Do you ride without a frame pump (like on a road bike)?

Question

I went on a ride yesterday and about 4 miles away from my house I got a flat. :( I had to walk all the way home and it was sooooo boring and long. Is it too hard to inflate a tire to make it ride-able? When you fill it to a decent psi, does the air go out fast?

Answer 1

Well, it all depends on the size of the puncture. The tyre can deflate in two hours or a single second, depending on the size of the  whole. Most of the time I don't take a puncture repair kit with me, and I only take a pump on the few bicycles I own that have the pegs to hold one, but I really should. It doesn't take long to fix a puncture, and it is far better than the alternative. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Incidentally, road bicycles can have frame pumps too. I went riding on a road bicycle yesterday, and unlike most of my bicycles it has pegs to hold a pump onto the frame.

Answer 2

depends how big the hole is in ur tube. if its a big enough hole, it wont hold air for long. pump and ride, pump and ride. or u could try patching the tube up.

Answer 3

Try looking into CO2 inflators.  Much more convenient than a frame pump -- Yes I have tried both, and the CO2 is the way to go.  You will need an under saddle bag to hold the CO2 cartridge and inflator, along with your spare tube and tire tools.  Can change and inflate in about 5 - 8 minutes.  The 16 gram CO2 will inflate my 700 X 23's to 120 psi in seconds.

Answer 4

Spare tube, check. Tire levers, check. Park instant patch kit, check. Frame pump (Blackburn), uh oh;)

This constitutes the minimum I carry. The patch kit most times works like a champ. The tube covers the few other occasions. If in bad terain or around a lot of glass, I recommend a modest amount of duct tape on an old pencil. It can be used to line the inside of the tire if there's a tear/cut in the tire itself. It's very temporary, but will get you home.

Answer 5

I usually only carry a small tin of tyreweld- instant (temporary) tyre repair and that fixes most punctures sufficiently to let me get home. On occasions when I have had a really long distance to walk home and I wasn't able to fix the puncture I've just padlocked my bike and got a bus then returned the next day with a new tube.

Answer 6

I never leave home without one. My tubes have presta valves, but I also carry a Schrader adapter. In case I have a pump malfunction, I can always fill up at a gas station pump in an emergency. (But I don't recommend using the gas station on a regular basis; the tires fill up quickly and you could easily over-inflate)

Answer 7

I always take a mini-pump with me to work - even with puncture resistant tyres.

I always take my iPod with me to work as well to use at lunch, so at least I'll have something listen to on the long walk home if I ever end up in such a situation :)