what I carry on the bike while racing.
I cringe everytime I hear about folks missing on good bikes times due to lack of equipment. Or not finishing. A couple extra ounces is not going to slow me down. But it WILL help me finish the bike always. Here is what I carry. What other stuff do you carry ???
Valve extenders - Topeak
Presta valve tool.
Extra bolts – seat post, seat clamp, etc.
Extra derailleur hanger.
Co2 and device to use.
Small hand air pump.
Two tubes.
Tube repair patches.
Two tire levers – Pedro.
Good luck charms.
1-2 tire boots (to repair tire holes).
Multi tool that includes chain breaker.
Chain links – Wippermann.
Duct tape.
Zip ties.
Screws for cleats.
Cable splitters. Travel bike.
Wheel cover bolts.
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Comments
I didn't know that spare derailleur hangers are even available. Or how to put one on, or that they broke ( probably jinxing myself here). Are they specific for each bike?
Instead of the Topeak valve extender and a presta valve tool, would a zipp type extender that doesn't need the valve to be replaced do for an emergency situation?
Where do you carry your equipment? All in one seat bag?
Satish.
Yes derailleur hangers specific for each bike. Though there are universal hangers than can work in a pinch.
The Topeak does not need a valve tool. I just have the valve tool for loose valves. Yes could use a Zipp type extender. The Topeak is cool because it has a little arm down the center of it and you can twist it and close the valve. No loose valve banging around.
I carry stuff in large bento type bag in the front and bag under the seat.
2 CO2 w/ chuck
2 levers
3 loose allen keys
6" piece of butyl tube - tire boot (holds allen keys)
In under seat bag: 1 or 2 (IMs) CO2 cart & small feeder, one tube, patches (& glue!), tire boot (power bar wrapper or dollar bill), multi tool with chain breaker, a few links, 2-3 tire levers, zipp valve extender.
In Special Needs bag for IMs: one CO2 cart and one tube.
In 25 IMs, I've had 1 flat. I'm currently running at better than 50% flat rate for my HIMs. I think I dont obsess enough in preparation for those "shorter" races.
At my first IM I carried
For my second I had raced on clinchers and had the standard 2 CO2, tube + inflator kit, and my infamous single tire lever.
I'm not sure I can see myself carrying everything listed above in a race because honestly I'd need to have more practice doing these types of repairs in the field during training rides before I'd ever even trust myself to be capable of doing them in a race setting, and so far, a broken chain is the only ride-stopping failure I've had out in the field. Should definitely consider the Wipperman advice and start carrying some links.
I have a small lezyne hand pump as well, but only bring it with me on long training rides, have never raced with it.
This does remind me though, I finally figured out the cause of my flat that doomed me at IMMT, will start a separate thread about it as a PSA.
- Two tubes
- Two Co2s
- Mini Inflator
- Tire lever
- Tire boot (Park Tools Sticker)
- Multi tool (mainly allens and screw drivers. No Breaker)
I have "heard" that most pros carry less or absolutely nothing. Thought being that a flat will take them out of contention anyway....
- One tube
- Patch-kit
- Two Co2s with chuck
- Tire levers (Kool Stop, 3)
- A few $1 bills (in case I get a slice in a tire...)
- Lightweight multi-tool
I have used everything but the multi-tool in a race.
2 spare tires
2 co2s w/ inflater
2 tire levers
2 boots (old cut sections of last round of gator skins, with beading cut off)
1 allen key set
In IM special needs bag, I'll have another 2 tubes and 2 co2s.
So some folks come prepared.
Some folks risk a dnf. I don't understand the minimalists because there is no penalty to carrying the extra stuff.
Wet naps - I grab extra when I'm at restaurants - they do a great job of getting rid of grease. Also a latex glove for when you need to go in deep
You know you're going to be eating with those hands the rest of the day, right?
3-4 CO2 - on the little attachment to my x-lab delta wing (singel water bottle carrier)
1 tire lever - the big yellow pedros lever - if i break this, I'll have injured myself anyway
tire boot
patch kit
3 allen wrenches
adding a spare chain link after reading this post
Small pump (I'm with Al...those darn CO2 things aren't reliable enough for me)
2 tire levers
$20 which works for boot or if I need a Blizzard at DQ somewhere along the way (thought about it at IMLOU...would they DQ you for that?)
2 CO2s + more in special needs
Patch kit
12-18" of duct tape which can be unrolled and used for all sorts of things
Multi-tool with chain breaker...with the chain breaker which can also also solve derailleur, shifter, or cable problems...just bust the chain and make yourself a single speed...If it were me I'd probably make it a 52 - 16 or something unless there were really big hills in which case I'd keep it on the small ring. Mine also has spoke wrench-like slots, so if I taco'd a wheel I could crank it close to round, disconnect the brake and limp it in.
With the above I can pretty much fix anything except a broken crank...which would make me so bad@#$ I would just stand by the road holding it up to show everyone. I worked as a messenger for a few years, so I'm pretty ingenious when it comes to jimmy rigging repairs. I think it was on a similar post last year where I made the case for riding the rim if you run out of flat fixit gear and have less than 20 miles or so to ride. You can't go too fast, and it's going to destroy the rim, but what the heck, it doesn't cost that much to rebuild a wheel, unless you're running one of those crazy carbon things, which I'm not.
http://fcdn.roadbikereview.com/attachments/general-cycling-discussion/279643d1366855296-best-multi-tool-screen-shot-2013-04-24-6.59.08-pm.jpg
I looked around a little and didn't see one at Nashbar or Performance. Might not make it any more. I don't carry extra links, I just assume I'll end up with a shorter chain. If I were going to carry extras I would just get a couple from the LBS or off an old chain. I know they make "quick links" that lots of people like, but they always seem a little sketchy to me.
John. I have various breakers. All fine. Links are wipperman. Very easy to use. I use the link on regular chain. And buy extras from amazon. Comes with wippermann chains and also can buy separately. Do not need chain breaker with wipperman links unless damaged chain bit needs to be removed.
Ok get yourself out of this one:
1 tube
2 CO2 with inflator nozzle
1 tire lever
multi tool
That's it. Not looking to really fix anything but tires or tighten a bolt if for some reason I need to, I can rig a gear and not shift if it comes to it (which has happened)
On the bike:
2 x tubes w/ 80mm valve stems for 404s
2 x CO2
2 x tire levers
1 x inflator
1 x multi-tool
1 x patch kit
1 x latex glove
3 x wet naps
1 x crack pipe (if I'm running a disc cover)
At BSN:
2 x tubes w/ 80mm valve stems
2 x CO2
1 x latex glove
3 x wet naps
Cary, i hope this doesn't sound too flip, but that should be pretty straightforward with the wheel out. Grab on either side of the two loops, pull together until they overlap (right behind left), lift up right hand slightly, and make a large arc as you pull the right hand back towards the right. Voila.
I think...
Robin, you're clearly a Boy Scout when it comes to being prepared on the bike. My feeling has always been that if I go down the rabbit whole of preparing for all the what if's, it will lead me to carrying an entire mini shop. That's the reason I prepare for those items that are somewhat likely or more so, and figure that if a 1-in-a-thousand kind of situation comes up, then somebody's trying to tell me something. My list includes tube, levers, 1x CO2 (+1 in special needs), a tiny multitool, and a boot.
If I wanted to be prepared for all eventualities, I'd add to your list things like replacement seat binder (the Felt is notorious for giving under too much tension), replacement headset bolts and a replacement stem (admittedly, this is overkill, but have you ever seen how rusty those are on most triathletes' bikes?!?), spare shifter cable (see Macca 2011), spoke wrench in case I snap a spoke and need to wrap it around an adjacent one, some twist ties and some zip ties (in case of needing to rig up a solution to a twisted brake or a derailleur stuck in one position), some loctite in case you have to use those replacement bolts you brought, a set of replacement bolts for the horizontal rear dropout adjustment (I've had that little sucker fall out more than once during a wheel change), and probably a few other things I'm missing.
Though i carry a couple of the other things you mention as well.
Fewer moving parts, simple, clean, light....
Yes duct tape !
wrap a bit around a bike part.