Lesson learned, the hard way.

[7mmfan]

I'll start by saying, today was a great trip. Missed my opportunity on a great bear by a split second, saw one of the biggest blacktail bucks I've ever seen, and got some great excercise...More than I anticipated.

Last year I got serious about using my bike to get in further away from people. I've been accumulating the stuff I need to do it properly, but one thing that I have not put together yet is a repair kit. Its next on my to do list.

I was all of about 5 miles in today just getting to the area that I wanted to hunt and had a catastrophic blow out of my front tire. I have no idea what I hit or what caused it, but that baby was TOAST! I was real mad so I took the time to hunt for a while. Glassed up that buck along with a couple of other deer, and then as I was walking the bottom of the clearcut on the road, I nearly ran into a bear that was just off the road. He only gave me a split second to bring the gun up and he was gone into the thick. Next time.

Soon after the grind began. Suprisingly it only took me about 2.5 hours to push the bike all way back out, but it was grueling at times.

Lesson learned the hard way for sure.

[Turner89]

Yea, bike is the only way to go. I've had to push my bike out a few times.

[7mmfan]

One plus to it is that I figured out that I can balance my pack frame on the bike and strap it in easily! So for those lonnnnngggg uphill grinds where I don't want to tow the trailer, I can still pack frame it and not have to haul it all out on my back.

[Ripper]

I've been wanting to use my bike more so I may have to meet up with you one day to see your setup. We are both in Marysville so it shouldn't be hard to do.

[7mmfan]

Yeah no problem Ripper. I will admit, I think I have a ways to go to have it dialed in, but I can hunt effectively a long way from home now, and that was the goal. I can tell you that pedaling up some of those inclines, you find muscles that you forget you had! When you're used to walking, riding can cause pretty accute soreness.

[kevinlisa06]

Depending on what I find tomorrow I mite be getn the mtn bike ready for the weekend

[pjb3]

Hmmm, would a can of fix a flat work to keep in your bag?

[7mmfan]

PJB3 yeah fix a flat might work, in this case, I don't think it would have becaue the tube was blown out. My new emergency kit has 2 spare tubes and a pump in it so I can replace one in the field if I have to.

[DRobnsn]

I have these on mine. http://www.slime.com/shop/smart-bike-tubes-presta-valve/  No flats yet. although I haven't put as many miles on the bike since I installed them but they seem like a good solution.

[7mmfan]

I've heard of these but I've also heard they are expensive. What did a set of them run you?

[DRobnsn]

I bought them at REI about a year ago so I can't say exactly, a quick check on REI's site says $8.00 each for a 26".

[timberghost72]

Carry a spare tube, couple of patches, c02 pump, tire tool, spare c02 cartridge and a hand pump. All fits in a small seat bag except the pump. Should be able to fix a flat in about 10 minutes. I only use the hand pump if I run out of c02.

Make sure you check the tire and remove whatever gave you the flat or you will have another pretty quick.

 

Another reason to carry a spare tube, along with a patch kit, is if you damage the valve stem to where a patch kit will not be able to fix it.

[Humptulips]

You might consider putting some liners in the tire to protect the tube from stickers and such.
Feel your pain! Blew out a tire about 7 miles in at dusk one year elk hunting. Didn't get to thecar until 10:00. What really made me mad is I wasted all that good downhill coasting coming out.

[Turner89]

You might consider putting some liners in the tire to protect the tube from stickers and such.
Feel your pain! Blew out a tire about 7 miles in at dusk one year elk hunting. Didn't get to thecar until 10:00. What really made me mad is I wasted all that good downhill coasting coming out.

I started making liners out of my old tubes. I haven't had a flat in awhile.

[shorthair15]

you could try some thorn resistant tubes i replaced me and my sons tires with them we have not had any problems! picked them up at a local mtn bike shop there tough to get in the tires due to there thickness but well worth it.