What Spares Do I Carry on My Bike?

When it comes to spares, I like to keep it simple but thorough. For longer races like Melbourne 70.3, I’ll take a bit more, but here’s what I generally carry:

  1. A Spare Tube: Always carry at least one spare tube, and maybe even two if I’m racing long distances. I’m knocking on wood here, but I’ve yet to get a flat during a race, so let’s keep that streak going
  2. CO2 Canisters: I never ride with a pump. Instead, I carry a couple of CO2 canisters for emergency tire inflation. For a race like Ironman 70.3, I’ll take two canisters just in case. These canisters are super compact, and they’re much lighter and quicker to use than a hand pump.
  3. Tire Levers: I always carry tire levers to help me get the tire off the rim if I need to replace a tube. I pack them inside a small plastic bag to keep everything neat. I also added some Velcro around the tire levers to prevent any annoying rattling during the ride.
  4. Crack Pipe (for Disc Wheel): If you ride a disc wheel like I do, you’ll need something to inflate your tire properly. I carry a crack pipe, which is just a fancy name for an adapter that lets me attach my CO2 canister directly to the disc wheel valve. It’s handy for when you’re using a disc wheel with a Presta valve.
  5. CO2 Adapter: I also carry a CO2 adapter so that I can inflate the tire. If you have one that has an on/off valve, make sure you know how to use it, and it is set to ‘closed’ so you don’t wastes a canister accicentally.
  6. Valve Extenders: If I run out of luck and need to use the wrong size tube, I also have valve extenders for those tricky situations. They’re just an emergency backup, but they can save your race if you’re stuck with a tube that’s too short for your deep-section wheels. For example – I needed to use my spare tube intended for my Disc on my front wheel instead.
  7. Valve Spanner: This is a small tool that allows me to tighten or loosen the valve on my tube. I keep it as a backup in case I need to fix a loose valve or get it to seal properly, especially if I’m racing in cold weather with stiff fingers.

Where Do I Carry All This?

I don’t want to overstuff my bike, so I make sure to pack everything into a bento box or small saddle bag. For a race like Melbourne 70.3, I use a larger one for extra capacity, but for shorter rides, I can get by with a smaller setup. Here’s how you can pack everything:

  • In a bento box (mounted on the top tube of the bike): Spare tube, CO2 canisters, tire levers, and the valve spanner.
  • In a bottle cage: The larger tools or extras like my crack pipe and valve adapter.
  • Behind the saddle (in a rear mounted drink bin or bag): Another tube or anything that I may need quick access to during the race.

Final Thoughts

Packing for a race like Ironman 70.3 is all about being prepared for any situation without overloading your bike with unnecessary weight. The setup I use has worked well for me over the years, and I feel confident I can handle most common bike problems while out on course. I hope this gives you some insight into how I prepare for race day, and maybe you can tweak it for your own bike setup. In the end, you need to come up with a system that works for you, suits your setup and is easy to use.

To see a video of this blog post see below::

Have any questions or gear tips of your own? Drop them in the comments, and I’ll be happy to chat!

Cheers

 

Coach Chris