44 Bikes

[fortyfour]

On most rides, this here's what's in my pack (most of it actually goes into my Dad's old Mafac repair kit):



1. Spare 29er Tube - JUST in case
2. Park self adhesive patch kit - JUST in case the JUST in case goes down...
3. x2 Spare Hangers
4. x2 Soma tire levers
5. Soma Multi-tool
6. Burt's lip balm
7. 10spd quick link
8. ZIP Ties.
9. Park 3 Way for gettin' my gorilla-force torque on
10. Leatherman Squirt PS4
11. Park CT-5
12. 2 spare seat post bolts (I've broken them in the past - sucks to have to not sit down...)
13. Lezyne Alloy Drive Pump
14. Spare chainring bolt - I've cracked them in the past - listening to a creak on a long ride is for the birds.
15. Those little nuts on the valve stems? I can't tell you how many times I've used these in MacGyver style trailside repairs.. Thus they stay.
16. "Voodoo Medicine Man" Patch. This was my fathers while serving in Vietnam for the U.S. Air Force. He gave it to me when I was a kid. It's got all kinds of major Mojo and fights off the evil trail nasties. It goes on each ride no matter what.

If anything stays at home it's typically x1 tire lever, x1 hanger, lip balm and Leatherman.

Nutrition depends on the length of the ride. If it's cooler out, and it's below 20 miles, then gel's or shot blocks are fine. If it's hot out and it's 20+ miles, I need real food...

[Matthew Strongin]

15. Those little nuts on the valve stems? I can't tell you how many times I've used these in MacGyver style trailside repairs.. Thus they stay.

It's great to see what others carry on a ride, and how different locations, ride types and experience will influence what we carry. My kit is nothing like that. My riding is also pretty different. In any event, you stumped me on those valve stem nuts. What do you use those things for?

[devlin]

They are an M6 thread (I am pretty sure) They go on lots of bolts on the bike. There is always something to use them on but to be honest I acn't give you a good example right now......... um.......... cable pinch nut would be one spot.

[Matthew Strongin]

They are an M6 thread (I am pretty sure) They go on lots of bolts on the bike. There is always something to use them on but to be honest I acn't give you a good example right now......... um.......... cable pinch nut would be one spot.

More of a mountain bike thing, maybe? I'm looking at my criterium optimized drop bar road racing bicycle (aka Spooky) and don't see how the bolts would help with road cable pinch bolts. Can't see anywhere else it would fit either. I'd love to find a use for those things, though. I've got enough to string them up into a necklace for my wife, but I don't think she'd wear it.

[devlin]

Send them to me. I actually use them for a lot of non bike stuff. Always scratching around for one for some reason.

[fortyfour]

Editors note: This is definitely a mountain bike load out.

Thanks fellas. For road if I'm not wearing a hydration pack but using bottles, I'll strap a spare tube to the saddle with a tire lever and roll out. Whatever happens out there happens.

The little valve stem nuts most times have been used for bent rotors (and with all this talk of road and CX bikes going disc...). It hasn't happened in a long time, but I've banged them on rocks and just need something to space them up/out so I'm not dealing with major rub all the way home. One warped on me one time and one of the ISO bolts that cleared the rotor was hitting it suddenly. So one of those worked like a large washer. Most of these things in my bag are never needed and are the result of random things breaking. (seat post bolts are one of them) But when it does happen, or did happen, it was a no brainer to put a small bolt into your bag of goodies just in case. The long ride home without a seat or a creaking bit is enough to convince one to put certain things in your bag. Both of my mountain bikes are tubeless now but I managed to puncture a tire on a rock wall this past weekend and I was glad to have a spare tube on me. I'll most likely swap that spare for a super light spare come race day.

[dgaddis]

most likely swap that spare for a super light spare come race day.

Or a 26" tube!

[fortyfour]

I've carried a 26" tube in the past and I have to say I'll carry that extra bit of weight regarding a 29" tube. Naturally the time I had to change a flat like this and had a 26" tube along on my ride it was really cold out and fiddling with that smaller tube in the cold had me, well... cursing. Another recent discovery are the fact that both fat bike tubes I have and Stan's valve stems have part of the valve separate from the other (the valve portion screws into the stem). The Lezyne pump screws onto the valve and upon backing it off, in the cold, it managed to freeze just enough so it backed the valve core out of the stem and released ALL of the air in my tire. How about those apples in 5 degrees? Good thing I had that little leatherman that has the pliers. Pumping up a tire with that amount of volume gets you warmed up. So now when I get those valves for a wheel build, I tighten them more than what they come with so my clients don't experience the same thing I did.

[fortyfour]

[blasdelf]

The Lezyne pump screws onto the valve and upon backing it off, in the cold, it managed to freeze just enough so it backed the valve core out of the stem and released ALL of the air in my tire. How about those apples in 5 degrees? Good thing I had that little leatherman that has the pliers. Pumping up a tire with that amount of volume gets you warmed up. So now when I get those valves for a wheel build, I tighten them more than what they come with so my clients don't experience the same thing I did.

that happened to me so many times, it's the worst with a new tube or another person's bike

it's not related to cold, it's that the hose pressure binds the threads — sucks that it threads onto the core and not the stem

the old trick was to unthread the hose from the pump-end first, but that means the pump itself threads apart over time

the newer Lezyne pumps have a pressure release button right there on the head

[devlin]

It happens from freezing with Co2. My adaptor threads on and when I lent it to a mate he unthreaded his core when taking it off.

[fortyfour]

On this pump if you unthread the extension you're kind of in a catch 22 - you still need to unthread the extension. Why they make the valves separate from the stems I don't know.

[devlin]

It's a Continental tube? I'm not sure why they do but I shoot a half a small bottle of Stans into my tubes that I put in my race wheels. So it's kind of handy. Whether it stops flats or not, I haven't been able to ascertain. Keeps me happy but.

[blasdelf]

On this pump if you unthread the extension you're kind of in a catch 22 - you still need to unthread the extension.

but with the pressure released at the pump end, the threads at the valve end won't be bound anymore

Why they make the valves separate from the stems I don't know.

so the valve core is replaceable (just like on all schrader valves), for adding sealant, and for proper valve extenders

[fortyfour]

[fortyfour]

[fortyfour]

It's early, but this one will be going to the Builders Ball and NAHBS 2014 albeit with a few tweaks in component spec. More this friday on FNL 227.

[fortyfour]

44 Bikes is officially "Pinning It" on Pinterest for those who follow along and look for goodies via Pinterest...

[fortyfour]

On bikes, wrenches and that corner in the basement called "The Bike Dojo"...

[dgaddis]

It's early, but this one will be going to the Builders Ball and NAHBS 2014 albeit with a few tweaks in component spec. More this friday on FNL 227.

^^that thing rocks. I9 hubs = excellent choice. I like the lettering on the top of the DT too.

Does WTB still make the Dirt Drop bars, or are those NOS?