How to Wrap Your Spare Tube to be Compact, Waterproof,and Make More Room in your Saddle Bag

How to wrap your spare bicycle tube to make it compact, waterproof and fit more in your cycling saddle bag: In this video we show you some important steps left out of other similar videos on storing your spare to make it easier to fix a flat. The steps are simple and work on cycling tubes for road bikes, mountain bikes, trail bikes and others types of cycling inner tubes.
1. Be sure to slightly inflate the tube first before installing so that the so that the inside of the tube doesn't stick together when you pump the tire or especially with a CO2 cartridge which might just blow the valve out.
2. Coat the spare with talc or baby powder which will not only keep the outside of the tube from sticking to each other but also allow the tube to be shaken up into the tire when installing.
3. Let all the air out by unscrewing the valve and then place a piece of tape over the end of the presta valve tight enough to hold it in the open position.
3. Roll the tube from the end opposite the valve pressing the presta to make it compact. Then close the valve end and replace the cap. If you're using a shrader valve you will need to periodically have to press the inside of the valve with a small screwdriver to let air out.
4. Apply the cap to the valve so it doesn't rub against the rubber and cut into the tube. Then wrap the tube around the valve and cover. Apply the rubber band that comes with the tube.
5. Place in a zip lock and push out all the air in the baggie as you zip it shut. Fold the baggie and either use rubber bands to hold in place or a tape the can be torn to allow access when needed.
The process is easy, waterproofing your spare and fit more bike saddle bag when cycling. We also show you what to place in your saddlebag to keep you on the road in case of a flat tire or other repair.

[@s1alker564]

Never thought I’d need a video on how to fold a tube up properly, but here I am. Thanks!

[@tony10speed]

You're Welcome. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@richbowie76]

Great video ! I can't tell you how many times over the years I've come back to this video when its time for fresh tubes in my pack and saddlebag !

[@tony10speed]

It's a neat trick and I'm glad you use it. Makes more room for other gear. Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@richbowie76]

@@tony10speed THANKS TONY ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Redrubicon1]

Thanks for the information I literally gained about half the space in my saddle bag back.

[@tony10speed]

You're Welcome. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@BenjjjDW]

Luckily don't puncture that often these days 🤞 but come back to this video every time I've used my spare inner tube. Amazing how much smaller they can be folded.

[@tony10speed]

Yes, it is amazing. It allows me to carry 2 spares instead of one in my saddle bag. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@philhouck3560]

I like to use a kitchen size white plastic bag that's used to line the trash can to powder my tubes. Just a couple of squirts is enough to powder several tubes. Drop the tube in the bag and shake it up and pull the tube out. Shake off the excess and you have a nice even coated tube ready for mounting or storing in a plastic bag as the video demonstrates.

[@tony10speed]

Phil Houck Great idea. Thanks Phil. Regards, Tony

[@madacaphoto]

WOW, thanks for this great tip. Now I can fit two tubes into my small saddle bag. Thanks a million.

[@tony10speed]

You're welcome. Glad I can help. Regards, Tony

[@Oak138]

Thanks! Wrapping around the stem really helped

[@tony10speed]

Has worked for me and glad to be of help. Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@izzly42]

I like the originality of this channel. Sound and seasoned advice, sir. Thank you!

[@tony10speed]

We try our best as well as answer any questions you have (or at least point you in the right direction). Regards, Tony

[@daverhodes8872]

Great video, just putting together my tyre repair kit.

[@tony10speed]

Glad it helped

[@Junkyard22]

Thanks for the video! Helped a lot!

[@tony10speed]

Your welcome. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@fede2323]

Thank you! Excellent video very well explained, with this video I stores my tube very compact in the saddle bag.

[@tony10speed]

You're Welcome. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@ArtilleryForLife]

Amazing video! So simple yet so effective! Just the other day I was trying to figure out how to cram more tools into my bag, This saved the day! Thanks!

[@tony10speed]

Helps me also to get more in my saddle bag. Glad I could help. Regards, Tony

[@cycler3959]

This tip made it possible to store my Crank Bros. Speedier tire lever. Thanks Tony

[@tony10speed]

What do you think of the Speedier Lever (and any comments on my video on the lever: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJOykGNpp7Cshs0 )

[@robg6887]

Wow Tony this is a gem. Thanks!

[@tony10speed]

You're Welcome. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@jasonjeffery-endurance6071]

Great video thanks. It works very well for me. From the UK 🇬🇧

[@tony10speed]

Glad I could help. Tony

[@bobadiag]

Very Good.!! Thank you !!

[@tony10speed]

You're Welcome. Saved me a lot of room in my saddle bag also. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@archetypex65]

Great tutorial Tony 👍 a few years ago I started to use small Tyvek envelopes instead of plastic bags. to prevent anything from snagging or poking the tube while in the bag.

[@tony10speed]

Nice idea. What size envelope? Do they fold easily? Are they water proof? Thanks, Tony

[@waveylp4722]

great handy tip thank you. Every bit of space counts when it comes to storage :D

[@tony10speed]

Has worked well for me. Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@dbrooker8918]

Thanks, just what I was looking for.

[@tony10speed]

You're Welcome. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@dougtarter8713]

great info on making more room in the darn small seat bag =]!

[@tony10speed]

Neat trick. Thanks you and safe cycling, Tony

[@joshbarrett5648]

Great pro tip! Thank you. PS I love your IF, I raced the 853 Reynolds in the '90s. Be well.

[@tony10speed]

The IF is my favorite bike to ride. It was custom built and fits like a glove. Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@Scruffybirdd]

This video was very helpful

[@tony10speed]

Keeps your spare compact, dry and ready to use. If you don't wont to handle talc, use corn starch or talc free baby powder that have a corn starch basis. Thanks for the complement. Safe cycling, Tony

[@franztabada7197]

Ty for the help sir! Ride safe

[@tony10speed]

Neat trick for compact storage. Thanks and regards, Tony

[@matthaigh5296]

I fold spare road tubes just like this but put them into (approx 90mm long) pieces of old MTB tube, makes a fairly compact package

[@tony10speed]

That's a great idea. The only reason I prefer wrapping the tube in Syran Wrap or a baggie is that I coat the tire with Talc (baby powder - to allow one to shake the tube up into the tire) and like to keep it protected in case it rains. Regards, Tony

[@wallacewestmeath]

thank you for a great idea

[@tony10speed]

When you do it right, it gives you a lot more room it your saddle bag. Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@daverhodes8872]

Great video, putting together a repair and tube kit for my bike so this is very helpful.

[@tony10speed]

You can put the compact tube in a baggie but I like to use Saran Wrap to keep it dry incase of inclement weather.

[@jackplowman3859]

Thank you so much u are very helpful

[@tony10speed]

Nice way to increase storage in your bike saddle bag, keeps the tube dry and coated with powder so it will easily slide up into the tire when replacing a flat. Regards, Tony

[@jeoprudente7715]

thanks a lot

[@tony10speed]

Thank you. It's a cool little trick to make more space in your saddle bag and keep the spare coated with baby powder and dry. Regards, Tony

[@jeoprudente7715]

@@tony10speed thanks for the advise from Philippines

[@scottgraham3492]

How about the screw part, what you forgot about that! Thanks for the tips!

[@tony10speed]

Do you mean the nut that screws onto the valve? I don't include that in wrapping because it might cause wear to the rubber of the tube. Rather, I take the nut from the flat tube and use it on the new tube.

[@SRobinson1485]

Bin them they are difficult to undo sometime if your out on the rd and have a puncture

[@jkruehmann]

i used silicon tape and it compresses and protects while leaving no sticky residue.

[@tony10speed]

The reason I wrap it in "clear wrap" is to protect it from moisture/rain and keep the coating of powder (a helpful element for tire installation) dry in all conditions. The reason behind the powder is demonstrated in the video below: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qamyoqeEebWSrLc Do you use powder on your tube and does the silicon tape protect the tube from moisture?

[@winstonian88]

Clever

[@tony10speed]

Thank you. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@Ed1956K]

why discard the lock nut?

[@tony10speed]

The lock nut may cause abrasion of the tube when tightly wrapped. So I discard it before wrapping and use the one from the tire that flatted when out on the road.

[@simonchiriboga9803]

gg thank so much im a new person know

[@reginaldscot165]

It's much easier to just put it in cling-film or sandwich/food wrap. It keeps water out, you don't need any taps or elastic and it's light.

[@tony10speed]

That is exactly what I currently do since making this video. I use Syran Wrap, then masking tape to hold it in a vary compact form. I then label the masking tape using a black permanent marker with tube size (so they don't get mixed up with my gravel bike or MTB) and date. Regards, Tony

[@15idog]

@@tony10speed can't you make a video on that?

[@tony10speed]

@@15idog Yes I can. Unfortunately, KZbin has removed some of the great features of their video editor which means I will have to delete the video, reshoot, upload and start from scratch in terms of views, etc. Or I can add a "card" (popup) that would direct people to this alternate way of wrapping. I'll see what I can do. Thanks for the input, Tony

[@leftyseel8658]

Are lock nuts really unnecessary? I noticed u removed and did not re-place it. Nice to know that i can use baby power instead of buying talc. Thanks for this.

[@tony10speed]

Not really. I removed the locknut for two reasons: 1. When putting in a replacement tube, you want to fill with a tiny amount of air or CO2, check that the tube is not pinched under the tire and rim and finally PUSH THE VALVE UP AND DOWN TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT PINCHED by the tire. It should move freely. You can't do that if the locknut is applied. 2. The locknut may may rub against the tube itself when compressed as a spare as shown. I don't want the locknut to damage the spare tube. For many years I have ridden without the locknut without problems. The reason for the locknut may have been to keep the valve straight when inserting the tube into the rim and installing the tire. But I haven't need it. When installing a new tube, if I notice the valve is slightly crooked, I just giggle the tube a bit before I finish the tire installation. I hope this answers your question. Regards, Tony

[@leftyseel8658]

Thanks sir. I just removed the locknuts from the bike and spares earlier before i rode.

[@tomgruitt6563]

Yes, they are necessary.

[@TeddyJSmooth]

All bike pumps are universal which means they can pump an strader or presta valve tube!

[@tony10speed]

You are correct that most of today's pumps accommodate Schrader and Presta valves, some better then others. But we see a number of older pumps, including top brand names such as Silca, that are strictly Schrader and require an adapter for use with Presta. So, using the term "all" can be tricky in todays world.

[@TeddyJSmooth]

I personally prefer a good mountain bike, they are better on the road, with things like hitting bumps going up and down hills, crossing railroad tracks.

[@Tbobx1518]

Surprised to see you throwaway the tube valve nut. I always put it on finger tight against the rim. The nut supports the valve when I firmly push the pump head onto the valve. Without the nut the rubber tube bears the force at the weakest point of the tube. My .02.

[@tony10speed]

Here's the trick. I don't want the valve nut rubbing on the tubing as I fold it, so, it gets discarded. If I get a flat and need to change the tube, I use the valve nut from the tube that's flat for the replacement tube I insert. If I want to keep the end of the Presta valve clean, I'll also use the cap from the flat (p.s.: I always use the valve nut, but in the old days we never used the nut or cap and never seem to have a problem. What's changed?) Regards, Tony

[@terrycarter5072]

Hi Tony Marchand. How do you fold a wide Mountain Bike Inner Tube once the air is out. I find my valve is on the inner radius sticking out!

[@tony10speed]

I'll send a link once the new video is completed.

[@SRobinson1485]

The way you did it in the video is different to how you unraveled it at the beginning.. the valve ended up in the centre in your video yet when you unravelled it at the beginning the valve was just on the inside not the centre of the rolled up tube

[@tony10speed]

At the beginning is how the tube was folded as it came from the manufacturer. Once you gone through the process of rolling the tire to get the air out and closing the valve, you're free to fold it any which way you prefer (valve at the center or toward the outside of the folded tube). Regards, Tony

[@notchipotle]

I have bigger frame on my frame but already full with gopro acc 🤣

[@dvdp4513]

To me, the chance that the innerside of the tube will stick together when rolled up too tight, is real. At Schwalbe they agree, at Continental they don’t... ?! Anyone long term experience?

[@tony10speed]

I have been doing this for years. Before coating with powder (I now use corn starch since talc has been take off the market), I inflate the tube slightly, cover lightly with the corn starch and then begin the folding process above and squeezing out the air. Inflating the tire initially seems to prevent the tube from sticking together once deflated. I've use many different types of tubes without such problems. The pre-inflation before letting all the air out seems to be the key before rolling tight. At least this has been my experience. P.S.: When you buy a new Schwalbe tube, they already seem to be rolled very tight when first taken out of the box. Regards, Tony

[@luisromanolara5256]

Hi, I'm trying to do the same with my 700x23c inner tube, but does not get the same size, any advice?

[@tony10speed]

Make sure you're squeezing all the air out when folding the tube on itself. Keep tapping the presta valve as you go instead of using tape to hold it open. When you have folded the tube and all the air is out, close the presta valve. The tire should be perfectly flat. Now you can refold the tire if necessary and use a rubber band to hold it. I cover it in Syran Wrap to protect it from the elements. Give it another try. Regards, Tony

[@luisromanolara5256]

Tony Marchand Hi thanks for the answer, I will try again, but which size is the one on your video? It could be the reason why mine does not squeezes too much?

[@tony10speed]

@@luisromanolara5256 It's a 650x23c in the video but a 700x23c is only a little bit bigger. Takes a bit of practice. I check out the difference in size and let you know (since I have both available on different bike with spares packed in the saddle bag).

[@tony10speed]

Measuring my 650c against my 700c, there's not much difference. My 650cx23c and 700cx23c tubes are Bontrager. The compacted and wrapped spare tubes of both types measure 2x4" or 2.5x3.5" depending on how I wrapped them.

[@dl8704]

Just vacuum seal

[@tony10speed]

How would you do that?