Blew a tube on a gravel descent near Boulder last Tuesday and learned I'd been packing my patch kit wrong for months

I was coming down Flagstaff Road, hit a sharp rock and felt the rear go flat instantly. Pulled over, got my patch kit out, and realized I had no tire levers because they fell out of the pouch somewhere on the ride. Had to use a stick and a hex wrench to get the tire off. Took 45 minutes and I cut my thumb. Now I keep the levers zipped inside a separate bag inside my saddle pack. Anyone else learn the hard way that your patch kit gear shifts around?

3 comments

3 Comments

samflores16d ago

Wait, you used a stick as a tire lever? That's wild.

the_thomas16d ago

And isn't that just how we fix everything on the trail, @samflores? Using whatever random junk is lying around to solve a problem that should have been simple.

pat_stone14d ago

Did you hear about my buddy who duct-taped his boot back together with a tire patch?