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Tubeless — spare tube or patch kit?

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Tubeless — spare tube or patch kit?
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flag cwatt
Posted: May 4, 2022 at 14:04 Quote
Hello Pinkbike,

For those of you running tubeless, do you carry a spare tube or patch kit (or nothing)?


- Thank you
flag Gravelben
O+
Posted: May 4, 2022 at 15:31 Quote
Depends on the ride.

I have a tubeless plug kit stashed on the bike, I use the OneUp pump with multitool and plug kit etc inside it (so its easy to swap between bikes) but there are plenty of other options too.

For longer rides I usually carry a backup tube as well, and if I was going backcountry (where tyre failure could result in a really long walk) I'd probably add a patch kit too in case I needed to patch the tube.

I've never actually had to use any of it, I think I've been tubeless for about 3 years without a single puncture. But I don't tend to smash it into sharp rocks either.
flag BenLow2019
Posted: May 4, 2022 at 15:56 Quote
cwatt wrote:
Hello Pinkbike,

For those of you running tubeless, do you carry a spare tube or patch kit (or nothing)?


- Thank you

Both. I ride in the boonies and alone so I ride tubeless, I bring a spare tube, I bring a plug kit and I bring a tube repair kit.

I have used all of them on a single ride once.

The weight isn't much and the peace of mind is priceless.
flag gnarnaimo
O+
Posted: May 4, 2022 at 15:58 Quote
I have a tube strapped to my frame which only gets removed if I'm cleaning or working on the bike and a tire plug kit in the one up tool in my headset. Also a tiny pump which lives in my fanny pack, 3 co2 cartridges and a pack of tire boots (if you live anywhere with sharp rocks tire boots are a good idea).
Every trail ride I go on I have all of these items with me.
flag barp
Posted: May 4, 2022 at 20:58 Quote
I always ride with a tubeless plug kit, and a tube. If I were going somewhere really remote I'd probably bring a tube patch kit as well.
flag cwatt
Posted: May 5, 2022 at 6:13 Quote
BenLow2019 wrote:

Both. I ride in the boonies and alone so I ride tubeless, I bring a spare tube, I bring a plug kit and I bring a tube repair kit.

I have used all of them on a single ride once.

The weight isn't much and the peace of mind is priceless.

gnarnaimo wrote:
I have a tube strapped to my frame which only gets removed if I'm cleaning or working on the bike and a tire plug kit in the one up tool in my headset. Also a tiny pump which lives in my fanny pack, 3 co2 cartridges and a pack of tire boots (if you live anywhere with sharp rocks tire boots are a good idea).
Every trail ride I go on I have all of these items with me.

Thank you for the replies. I ask because after a decade and a half of watching mountain biking from the sidelines, I’m getting back into it this summer! I’m purchasing the clothing and accessories and renting bikes to start. In fact, I’m going to make a YouTube series called ‘The Rental Bike Series’. Anyway, I see see tubes a lot in EWS interviews but I don’t know if this is something the average rider actually needs. Part of me was wondering if spare tubes are only for people running tubes because I don’t know how easy it’s going to be pulling out valve-stems trail-side if the rental bike is set-up tubeless but I need to install a tube.
flag BenLow2019
Posted: May 5, 2022 at 6:40 Quote
cwatt wrote:
...Anyway, I see see tubes a lot in EWS interviews but I don’t know if this is something the average rider actually needs. Part of me was wondering if spare tubes are only for people running tubes because I don’t know how easy it’s going to be pulling out valve-stems trail-side if the rental bike is set-up tubeless but I need to install a tube.

If you're going on a ride then expect to get a flat. Does it happen every ride? Of course not, but if you're banking on not getting a flat because you've been so fortunate in the past then that will be the time you'll get a flat and you might be 10 miles from your vehicle. If the ride is a short one around a local park and back to the truck then maybe you won't need a tube, but you'll be pushing your bike so consider that.

Folks running tubeless tires almost always bring a spare tube because sometimes you may tear a tire and you can't fix it and air it back up without one. The damage to the tire may be too great for the sealant and/or the location of the damage may not be an opportune spot for a tire plug to work. A spare tube will save the day so you can complete your ride or get home on your wheels instead of your feet.

The removal of the tubeless valve is almost a non-issue. If it was set up correctly then the valve can be removed by hand trail-side in less than 5 minutes. The valve nut that holds it in place "should" be installed hand tight. It shouldn't be wrenched. I've witnessed folks using a wrench/pliers on a valve in an attempt to stop an air leak. If you are doing this then you did not set up your tubeless wheel properly. Besides the fact that you can damage the wheel, wrenching the valve nut may actually have no affect of the leak. Leaks around the valve stem are usually indicative of a poor tape installation and not a loose valve.

The thing that may take the longest time when installing the tube trail-side won't be the valve removal, it will be unseating the bead of the tire from the rim shoulder and then getting the tire back in place. This is where you may need tire levers. Strong fingers and experience with tires may eliminate the use of tire levers - and tire levers are my last resort for a couple reasons - but getting the tire in a condition to actually install the tube and then getting the tire back on the rim will be the toughest part. This can take 15 minutes or more depending on your capability.

As for what a rental company wheel setup will be, your guess is as good as mine, definitely ask them. I expect they install tubes rather than setting up tubeless for simplicity.
flag LA-Law
Posted: May 5, 2022 at 11:55 Quote
I also carry a dollar bill. Folded up, it makes a good strong sidewall patch in the event you rip one. That plus the aforementioned tube will get you back to the car.
flag zokstar
O+
Posted: May 5, 2022 at 20:28 Quote
Spare tube in my hydration pack
flag Xgecko
O+
Posted: May 6, 2022 at 19:52 Quote
cwatt wrote:
Hello Pinkbike,

For those of you running tubeless, do you carry a spare tube or patch kit (or nothing)?


- Thank you

Both, I have a little Dakine Hotlaps bag down below my waterbottle. In it I have Stan’s dart, a Shiny Unit, CO2 bottle, Tubolito and a Mini espresso Cliff bar….there might be something else to eat as well. My experience is if I have to repair a tire I’m gonna snack
flag cwatt
Posted: May 7, 2022 at 12:22 Quote
Thanks again for all the replies! I was hoping to avoid the expense, but it looks like I’ll be purchasing a tube. Lol


Xgecko wrote:
My experience is if I have to repair a tire I’m gonna snack

This made me smile, thank you.
flag riggadon
Posted: May 10, 2022 at 11:19 Quote
I run Vittoria Airliners and carry nothing. The liners are big enough to run flat and get me home. Then again my rides are generally 10 miles or less on average.
flag somebody-else
O+ FL
Posted: May 10, 2022 at 13:42 Quote
At one flat every 2-3 years and 100+ rides a year, I don’t carry a tube. 1,000g tires and a Airliner in the rear now. I do keep a pump for the odd tire burp though, that’s every month it so max.
flag kitesurfa
O+
Posted: May 11, 2022 at 12:21 Quote
I've been carrying a spare tube (and tubeless plugs) for many years, but have not needed them. One word of caution: check the tube once in awhile to make sure it hasn't split/rotted. Mine did after a couple years sitting in the bottom of my camelbak. I gave it to someone else who needed one and when they tried to air it up it would not even begin to hold air!
flag Runawayben
Posted: May 20, 2022 at 14:09 Quote
I take this approach:

- short afternoon rides, I don't carry an extra tube (typically). the farthest I'd have to walk is a couple miles back to the car. not the best approach, but a quick hour ride after work on the local hill that's extremely flowy and not too extreme doesn't really need it. Sometimes I'll ditch the knee pads for it as well.

- most to all other rides, I ride with a spare tube, 2 co2 cartridges (minimum) levers and co2 regulator. Also have a multitool on hand and a bacon strip tubeless tire repair kit. Call it my flat kit.

If there's more than a puncture, a tube will most likely be needed. If there's a gash, the tire is prob toast, in all reality.
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