First IM - Stupid Tire Question - Triathlon Week

08-26-2004, 07:26 PM

I'm doing the Duke Blue Devil which will be my first IM in October and have
a question for the IM veterans out there.

The question is, what to take on the bike as far as tires/tubes/CO2 goes? I
was planning on taking at least one spare tube and a CO2 cartridge, plus
placing one of each in my special needs bag in case I use the first ones up
in the first 56 miles.

Question 1: Is that enough or should I carry two right off the bat?

Question 2: How many of you carry spare tires in addition to tubes?

I honestly have no idea how likely I am to need a tire because - knock on
wood - in 4000 miles of riding I've never had a flat (yes you read that
right). If I do get a flat how likely is it to blow out my tire out at the
same time? I'm torn between being ready for anything and carrying a repair
shop on my bike. What to the veterans do?

John

08-26-2004, 09:26 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
John Hardt <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote:

>
> Question 1: Is that enough or should I carry two right off the bat?
>
> Question 2: How many of you carry spare tires in addition to tubes?
>

For my first IM, I took two spare tubes plus a patch kit, a multi-tool,
and tire levers. I had another spare tube plus a tire in my special
needs bag. Thankfully, I didn't need them, but a LOT of other people
flatted.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night,
and party every day.
Then it was every other day. . . ."
-Homer J. Simpson

08-27-2004, 04:38 AM

On 8/27/04 12:26 AM, in article, "Harold Buck" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

> In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
> John Hardt <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote:
>
>>
>> Question 1: Is that enough or should I carry two right off the bat?
>>
>> Question 2: How many of you carry spare tires in addition to tubes?
>>
>
>
> For my first IM, I took two spare tubes plus a patch kit, a multi-tool,
> and tire levers. I had another spare tube plus a tire in my special
> needs bag. Thankfully, I didn't need them, but a LOT of other people
> flatted.

Excuse me if I'm being an idiot Harold, but what good would the tire have
done you in your special needs bag? Did you have another one with you on
your bike for the first 56? Am I missing something?

-John

08-27-2004, 08:05 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
John Hardt <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote:

> On 8/27/04 12:26 AM, in article, "Harold Buck" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
> wrote:
>
> > In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
> > John Hardt <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> Question 1: Is that enough or should I carry two right off the bat?
> >>
> >> Question 2: How many of you carry spare tires in addition to tubes?
> >>
> >
> >
> > For my first IM, I took two spare tubes plus a patch kit, a multi-tool,
> > and tire levers. I had another spare tube plus a tire in my special
> > needs bag. Thankfully, I didn't need them, but a LOT of other people
> > flatted.
>
>
> Excuse me if I'm being an idiot Harold, but what good would the tire have
> done you in your special needs bag? Did you have another one with you on
> your bike for the first 56? Am I missing something?

If you have a cut in your tire, you can often get by for a while with a
trick, like putting a folded dollar bill inside the tire over the cut.
Hopefully, that holds long enough to make it to the special needs bag.
At least that's what I read.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night,
and party every day.
Then it was every other day. . . ."
-Homer J. Simpson

08-27-2004, 08:53 AM

On 8/27/04 11:05 AM, in article, "Harold Buck" wrote:

> In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
> John Hardt <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote:
>
>> On 8/27/04 12:26 AM, in article, "Harold Buck" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>,
>>> John Hardt <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Question 1: Is that enough or should I carry two right off the bat?
>>>>
>>>> Question 2: How many of you carry spare tires in addition to tubes?
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> For my first IM, I took two spare tubes plus a patch kit, a multi-tool,
>>> and tire levers. I had another spare tube plus a tire in my special
>>> needs bag. Thankfully, I didn't need them, but a LOT of other people
>>> flatted.
>>
>>
>> Excuse me if I'm being an idiot Harold, but what good would the tire have
>> done you in your special needs bag? Did you have another one with you on
>> your bike for the first 56? Am I missing something?
>
> If you have a cut in your tire, you can often get by for a while with a
> trick, like putting a folded dollar bill inside the tire over the cut.
> Hopefully, that holds long enough to make it to the special needs bag.
> At least that's what I read.
>
>
> --Harold Buck
>
>
> "I used to rock and roll all night,
> and party every day.
> Then it was every other day. . . ."
> -Homer J. Simpson

OK. I can buy that. Thanks.

08-27-2004, 08:24 PM

"John Hardt" wrote [edited]

> I'm doing the Duke Blue Devil...question is, what to take on the bike as
far as tires/tubes/CO2 goes?<

In Your Bike Bag
1 tube
2 CO2
1 CO2 inflator
1 or 2 tire levers
1 glueless patch kit (scabs, etc.)
1 multi tool

Special Needs
1 tube
2 CO2

Good luck & have fun!

08-27-2004, 10:43 PM

Not a stupid question at all.

Forget CO2. Bring a mini pump. Co2 is OK for an OLY distance but the mini
is reliable. I wont even train with Co2' as they are not trustworthy. I
always recommend sew-ups but since you are running tubes bring 2. Any IM I
have ever competed in had tubes and tires available in the Tec wagons. If
you require more than the 2 spares you bring rely on that as a back up as
time is moot. Put a folded piece of FedEx envelope in your kit. That
material when installed with 3 folds will make a tough boot to fix a cut
sidewall.
I generally only carry one spare during an IM but I run sew-ups.
Ken @ Kauai
IMH 94, 95,97,98. IMNZ 97 and 2004

"John Hardt" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com...
> I'm doing the Duke Blue Devil which will be my first IM in October and
have
> a question for the IM veterans out there.
>
> The question is, what to take on the bike as far as tires/tubes/CO2 goes?
I
> was planning on taking at least one spare tube and a CO2 cartridge, plus
> placing one of each in my special needs bag in case I use the first ones
up
> in the first 56 miles.
>
> Question 1: Is that enough or should I carry two right off the bat?
>
> Question 2: How many of you carry spare tires in addition to tubes?
>
> I honestly have no idea how likely I am to need a tire because - knock on
> wood - in 4000 miles of riding I've never had a flat (yes you read that
> right). If I do get a flat how likely is it to blow out my tire out at
the
> same time? I'm torn between being ready for anything and carrying a
repair
> shop on my bike. What to the veterans do?
>
> John
>
>