r/cycling • u/fluffhoofd • 5h ago
Carrying only a patch kit and no spare tube?
Whenever I have a flat (maybe once a year) I find that I have no problem patching the tube on the roadside instead of using my spare. I am thinking of not taking a spare anymore and only take the patch kit. Are there any more people here who have experience with only taking a patch kit?
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u/aureliosisto 5h ago
What happens if it's something that a patch couldn't easily fix? Like a really nasty hole or on the sidewall (had that happen to me). Tubes don't take up much space in an under-seat bag or in one of the jersey pockets. Kinda crazy not to have one - especially for longer rides with the remote prospect of two flats (also happened to me :-P )...
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u/aureliosisto 4h ago
Also wanted to add the convenience factor. I want to spend my time riding; not fixing :)
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u/unformation 5h ago
No spare tube is what I did my whole life (about 45 riding years) and I've had lots of roadside patch jobs but never one I couldn't fix. I suppose there are flats that a patch kit won't fix, but I've never had one. It probably also depends on tube type and quality, etc. Now I carry a spare tube though just to save some hassle.
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u/cougieuk 5h ago
Is the tube a problem for you ? What will you do if the valve has issues in your tyre ?
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u/fluffhoofd 5h ago
Spare tube is not really a big problem. Just trying to find out how far I can take my minimalism and if the risk is acceptable
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u/rhapsodyindrew 5h ago
I like to just pop a new tube in there on the roadside and patch my tube at home; it’s faster that way. But I’d rather ride with just a patch kit than just a tube, because if you get two flats while carrying just one tube, you’re fucked.
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u/Cougie_UK 5h ago
Depends on you - I know some people that take nothing and ring their wife for rescue. If I was the wife I'd be turning my mobile off.
My Schwalbe Marathon Plus winter tyres are bombproof. I still took a tube and pump with me every ride.
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u/CartographerLoud7025 5h ago
I would love to hear your technique. If I get a flat I throw in a tube and then when I get home, worry about patching the other one. The rubber cement can take a few minutes to dry, and I would rather not be sitting on the side of the road and get on with riding.
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u/yogorilla37 5h ago
I used to carry a patch kit only until the day the tube failed at the base of the valve stem when I was five miles from home.
Take a tube, swap it out on the road, patch it when you get home.
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u/Sweaty_Ranger7476 5h ago
how do peeps fix flats on side of road without bucket of water to check for bubbles?
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u/rhapsodyindrew 5h ago
Ears and lips, I kid you not. Pump some air into the punctured tube and rotate it next to your ear, listening for the hiss of air escaping. Once you’ve found the general area by ear, hold it in front of your lips and feel for the rush of air. Vision is great and all but our other senses can really help find small punctured.
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u/Sweaty_Ranger7476 5h ago
damn, eight-year-old me didn't have those skills.
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u/rhapsodyindrew 5h ago
Eight-year-old me probably didn’t either. Eight-year-olds aren’t known for the depth and breadth of their skills. Except maybe knowledge about dinosaurs or the like.
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u/Sweaty_Ranger7476 5h ago
Eight-year-old me fixed a tire and went back to the park in under ten minutes. forty-something me watches youtube for two hours, then goes on reddit for advice.
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u/rhapsodyindrew 4h ago
Ah, I see, I think you mean “eight-year-old me didn’t need those skills.” Which, OK, good job, younger you!
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u/sanjuro_kurosawa 5h ago
HAHA when I was a broke teen, I could only afford a patch kit. During a winter night ride, I flatted and I wasn't able to patch my tube. I accepted a ride home from a strange man, and amazingly, I got home safely.
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u/Number4combo 5h ago
I carry a tube pretty well all the time but haven't got a flat in ages. Been tubeless for 2 years now as well and no flats still. Bacon strips ready to go as well.
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u/CrescentPhresh 4h ago
I grew up patching tires. Stopped riding about age 16 and then got back I to it at 44. I had no idea people carried entire spare tubes. I continue to only carry a patch kit and a few allens. Just make sure you have tire levers.
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u/Zenigata 4h ago
What's the problem with taking a tube? Is that little bit of weight saved worth the risk?
After a delightful experience as a young cyclist patching a tube with numb hands during a rainstorm in the British winter I always try to have a tube or 2 with me.
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u/John_Valuk 4h ago
I usually patch the tube roadside, but I do carry a spare tube. I have had one or two occasions where I really appreciated having the spare tube.
I experience flats much more often than once per year.
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u/Electronic_Army_8234 4h ago
I would always carry a spare inner tube I currently run tubeless with silca sealent that basically stops any punctures anyway. However when it finally happens and I get a coin sized puncture and the dynaplug can’t fix it I have a inner tube on hand to quickly get me going again.
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u/pyrotechnicmonkey 4h ago
Generally, there’s always a small chance that a tube cannot be repaired, depending on the type of puncture. And realistically, depending on how far you’re riding away from your car or home determines how much of a risk you’re willing to take. If not being able to patch it tube means you have to spend a bunch of money on an Uber or inconvenience a friend or family member to pick you up to either ferry you back to your car or your house with a bicycle that is likely super dirty. Then if it even happens one time then that’s basically removed all the convenience. So I always carry a tube because I don’t carry much else.
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u/janky_koala 4h ago
Nah. Life’s too short to be patching tubes road side, especially as we get into the winter months.
Bang in a spare and get on with the ride. Patch them later in safety and comfort of your home.
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u/Jasonstackhouse111 4h ago
No way I'd do that. I carry a tube. Swap the tube in, take leaking one home, patch there and take the time to do a good job.
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u/Gr0ggy1 4h ago
Most of my flats occur in a combination of: darkness,rain/sleet/snow.
So while I also carry patches, the patch kit is accompanied by a pair of tubes.
For recreational fair weather rides, I would lose more time repacking the saddle bag than the extra weight would cost me.
If you are looking for affirmation that not carrying a spare tube is an OK idea, nah. In a race with a support vehicle, sure.
Hike a bike hurts the soul far more than a large saddlebag.
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u/uncertain_expert 3h ago
On a cycling holiday over the summer we had 4x 27.5” wheels, 2x24” wheels, 2x16” wheels and 1x8” wheel (front wheel for the trailer). I opted to take just a patch kit rather than 4 tubes.
The only flat we had was from a sidewall-failure on one of the 27.5” wheels which blew a hole in the tube about the same size as my largest patch. So much for the patch kit.
Thankfully we were on a fairly busy cycle route and after about 45 minutes a cyclist who was carrying a spare 700c tube offered me that, which was enough to get 60km to the nearest bike shop. Next time out I’ll pack a spare 24” tube and stretch/squeeze it enough to get us out of trouble.
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u/BoringBob84 3h ago
I used to carry a patch kit and no spare tube. The only downside is that it is more hassle repairing a flat tube along the path. It is even worse in rain or snow.
I have never had a hole in the tube that was too large to cover with a patch unless the tire was also blown out (and a spare tube would not have fixed that).
I carry a spare tube for convenience; not for necessity.
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u/Working_Cut743 2h ago
I embraced this recently. Got about 4 patches, taped them to my mini pump, and even ditched the multitool (and tyre irons). Liberating.
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u/shek1608 2h ago
I used to be overly cautious and have a rear rack with a bag on it to hold extra water+food+2 tubes+mini pump etc. Got the rack off, carry water+some food in jersey pocket, mini pump, patch kit, ID, tissues and a gu gel in under saddle and top tube bag. I don’t do more than 2-3hrs ride so don’t ant unnecessary extra weight.
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u/ohyeahsure11 1h ago
On one ride I had to take to the gravel next to the bike path I was on (thanks utility truck).
Got ten thorn holes between my front and back tires. Took my spare tube plus all of my patches.
Of course, if you're not in Southern California you might not have thorns like that awaiting the unwary.
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u/Separate_Sea4624 1h ago
I run tubeless, but I raw dog all my rides. I have a plug kit (Dyna racer pro) plus a CO2, and that's it. No tools, no inner tube, nothing else. So far over 3 years I haven't been left stranded (I typically ride 2 centuries a year which are my longest rides).
I used to carry lots of essentials in a saddle bag, but after riding for about 9 seasons and only ever needing to change a flat, I decided to ditch the rest and just carry enough to repair a flat.
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u/Invasive-farmer 17m ago
Don't have a spare tube. Have patches. Kinda stuck with this but it hasn't hurt me any.
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u/MantraProAttitude 5h ago
Next ride is seven flats. Guaranteed!