First race! Question: do I take my tools?

[davidthepark]

Hi, I am going to participate in a 59km race in a couple of months and I just started wondering if I should bring my 15cmx11.5cm bag that is usually attached on my bike that has all my tools....

[Mike T.]

Hi, I am going to participate in a 59km race in a couple of months and I just started wondering if I should bring my 15cmx11.5cm bag that is usually attached on my bike that has all my tools....

Errrrr........no. Make sure everything is tight and take two of your most used allen wrenches, taped together - 4 & 5mm?? Take one tire lever if you don't know how to R&R tires without.

[davidthepark]

But should I still bring spare tubes, pump/Co2, etc?

[Mike T.]

But should I still bring spare tubes, pump/Co2, etc?

Oh of course! Why the pump and CO2? Two tubes and two CO2.

[kbiker3111]

Oh of course! Why the pump and CO2? Two tubes and two CO2.

Bring the pump. If you decide to change your pressure at the race you don't want to be using co2.

[tom_h]

Do you mean race with the tools on the bike, or simply bring the tools and leave in car??

If you have friend/wife/GF back at the start, then all you really need is a cellphone during the race ;-)

When I race RR, I just carry a small, ultra-light can of the Vittoria PitStop sealant /inflator. That will seal small pinholes & inflate the tire up to about 90 psi. But, I race on tubulars, don't know how well PitStop would work on clinchers.

If the tubular tire is gashed or sliced, my race is over, anyway.

If you have to stop & replace an inner tube for any reason, your race may as well be over. You'll never catch back on.

[Mike T.]

Hi, I am going to participate in a 59km race in a couple of months and I just started wondering if I should bring my 15cmx11.5cm bag that is usually attached on my bike that has all my tools....

Let's get this right. Take all the tools your bike needs (within reason of course) and a floor pump. Leave everything, except what I mentioned in my first post, in the car while you race.

[Local Hero]

I carry less in a race than on my training rides. This is especially true in a crit or when weight is a concern on a hilly course. On the other hand, I will carry more if the race is generally unsupported and flat.

To help ease some of your anxiety about flatting out you should replace worn tires the week prior to the race. It's also worthwhile to take some time to really clean and inspect your bike.

[den bakker]

some places the officials don't allow saddle bags so that makes the debate moot.
if you bring the stuff anyway it does not really matter if it's in a jersey pocket or in a saddle nut.
how much you bring definitely depends on how far you might have to ride on a flat tyre. if it's 59km out and back and no support? yeah bring a spare.... on a circuit, does not really matter.
in either case, once you have the mechanical it's no longer a race but a ride
(unless there's support and they know what they are doing. but trust me, Cancellara makes it look easier to get back to the pack than it feels for me).

[upstateSC-rider]

It doesn't matter unless it's illegal, you're there to learn.
My first race I was on an aluminum frame, saddle bag, triple-cranks and hairy legs.
Just do yourself a favor and warm-up.

[Sonomasnap]

The only tool you need is your legs. Tools???? Unless you are in the neutral support vehicle NO!

[den bakker]

assuming there is one.

[Chainstay]

That depends, Campy or Shimano?

[MR_GRUMPY]

I could give my usual smartass answer, but instead, I'll just say No.
No tools, no tube, no pump, no CO2. If this is a "real" race, and you flat, your race is over anyway. If, for some reason, their will be no "course sweeper", bring one tube and a CO2 inflator, but there is always a car or truck, to pick up people involved in crashes or mechanicals.
.
.

[ToffieBoi]

What about tubeless tires?
Just CO2 will be enough? That sealant suppose to fix the puncture. So I can just stop, pump tire up and ride just 30 seconds behind the group.

I'm asking that because I just bought tubeless tires and have no experience on them.

[AdamM]

Unless you have a spare set of wheels in the wheel truck you better bring a tube and co2 in a jersey pocket. Otherwise, a puncture which happens often in the Spring could have you waiting a long time for help to arrive (if it ever does).

[Local Hero]

What about tubeless tires?
Just CO2 will be enough? That sealant suppose to fix the puncture. So I can just stop, pump tire up and ride just 30 seconds behind the group.

I'm asking that because I just bought tubeless tires and have no experience on them.

Do you have tubeless compatible rims?

I run tubeless tires. In general, they flat much less often. Just about the only time they flat is when they are worn down. Then it's a puncture from glass or a thorn. If I get a flat I remove whatever punched in the hole. Usually I can pick out the embedded shard with my fingernails. If a drop of sealant comes out there's a chance that it will self-seal. But that's unlikely in my experience. Usually I just throw a tube in there and get on with my day.

[Alaska Mike]

If you're going to carry a saddle bag, keep it small (tube, levers, and CO2) and maybe throw a couple wraps of electrical tape around it and the saddle rails so it doesn't come loose. If you're racing CAT5 and they don't pull you once you're dropped, doing everything you can to finish is important for points. If you're trying to be competitive, a flat will usually end your day on a race that short unless everyone completely decides to soft-pedal it.

If there's a chase vehicle, spare wheels and tools in it and nothing on your bike/person.

[Travis]

what Grumpy said, just leave it behind .... unless ....

it is major goathead territory or covered in glass. It's only 36 mi and the chances of a flat are generally pretty low riding in the road. If you want to play it safe try to stay off the shoulder and hug the centerline. If you insist on bringing something, bring two water bottles and put the stuff in one of them. I only put stuff in my back pocket that I wouldn't mind landing on

[davidthepark]

Its not a "professional" race, if you know what I mean. And no its not a circuit race.
Because I am only 17, its just a 59KM race for 16 years old and above, which is hosted in Singapore by OCBC Bank.

[Dave Cutter]

Its not a "professional" race, if you know what I mean. And no its not a circuit race.
Because I am only 17, its just a 59KM race for 16 years old and above, which is hosted in Singapore by OCBC Bank.

Wow... is this the event?

[ToffieBoi]

Do you have tubeless compatible rims?

I run tubeless tires. In general, they flat much less often. Just about the only time they flat is when they are worn down. Then it's a puncture from glass or a thorn. If I get a flat I remove whatever punched in the hole. Usually I can pick out the embedded shard with my fingernails. If a drop of sealant comes out there's a chance that it will self-seal. But that's unlikely in my experience. Usually I just throw a tube in there and get on with my day.

I have Ultegra 6700 wheelsets with Hutchinson Fusion 2 right now.
Still didn't put sealant in it, but I will not ride next 10 days so it is not urgent now.

Carrying spare tube and just putting it into tire was an idea too. But removing and installing tire is really hard, and after 60-70km's of ride in really high HR, I don't know if my arms will stay strong enough to change the tire. I was planning to carry a spare inner tube and spare tire for my trainings. But it doesn't sounds good to carry everything I have on a bike...

So I am waiting to move Poland, and then I will put the sealant and see what happens. Walking back home should be so hard

[davidthepark]

Yup!!

[davidthepark]

Wow... is this the event?

yup!!

[AndrwSwitch]

Go ahead and bring your tools.

I think what everyone was visualizing is an untimed event in which a few dozen riders start all at once and riders who fall behind quit on their own or get pulled. Winning such an event is based purely on crossing the line first, and the distance is really a non-issue for the participants.

This sounds like people aren't going to be starting all at once, a lot of people are just going to do it at whatever pace, the course is going to be a bit of a zoo... Fun, but a really different type of event. If you do flat, you'll probably still want to finish it, and that will still get you in ahead of a lot of people, and any support personnel are likely to be pretty busy. So if you can be more self-sufficient, should you have a mechanical problem, I think you'll enjoy it more. On rides like this in the US, other riders sometimes show up with an eye-rolling lack of mechanical skill and I wonder if they ever ride their bikes between these events. So that's who you'd be waiting behind if you do have a mechanical.