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To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 12:45 am
by P D: SC Chester
Thoughts on not running with a spare wheel?
I've been toying with just taking a spare inner tube and pump to keep the wait down.
Anyone run like this and I know I will be the 1 trying to change a flat in the p1ssing rain and cursing not taking a spare if I do :(

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 6:37 am
by Cgt75b
Quite frankly I think it is sheer madness not carrying a spare if you do any kind of mileage. I would not ride anywhere without one. I'm getting flashbacks from the summit of the M62.

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 8:19 am
by Mel K
Last time I didn't take a spare I had to borrow one , the inner tube and pump would've taken far too long compared with swapping a wheel . That was on the German Autobahn and holding up progress when trying to get to the next hotel doesn't go down too well , especially if it's avoidable ..

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 8:25 am
by MickYork
I carry both....9 of us went to Bournemouth (from York) in the early 80's.......11 punctures getting there. We were reduced to using a cycle puncture repair kit to get some lads back home. I now carry a spare, a pump and an inner tube.

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 11:50 am
by Nudger
How many miles do you do a year + when was the last time you had a flat = your answer

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 12:22 pm
by P D: SC Chester
A spare it is then chaps.

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 12:48 pm
by ToBoldlyGo
I've always thought it would be a good idea to carry a handful of nylocks with you as well.

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 2:43 pm
by Phil D
If the tyre shreds the tube is no use.

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 5:44 pm
by Knowledge
Me and Superhooper travelled to Vienna in 2015. We had a spare wheel between us, but didn't need it. Luck? Probably.

I have gone with tubeless rims and gloop inside. Superhooper prefers split rims.

Our planned ride to Italy will include another two riders, so if we spread the spare tyres around a bit, we shouldn't need one each.

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 6:05 pm
by superhooper
On euro trips I also take one or two spare tubes but oddly never a pump!

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 7:12 pm
by Digger
P D: SC Chester wrote:Thoughts on not running with a spare wheel?
I've been toying with just taking a spare inner tube and pump to keep the wait down.
Anyone run like this and I know I will be the 1 trying to change a flat in the p1ssing rain and cursing not taking a spare if I do :(


RAC membership card is a lot lighter.

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 8:12 pm
by Fast n Furious
Tubeless rims and a bottle of tyre slime for me.

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 8:50 pm
by mark1
I don't bother riding around town but always carry one when going to a rally.

Split rims and slime with a spare tube and pump has always been OK for me.

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 9:47 pm
by coaster
superhooper wrote:On euro trips I also take one or two spare tubes but oddly never a pump!


But you are also known for carrying a fuel can with no fuel in it Roy ;)

I have never carried a spare on local rid s but have in the past carried a spare when I had split rims. Now I have tubeless I'm intending to rely on slime, a tubeless plugging kit and an electric pump.

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 10:56 pm
by byron
I never got the need to have a spare, bikes with bigger wheels don't...
I don't carry one, just inner tube, compressed air cannisters with split rims; repair kit on tubeless.

I do always use a slime product in any wheel, that can be a life saver, regardless of whether you can get back riding again.

Nudger wrote:How many miles do you do a year + when was the last time you had a flat = your answer

I've had three punctures in the last 45000 miles...

[now see me stranded at the side of the road tomorrow...]

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Mon Jan 16, 2017 11:23 pm
by CHRIS in MARGATE
Tubeless and Holts Tyreweld

Gonna regret saying that !!

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 2:10 pm
by Adam_Winstone
I always carry a spare and there have been many times that I've been very glad that I do.

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 4:40 pm
by P D: SC Chester
I've bought some 'slime'. Stupid question, how do you get it in standard ' car' adapter type inner tubes?
My son uses it in his bicycle tubes, but they are the type where you can totaly remove the valve. The ones I've got on my Lammy need the centre point pressed to alow air through the valve.
I haven't started adding the slime yet and was going to try and use a push bike rubber connector and screwing it on, then trying to pour the slime in.
Is this viable or have I lost the plot?

Cheers- buttie short of a dinner, Chester :?

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 4:47 pm
by CHRIS in MARGATE
You unscrew the valve core with a valve core remover.
Costs about 99p - £1.49

Re: To spare wheel or not....

PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 5:14 pm
by scott from morecambe
Any recommendations on Tyre slime?


cheers