Tubed or tubeless, winter or summer, alone or with friends- the fact still remains; if you’re on a training ride, you must bring a flat repair kit. Flats are a definite, and you don’t want to be left stranded (or dropped) on the road!
For starters, you will want to use a saddle bag for your flat repair kit- stuffing pockets with tubes and tools leaves no room for food, layers, or other essentials. Saddle bags keep all the essential items tucked away, and out of mind. Leave it on the bike, and never forget must-haves again. We recommend the Scicon Elan – it’s the perfect size, holds what you need, and is quite cost effective.
What to pack in your saddle bag
In short, you should have these key things stowed:
- Spare Innertube
- Tire lever(s)
- Co2 cartridge
- Inflator
- Multitool
Innertubes are a must whether you’re riding tubes or tubeless, as all tubeless wheels and tires can be run with tubes in a pinch- for more info on tires and tire pressure, check out our post here.
As for recommendations, we use Continental Supersonic Tubes, Silca EOLO Inflator, Silca Multitool, any Co2 cartridge, and Campagnolo tire levers. All of these items are crucially lightweight, so as not to make the bike significantly heavier, pack down well into the Elan, and most importantly- they work.
Some may debate Co2 vs handpump- the choice ultimately is yours, as hand pumps are a bit bigger and take up more space, but don’t ‘run out.’
Don’t be left stranded- come prepared, and be ready to help a forgetful friend!
