I carry 2 tubes minimum (I ride a Terry, with the small front wheel and the 700c back wheel). Patch kit, though I've had bad luck from them and they don't help much if it's a pinch flat. Tire levers. Frame mount bike pump. And I, too, have learned not to rely on cheap pumps. Set of hex wrenches. screwdriver w/replaceable heads. Ball wrench.
On a long ride I also carry a spare tire for the front wheel. That's too big to go in my kit so it gets folded up, securely fastened to the rear rack. Because finding a 700c tire is possible, but a 24" tire? Usually I have to order those.
Oh yeah, and as far as guys fixing things - my ex used to hand me tools wrapped in a paper towel when I was working on the car, so he wouldn't get oil on his fingers.
And I was trying to show my son (13 at the time) how to change a tire, he was paying NO attention. Finally I asked him, "So what are you going to do when you get a flat one of these days?" To which he replied, "I'll wait for some woman to stop and change it for me."
Last edited by ZenSojourner; 04-21-2009 at 11:09 AM.
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