I’ve said it once before, but it bears repeating now: adherence to Rule #29 carries with it the ultimate mission of the aspiring Velominatus, which is to geek out endlessly over the minimum amount of gear which yields maximum security in the event of a mechanical incident while riding.
The goal here is twofold. First, with no European Posterior Man Satchel dangling off the back of your bike like an elephant’s nutsack, pocket real estate is at a premium; filling them up with unneeded tools seems wasteful. Second, sagging pockets are as distressing as an EPMS, so care must be taken to ensure the pockets stay as light as possible.
Minimalist multi tool, lightweight inner tube or tubbie goo, and tire levers are all obvious choices; one is left only to endeavor to find the lightest model of each which still functions reliably (a lifetime can be devoted to this task). But that leaves us with the delicate matter of how we choose to resupply the air which provides a simple yet critical element to repairing the most common mechanical of all, the flat tire. The question in this case is, of course, whether to choose a chuck and cartouche c-oh-duex or minipump. Ignoring the obvious utility of being able to challenge someone to a mini-pump duel in the event of irreconcilable difference of opinion on critical matters of La Vie Velominatus, both means of air resupply have their merits.
Dictum 1 above has historically put me in the camp of using a chuck and two C02 cartridges. (One cartouche is not enough, I am much too clumsy to depend on my ability not to bugger the first one up.) First of all, the Lezyne Trigger Drive appeals to my sense of aesthetics; it’s small, nicely crafted, feels great in the hand and can provide hours of fidgeting should it find its way into my pants pocket. I can’t get excited about any particular C02 cartridge, but they are small and simple and I have an inherent appreciation for anything with a thread on it.
Dictum 2, however, does give me some pause; the ensamble is anything but a featherweight. Enter my Lezyne Carbon Roadlite, which was given to me when Lezyne came onboard as Air and Tool Supplier for Keepers Tour 2012. Initially, the pump only accompanied me on wet rides (C02 has a tendency to cause some freezing when discharged in cold, wet weather – very unpleasant). But before long, it began to creep into my thick noggin that the little devil hardly weighs a thing and is more than small enough to fit in my pocket without protruding out of the top, which is most unsightly and considered entirely unacceptable. Today, I find myself reaching for the pump more often than I do the chuck as it lightens my kit a bit, allowing me to consume an additional ale or two without contributing to any overall rider-kit-bike weight gains.
I find myself wondering where others fall in the Great Debate; which path do you walk, Pump or Chuck?
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Wanna make a buttload of bucks? Figure out how to manufacture a AA battery powered pump. Seems to me that it could be the size of a cartouche. A single AA battery should pack enough wallop to pump to 120psi maybe a couple times. If not a spare AA should suffice.
It's not that I object to the pump that makes me chuck; it is just that it takes for fucking ever to get to ridable pressures. The chuck is screw, mount, depress, whoosh, go. And my most recent chuck purchase came with a little sleeve to put around the cartouche to insulate them little fingers.
Nice one, Frank! Ugh, the pump sticking out the top o' the pocket is very unsettling, for a number of reasons.
I walk both paths. Lezye chuck + one canister in my pocket, then a Lezyne pump under my ST bottle cage. I know, I know. But those pumps are awesome and look so good I don't mind. And, if you get the color right, they really blend into your bike. AND since I've seen a certain someone who resides in HI has one on is DT I'm feeling better with my indiscretions. Ha, even managed to sneak one in when sharing a photo and went unnoticed!
I carry both. Usually opt for the air to work on the right northerly Gun.
And on the topic of tools...ripped a tire last week while riding cross. Didn't have the refill thing, couldn't get it to hold any air, didn't feel like putting in a tube (latex around the V-jersey, I don't think so.) and thus the sag wagon was called. The VMH was in the 'hood and since we'd recently put my only desired wedding gift on the car, a new flop down bike carrier, I was pumped to try it out
@eightzero
The Lezyne pumps get pretty darn high pretty darn fast.
Something I've done, if needing an extra cartouche sleeve - an old tube cut and wrapped around, secured with electrical tape. Not rocket appliances, but does the trick.
@michael
agreed. plus in the summer is when all the local club/group rides are. in the winter, i'm out there alone or with just one or two others. not to say i'm relying on other people in the summer, but there's a bit more safety in numbers; nothing wrong with borrowing a cartridge from a ride-mate, should you encounter some extremely rare situation where you've burned through your two.
@flyfly
never understood the "no multitool, you should maintain your machine properly" argument. of course i maintain my machine. but of course, i've also broken a rear-shifter out of nowhere, 35km's from home. a multitool was quite handy at securing the rear derailleur into a reasonable gear to get home (with ~700m of climbing in-between). i've also been taken down by some wet leaves before and had a crooked shifter and saddle. etc, etc, etc... again, multitool came in quite handy.
fact is: issues happen. yes, a flat tire is the most likely of them. but it's not the only one.
@chiasticon
Or your dropouts come loose, or a cleat gets slack - I've had the tension spring on my rear shifter snap and had to shorten the chain to get home. Check everything as much as you like - shit still happens.
@chiasticon
Agreed - I'm actually more likely carry a multi-tool than a spare tube. Tubes are bulky and 99% of the time a patch will do the job. Multi-tools are tiny and when you need one nothing else will do.
@scaler911
No, that is just good old fashioned comedy, it does not mean you're going to hell.
A much younger Frank once took a whiz on a ground bee's nest; I didn't see it and didn't know it was there and it dawned on me very slowly what was happening as one after another started to sting me in my most sensitive area. All I can say is there are a lot of bees called to action when their nest is being peed on. And when called to action, they do their work with admirable determination.
OK, my bad. I have a tiny tool that never ever gets use, so I began to leave it at home.
Truth is, if you want to be cautious, there's PLENTY of stuff to bring with you. Even alone, I think I always can get help from people where I ride (around and above Grenoble).
A pump, a spare tube, two levers, a folded bill, and a big smile when I knock the door of the good people who inhabit the mountains.
And if my saddle is down, I'll come home en danseuse.
@Flyfly
"I have a tiny tool that never ever gets use, so I began to leave it at home."
Don't get me wrong