I like to carry electrical tape, especially when I’m riding off road. You never know when it may come in handy. It’s also a good idea to carry an I.D. with contact #’s if you’re riding alone. I also carry a few bucks for the occasional convenience store stop, or in the worst case if your legs don’t have it that day – an Uber ride home!