Tubeless Tips Series: What to bring on a ride
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This is the final post in our 6 part series of tubeless tire tips. If you’ve missed one of the earlier part, here they are: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.
What a tubeless rider needs to bring on a ride
Carrying a spare tube with you when you ride is one of the best ways to repair a flat on the trail. Do not rely on always being able to repair a flat tubeless tire in the field. Bring a patch kit too if it is a long ride (or a long walk out). You might get a flat in the tube.
Tweezers can be very useful for removing glass, sharp needles or thorns from the tire casing. You have to get these out before you install a tube or you will have a new flat right away.
After sealant plugs a leak you may have lost some pressure depending on the size of the hole and how long it took to seal. A very good mini pump and a CO2 cartridge inflation device can be helpful if you are in a hurry to repair your flat or get it to a rideable pressure. A mini pump that works well is adequate but slow.
A piece of fabric or other fibrous material will be very handy if you fracture a sidewall. A piece of duct tape wrapped around the drive side chainstay protects from small nicks and can be useful for trail side repairs. Or a few wraps around the seat tube can be enough to repair a large tire hole, broken shoe binding, or any number of things. Duct tape is great!
Carry tire tools, unless you are very confident that you can remove and replace the tire without them.
What Spare parts to bring on a ride
If you race or take your recreational riding seriously you should acquire some of the unique parts in the tubeless wheels. You want these to be around when you need them. I recommend the following:
Tires
You can get away with one type of tire but it’s a good idea to have a few different tires for different riding situations. The extra tires will also serve as spares if you need a tire quickly. One will do. It can be one from the last set you replaced, as long as it is in good enough shape to ride.
Rim strips
These are not likely to be a problem for you unless you use tire tools. But they are a proprietary design and will not be available from every dealer. Two spares should be enough for most situations. Store the spares carefully so that they are not damaged before you install them.
Rims
These are probably not necessary for most people, but if you ride hard in a rocky area or have a history of damaging rims, it won’t hurt to have a spare.
Inflation valves
Though it’s rare, these can be damaged on the trail. And, if you flat and have to use a tube, you have to remove the valve and carry it with you in a pocket or your tool bag. It might get lost. Two spares should be enough. They are small, so put them someplace where they will be easy to find.
Spokes
These are not a proprietary part, but it’s a good idea to have some around. A stick on the trail or a dropped chain can take a few out. 2 of each length at a minimum, and 6 of each are better.
Adhesives and sealants
If you live around trails with thorns or plan to ride in that kind of terrain, Slime or a similar liquid sealant is a good thing to have. A tube of sew-up rim cement can be very handy in a pinch too. It can be used for a lot of temporary repairs on the rim strip and inflation valve.
Wheels
It’s certainly not necessary for everyone, but a spare set of wheels can make everything easier if you ride a lot or race. You have more time to make repairs on your good wheels. You can spare them from the wear and tear of training rides when conditions are wet or rocky. The spare wheels can, and should, be built with heavier rims and inexpensive hubs too.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this series. Don’t miss a thing by subscribing to the feed!
Related posts:
- Tubeless Tips Series: Leak Repair
- Tubeless Tips Series: Tips and Tricks
- Tubeless Tips Series: Detecting Leaks
- Tubeless Tips Series: Inflation valves, rims, spokes
- Tubeless Tips Series: Rim Strip Issues
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