I sure would like to have some suggestions and advise.........

OlePhart

OlePhart

Member
I hope I have 'Posted' this in the right category.........
I have two Ride1Up 700's on order and a whole bunch of 'bike stuff', but I am 80 and my wife is 53 and we are both 'Beginners', and both dislike being 'broke down', but dislike even more to have to inconvenience others to help us, so we will have on us or in our panniers, the following: 2 extra tubes, 2 tubes of liquid tire sealer, glueless patches, 4 'thingies' to take tires off with, all sorts of tools, our guns & CHL's (Yes, we're from Texas), compressed air pump, a small hand pump, chain oil, duct tape, jackets, a bunch of locks & chains to secure them with, suntan lotion, water, and while I'm waiting for this stuff to arrive, I would like to know of anything and everything that you may suggest that I have forgotten, other than plenty of whiskey....
Do you believe I need to take a larger air pump? What else?
I Much appreciate any and all your help and suggestions to help us to 'Be Prepared', instead of 'Pains in the Butt'.
Thanking you So Much, in Advance,
OlePhart.
 
You don't need a larger air pump with these tires. But I would prefer CO2 cartridge with a small adapter/inflator, while carrying some small pump in case if CO2 fails.

You might not have to cut zip ties, but will definitely need a wrench to disconnect the motor and tighten it back again.

Chain oil is not something to carry with you on a short trip. But baby powder or tire mounting lubricant could come handy to put the tire on.
 
I suppose if you really wanted to be prepared, you could also carry a spare tire that has a folding bead (or at least a tire boot) and maybe a spare brake, gear cable, and spoke. I don't see any need to carry chain lube, unless you were on a multi-day tour. Otherwise, if you needed lube on a ride, you are perhaps using the wrong type. FWIW, tube sealant doesn't play well with patches, because patches require a clean dry tube to adhere. When sealant doesn't fill a hole, it makes a mess and you end up using a spare tube instead. So I would suggest one or the other, but not both.

Myself, as a long time rider and mechanic the bicycle industry, I don't carry nearly so much. I can't remember the last time I had mechanical breakdown other than a flat tire; I have never broken a chain or cable. I carry stuff to fix a flat, and some hex keys. On a longer ride I might throw in a chain tool. I probably should carry some first aid stuff, but I don't usually.
 
OlePhart said:
I hope I have 'Posted' this in the right category.........
I have two Ride1Up 700's on order and a whole bunch of 'bike stuff', but I am 80 and my wife is 53 and we are both 'Beginners', and both dislike being 'broke down', but dislike even more to have to inconvenience others to help us, so we will have on us or in our panniers, the following: 2 extra tubes, 2 tubes of liquid tire sealer, glueless patches, 4 'thingies' to take tires off with, all sorts of tools, our guns & CHL's (Yes, we're from Texas), compressed air pump, a small hand pump, chain oil, duct tape, jackets, a bunch of locks & chains to secure them with, suntan lotion, water, and while I'm waiting for this stuff to arrive, I would like to know of anything and everything that you may suggest that I have forgotten, other than plenty of whiskey....
Do you believe I need to take a larger air pump? What else?
I Much appreciate any and all your help and suggestions to help us to 'Be Prepared', instead of 'Pains in the Butt'.
Thanking you So Much, in Advance,
OlePhart.
Click to expand...
You've got more than enough (maybe too much, but you'll work on this over time) to get out and ride, but I will add that practice makes perfect. It's one thing to carry a spare tube, etc. It's another to be reasonably proficient in correctly installing it. As "beginners" I'd suggest starting with a couple of free videos. Google "Park Tool tube video" and watch their series on this topic. Next, try it on your own bikes, esp the rear tire. Once you're comfortable with fixing a flat, repeat for brakes and then shifting, though these won't need any adjustments for awhile.

A couple more thoughts;

I put talc on my tubes and keep them in a zip lock. Baby powder used to be OK for this, but it's corn starch now. Tire talc is available from online bike shops. It keeps the tubes from vulcanizing to the tire casing in hot weather. I also put it in new tires.

I use a CO2 inflator because it's just faster. For our mech bikes with 700x32 tires one 16g CO2 cartridge gets us on the road. For our ebikes with 700x47 tires it takes ~1-1/2 cartridges. Your 27.5x2.4 tires should be similar. The unused cartridge can be saved for next time if your CO2 head has a shut off valve. You can use a 25g cartridge but I find it cheaper to use 16g at ~$1 ea in a box of 20 or so. Way too many for most, but I share with my MTBing sons.

CO2 will seep out of the tube much faster than air. I usually drain a CO2 filled tire at home and refill with the shop pump before the next ride.

Avoiding flats is the best strategy. 'Puncture proof' systems are basically solid tires that make for an uncomfortable ride. Many riders opt for techniques to minimize flats. Some put a sealant, like Slime, in their tubes. Looks like your bikes have Schrader valves. Putting a sealant in these tubes is fairly easy. I'd recommend it. Some put tire liners (thorn strips) in their tires. Others opt for tubeless setups. Thorn resistant tubes are also available. I use tire liners in my bikes with good results, reasonable cost and low weight.

Enjoy your new bikes and Ride On! 😎
 
Man, o man, Guys, I Really appreciate all of your time and great advise.
I Never would have thought of Zip ties.......
Yes, I have a small First Aid kit, with my 'stuff' already. You know, Band-Aids, Aleve, Astro-Glide, (HA! just making sure you were paying attention).
Again, Thanks Mucho,
OlePhart
 
Some recommendations learned from The School of Hard Knocks & Many Flat Tires On The Road:

1. Carry a pair of cloth gardening gloves. They'll help around that greasy chain

2. Look into either a tire liner like what Mr Tuffy has to offer or those tire liners alot of folks on this forum endorse: Tannus Armour. You must determine which sized liner or Tannus Armour liner works for your bike tire size. I use Mr Tuffy liners on my 4.0 inch Schwalbes. They help with small thorns. Big thorns, nails, not so much. But you take what you can.

3. In the comfort of your air conditioned home is the best place and time to learn how to disassemble your front and rear tires for R&R.....not the road, where you are more likely to be hot, sweaty, under stress and under a hot sun. Best to learn in a controlled environment how to:

a. disconnect your hub motor wiring.
b. shift the chain in the highest rear sprocket gear to facilitate it's removal
c. use your derailleur clutch to put slack in the chain, easing removal off the cassette.
d. break the tire bead in the comfort of that living room and reassembling. Practice makes perfect.

Good luck and welcome to the world of ebikes!
 
Yes, I have at least two sets of allen keys, but Thanks So Much for the Tire Liners, 'Practice', and the gardening gloves advise.
That is Invaluable Info to me.
Thanks Timpo.
OlePhart
 
Mike TowpathTraveler said:
Some recommendations learned from The School of Hard Knocks & Many Flat Tires On The Road:

1. Carry a pair of cloth gardening gloves. They'll help around that greasy chain

2. Look into either a tire liner like what Mr Tuffy has to offer or those tire liners alot of folks on this forum endorse: Tannus Armour. You must determine which sized liner or Tannus Armour liner works for your bike tire size. I use Mr Tuffy liners on my 4.0 inch Schwalbes. They help with small thorns. Big thorns, nails, not so much. But you take what you can.

3. In the comfort of your air conditioned home is the best place and time to learn how to disassemble your front and rear tires for R&R.....not the road, where you are more likely to be hot, sweaty, under stress and under a hot sun. Best to learn in a controlled environment how to:

a. disconnect your hub motor wiring.
b. shift the chain in the highest rear sprocket gear to facilitate it's removal
c. use your derailleur clutch to put slack in the chain, easing removal off the cassette.
d. break the tire bead in the comfort of that living room and reassembling. Practice makes perfect.

Good luck and welcome to the world of ebikes!
Click to expand...
I like the gardening gloves suggestion. I carry indivudally packaged 'Grease Monkey' wipes to clean up after messing with the chain.
 
OlePhart said:
I hope I have 'Posted' this in the right category.........
I have two Ride1Up 700's on order and a whole bunch of 'bike stuff', but I am 80 and my wife is 53 and we are both 'Beginners', and both dislike being 'broke down', but dislike even more to have to inconvenience others to help us, so we will have on us or in our panniers, the following: 2 extra tubes, 2 tubes of liquid tire sealer, glueless patches, 4 'thingies' to take tires off with, all sorts of tools, our guns & CHL's (Yes, we're from Texas), compressed air pump, a small hand pump, chain oil, duct tape, jackets, a bunch of locks & chains to secure them with, suntan lotion, water, and while I'm waiting for this stuff to arrive, I would like to know of anything and everything that you may suggest that I have forgotten, other than plenty of whiskey....
Do you believe I need to take a larger air pump? What else?
I Much appreciate any and all your help and suggestions to help us to 'Be Prepared', instead of 'Pains in the Butt'.
Thanking you So Much, in Advance,
OlePhart.
Click to expand...
AAA card - call for help
 
This (plus a small pump) is what I carry for every ride. For longer trips and tours I carry more stuff, sometimes lots more:

IMG_9784.jpeg


Having said all that, the best pieces of gear are those you don't need to carry at all. If you aggressively maintain your bike and replace your tires (and to a lesser extent tubes) frequently you won't have nearly as many mechanicals out on the road. Where I live and ride the roads are atrocious and eat bicycle tires, so I replace my tires every 1500 miles or so whether they need to or not. Given that all of the flats I've had in the last four years have been from tires with more than 1500 miles on them (and it has been nearly two years since I had a flat) that seems a wise precaution.

There are various things you can do to reduce the probability of flats. Replacing tires and tubes frequently is just one of them. Seriously consider purchasing e-bike rated tires with puncture protection. Depending on your situation, you might also consider tire liners, Tannus Armor, extra-thick tubes, or putting sealant in the tubes. All of those things can help.

This also goes for all of the other stuff on your bike. I'd recommend having a qualified bike mechanic check out your bike frequently. Depending on how much and how far you ride that might be twice a year or it might be once a month. Certainly have the bike checked out if you put it away for a winter and then get it out in the spring. That sounds expensive but so is a breakdown on the side of a road in the middle of nowhere. It is cheap insurance and lighter than the stuff you are carrying as well.

Another thing that is very light are skills. Practice taking off the wheels and replacing an inner tube at home. It is much easier to figure that out on your patio after dinner than in a howling rainstorm along a desolate road. I'd also strongly recommend (as you have a hub drive bike) to master the "dutch style" tire repair, where you can fix a flat and patch a tube without taking the wheel off.
 
Last edited:
Nothing like a load of whiskey, to add to the perfect balance of someone your age. I assume you are joking, but I don't get the idea of being intoxicated and riding something where balance is imperative. The bicycle co-op around here has most rides revolve around beer. I don't bounce like I used to, no drinking and riding for me. Also no fan of riding along others on a trail when I know they have a loaded weapon.
If you think you are going to repair a rear hub motor tire, you must have something to keep from crushing the display when you turn the bike over to work on it.
 
Thank You So Much, Rich c. and Yes, I was kidding about the Whiskey I NEVER Drink it. Possibly one lite beer in the evenings. We probably won't be riding with others, at least until we are 'sure' of our riding capabilities. We will NOT be going on 'long rides' and I seriously doubt we will Ever go out of an RV Park roads, and if so, not very far, maybe to the next pond to fish.........and Never at night time. Great thought on cushioning the 'display', and I will be carrying 'bike covers' which could cushion the 'display', hopefully.
Again, Thanks,
OlePhart
 
I stopped and thought a bit this morning and have a couple of other things for you to think about:

If you are RVing or vanning I'd recommend getting a small toolbox to carry tools that will help you fix your bike, even if you don't carry them on a ride. Over time you will accumulate a lot of this stuff, but at a minimum I'd want:
  1. A big flat-bladed screwdriver
  2. Leatherman multi-tool
  3. Ratchet drive kit, preferably with a torque wrench. Topeak Ratchet Rocket or Silca T-Ratchet are good examples. These are a little spendy but they make it much easier to work on your bike than using any multi-tool.
  4. A tire pressure gauge. You probably should consider having one to take with you as well.
  5. Big 8mm hex key or a pedal wrench for working on pedals. Again, while some multi-tools have an 8mm hex key life is a lot easier with a real one.
  6. Valve core tool
  7. Chain tool, and perhaps quick-link pliers
  8. Duct tape
  9. Cable ties
  10. Loctite
  11. Chain lubricant
  12. Spare parts as you think necessary. For sure I'd want spare brake pads, spare chain links, valve cores, and some rack and fender bolts.
Find a good mini-pump. Some of the better mountain bike oriented pumps can move a lot of air and at reasonable pressure (check the pressure rating of the pump and your tires to make sure they are a good fit). Some good portable pumps are the Crank Brothers Klic HV Gauge and the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HV.

Wrap duct tape around your mini-pump so you'll have some for emergency repairs.
 
Yes, I carry a large toolbox in my RV with most of that in it already.
I'll put some LocTite and cable ties in it as soon as I see what size our bikes have on them.
Being as I am a Rancher, I Always have my Leatherman in my pocket.
I failed to mention that most times we'll be towing dog trailers & our Pups behind each of
our bikes, so I doubt we will ever stray very far away from our RV.
We're really looking forward to receiving our bikes and trying it all out.
Thanks So Much Mr. Coffee, to You and All the Rest who have given me Great advise and ideas.
OlePhart
 
As someone who overkill’s on being prepared sounds like you have it all figured out

I live in Az where big thorns are all over the place and have had excellent results with checking the air in each tire before every single ride and using slime

have had 3 flats in four years and I ride a lot, 90% off road
And was always able to get back to the car with just using the CO2 cartridges

if I have new tires put on to change sizes I tell the shop To put in heavy duty tubes, not sure how much that has helped
Or if I have just been lucky

often see thorns Broken off in the tires but the slime seals them up fine
 
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