tire question

1. learn to change a flat
2. carry 2 tubes in a seat bag
3. bring a hand pump or a C02 inflator.

I carry an extra tube with a CO2 cartridge to pump it up.

For HIM (and my upcoming IM) I carry 2 extra tubes, and 2 cartridges.

Some people don't carry anything on sprints, reasoning that if they flat, the race is 'over' anyway.  I carry one because I don't want to flat 7 miles from T2 and have to walk that far.  The tube plus cartridge don't weight that much.

Training, I carry 2 tubes, 3 cartridges, and a tube repair kit.  I should probably just get a small pump, but haven't yet.  I have in fact gone through both cartridges on one ride (in the first 20 miles of an 80 mile ride), cutting it a bit fine....

I don't know if this is right, but it seems right to me.

I would carry 10 co2s before carrying a small frame pump. Yuck.

I also have trouble with small frame pumps.

Frame pump that works:http://www.topeak.com/products/Mini-Pumps/RoadMorphG

Carry that on my road bike. This is what I carry on my tri/race bike:

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/features/flatkit.shtml

I carry three tire boots:
http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-TB-2-Emergency-Tire/dp/B000YBGJRS
(2) 16 Gm CO2 cartridges
1 CO2 pumper-upper thingie
1 innertube
3 tire levers
a pack of pre-glued patches.

All that fits rather nicely in an under the saddle bag and I've carried it on training, sprints, OLYs, and an HIM. It's what I'll carry on the other OLYs and HIMs this year too.

ok, whats the tire boots? and the levers?..broke the valve stem off of the tube today (second time in a row) so i took it to the bike shop and asked for some help and they gave me an adapter so i dont even need to use the travel pump which ive been using, unless im out on the road then they said it could come in handy.. and will all co2's be about $25 because thats all i found in the store?

Here's an entire setup including the bag and 2 CO2 cartridges for $24:
http://www.amazon.com/Innovations-Tri-Road-Tire-Repair-Inflation/dp...

Tire boots are pieces of flat plastic for the event of a slash in your tire you have something to put into the tire to keep the inner tube from poking out for the rest of your ride. People use dollar bills and whatnot but tire boots are made for just that very occasion.

You can find CO2 inflators from about $10ish to probably about 50. Most are in the 15-20 range that I've seen.

and CO2 cartridges should be about $3 each.  Buy a bunch.  My  husband, son, and I all ride.  I got six CO2 cartridges at the beginning of the summer and as of this morning we were down to ONE.

It is worth your time to learn how to change a tire.  I will never forget the first time I changed my tire.  I was so proud of myself and now I don't stress as much going out on a long ride by myself.

Look at Wal-Mart, Ebay and other online places and you'll find them for about $1.00 to about $2.00 each with shipping. Yes, buy them by the case

Just make sure they're 16 and not the 12s used in BB guns etc (though those work in a pinch).

In Canada we have MEC.ca and a few others that do 3 threaded 16oz for 5.25 or a case of 20 for 29$, so they can be found.

Nothing wrong withthe 12g cartridges, they'll get you up to 90psi or so, perfectly adequate for finishing your rid. Buy the inflator that can use unthreaded cartridges that you can find for 50¢.

Co2 all the way.  Ever try to use a little hand pump with those tire pressures?  On a mountain bike is one thing...

A couple tubes, kit, pump, and Co2 cartridges probably weigh less then a full water bottle.  Weigh of carrying these shouldn't be an issue.

Do you guys race with the seat bag on or stuff it in your jersey or unused water bottle? 

My topeak bag just seems too big for a race so I put my tube/repair kit (minus my Alien tool) into a unused water bottle on the frame.   Bike just looks faster w/o the seat bag...I am probably just crazy!

I read that when I first signed up here, and after buying a case of 12oz and the inflator that takes any type, I found I could totally press my tires in by hand.  I've posted this before, but since I really did do the tests I figure I'll repost it:

Just to repeat my earlier experiments, I just went down and emptied my front tire (700x23). 12oz co2 unthreaded with the ultraflate got me just over 65 PSI. 16oz threaded with the xlabs nanoflate (which leaks air all over the place while inflating) got 80, while the ultraflate and a threaded 16oz got just under 100.

For sure the 12 oz would get you home, but it also is likely to get you a pinch flat. I've now got the ultraflate with no frame mounted + 16oz cans.

I got the numbers by putting my floor pump onto the tire. If I do it again, I'll use a digital tire pressure gauge and an adapter.