Pumps & Repair
Build a roadside kit you know how to use
A small, familiar set of tools is easier to carry and easier to use when the ride pauses.
By Roadhog Cycling
Cover the common flat
Park Tool’s on-ride guidance starts with a spare tube, patch kit, inflation and tire levers, plus the tool needed to remove your wheel. Choose a tube that matches your wheel and tire, and check the valve length against your rim. If you use cartridges, make sure the inflator fits both the cartridge and the valve.
Choose for your actual bike
Look at your wheel fasteners and the adjustments you might need to make. A multitool is useful only if it contains the correct sizes and reaches the relevant fasteners. Practice with your kit at home before relying on it at the side of a road. Follow the component maker’s tightening instructions.
Reset the kit after a repair
Replace the tube, patch or cartridge you used before the next ride. Check that the pump still works and that the contents are secure in the bag. Park Tool describes tire boots as temporary repairs; a damaged tire should be assessed and replaced as appropriate rather than treating a roadside fix as a permanent solution.