What's in your......Camelbak?

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Joined
Oct 2, 2007
Threads
361
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Location
VA
Well, this morning, on my commute to work I am glad I had my flat kit. The weather was fair, 34 degrees, no strong wind as I started to work, and then- bam! pothole....front tire flat ssssssssssssssss. I had just aired those tires up before I left the house, I thought. As I am writing this I know it's a pinch flat, I have not examined the tube yet, but I am sure that the tube will reveal the snake bite. Anyway, as I changed the front tire flat it was almost robotic I am glad to have my experience wrenching: assuming front tire is removed from frame, unseat bead, work opposite presta valve, move towards valve stem unseating the bead as you go, remove tube, remove tire, cup hands around tire, place fleshy fingers inside to "feel" for any thing sharp-nothing. Align hot patch (yes, I took the time!) re-seat bead of one side of the tire, blow into the new tube to shape tube insert, re-seat the other side of the tire, starting at the valve move away from valve re-seating the bead as you go, be careful not to pinch the tube on the final re-seating. Once completed ,do a quick visual to make sure the tube is not visable and can be inflated. Inflate using CO2, re-install front tire, quick spin to make sure the tire does not rub, if everything is good to go, get to work.

OK, so I am not the best writer, but this is the first flat that I have had in a long time, +- 600mi of commuting in DC, and I figured it's a good reminder to be prepared. You can bet when I get home tonight I will give my ride some TLC, including some talc on the tubes to help prevent any future pinch flats. So, without further rambling this is what I keep in my camelbak M.U.L.E:

Park Tool TL-1 (3 pry levers)
Ritchey CPR-14
Superflate CO2 (2 replacement cartridges)
700x20-23c PV tube

Last thing, the cause of the flat is a pinch flat, but it I think that it was caused by old rim tape.

Safe commuting,

Van
ER BIKE GEAR.webp
 
I keep:

hex wrenches,
tire levers,
patch kit,
spare tube,
zip lock bag for keys, walllet and cell phone,
Grocery bag to tie over the brooks in a storm
a mini pump
and
a couple of band-aids.

Not sure what model I have, it's US Army issue.
 
This is my normal trail riding setup.

50-50 Gatorade water mix
tri tool hex.
multi tool
mini pump (on frame but yea)
2 tubes
knife
phone
ID
Food items of some sort
 
Today's ride had my camelbak filled with:

water
spare tube for my bike (29")
spare tube for friends bike (26")
spoons
2 CO2 catridges
15mm wrench
15mm socket/ 1/2 ratchet
multi-tool

I usually carry a patch kit, but I never patch my tubes. I would rather put in a fresh tube and be done with it. Kudos for taking the time though.
 
I didn't use to ride with a camel back (unitl my car got stolen during a night ride--another story!) so all my bikes have seat bags. Pretty much all of them have: spare tube, flat kit, two tire irons, four allen wrenches (3, 4, 5, 6mm I think), and a multi-tool like the ritchey above with an integrated chain tool & spoke wrench. My single speed has the addtiion of the box end of a 15mm combination wrench (I cut off the open end). All my bikes have frame mounted pumps. I prefer the Zefal HPX when I can get it to fit, but the FS MB has some sort of mini pump, and the single speed which has a silca pump with a campy head.

The spare tire I wrap up in a piece of tyvek, like from those FedEx shipping envelopes. This helps keep the tube from being punctured or rubbed through while in the seat bag. The long end of the allen wrenches fit nicely inside a piece of 1/2" ID plastic tube. It keeps them all together and helps keep the ends from puncturing the inner tube or the seat bag.

Since the car incident I've been using my camel back more, especially for rides where I drive to the trail head. This has water, wallet, cell phone, some kind of energy bar, maps, wind breaker, and binoculars.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/3786534-post165.html
 
Last edited:
- Park multi-sized hex wrench.
- Park Chain tool
- Air pump
- Spare tube
- 3 pry levers
- patch kit
- Park emergency tire boot
- Energy gels
- Coin change
- 5-10 bucks
- Zip ties
 
For the trail:
  • Spare Tube
  • Topeak Mini-Pump
  • Crank Bros. Multi-tool (the 17, IIRC)
  • Crank Bros. Speed Tire Lever
  • Park tire patches (in the rare case of multiple flats and only one spare tube)
  • SRAM PowerLink chain connector (in case of chain break, a quick temp. fix to finish the ride and get back home)
 
I mountain bike and use the 100oz Camelback Mule and my rides tend to be between 20 and thirty miles on some pretty technical terrain.
spare tubes
extra derailleur hanger
first aid kit(guaze pads & rolls, bandages, steristrips/butterfly bandaids, antiseptic cream,ect.)
crankbros. multitool 19
crankbros. minipump
Co2 pump
zipties
copy of ID and Ins. card
tire levers
nutrition-gels, gus, powerbar, ect.
 
All the above +

extra chain links
extra v-brake and disc pads
business cards for adjusting disc brakes
small open-end for adjusting disc brakes
small dykes
spoke wrenches
shock pump
cheap multi-tool, like a leatherman with a wine-bottle opener
first aid kit
ibuprophen
Tums and calcium citrate to alleviate muscle cramps for long rides

Probably some other crap.
 
All the above +

extra chain links
extra v-brake and disc pads
business cards for adjusting disc brakes
small open-end for adjusting disc brakes
small dykes
spoke wrenches
shock pump
cheap multi-tool, like a leatherman with a wine-bottle opener
first aid kit
ibuprophen
Tums and calcium citrate to alleviate muscle cramps for long rides

Probably some other ****.

Eddy forgot to mention he carries his SSAA, Single Speed Addicts Anonymous.

"Hi I'm Eddy, and I have a single speed problem."
 
HEED (Hammer Nutrition) Electrolyte Drink whether road or moutain biking.
Hammer Gel and other snacks
Spare tube
Co2 kit
mini pump
First Aid Kit
Bike Multi Tool
tire tools
patch kit
Leatherman
Cell Phone
ID
Compass or GPS
 
In addition to what everyone else has stated....
I have tubeless with Stan's but always bring a spare tube just in case I slash the tire...so far is been 3 months and a whole lotta mtb rides and no flats...Stan's works great...

I also carry a paste tube from REI that's loaded with PB I do this for my road rides too....it works for me !!

Thanks for posting this thread....
 
I mountain bike and use the 100oz Camelback Mule and my rides tend to be between 20 and thirty miles on some pretty technical terrain.
spare tubes
extra derailleur hanger



Tell me about the extra derailleur hangar. I once bent mine during a botched transport with the wheel removed, but could stiull use the bicycle, but no other problems. Have you had to replace yours at some inoppurtume moment. If you don't have when you do need it, you're STUCK
 
Vango,

Something to think about would be to be carry a mini pump as well as the CO2 pump. I've had 2-3 canisters turn out to be doa when I've needed them over the years. I had a nice long walk back to the trailhead to think about it the first time it happened to me.

...and I just noticed a couple previous posters seem to have had similar experiences.
 
mcewan13-

Good point! I have a blackburn mini pump that I throw in my bag when on the trail, but it will be with me on the commute now. Just a side note, I have used my large chainring to cut a tube in half, once I have located the puncture, tie a simple square knot, re-install, air and ride. The first time I tested this idea I rode it for almost 2 weeks before becoming annoyed by the small unevenness in the tire- good to use if you ever need a E-repair.
 

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