If you're riding with the Sharks, you’ll need to bring a few basic tools on every ride. Not because we expect crashes, but because small things happen, like flat tires or loose bolts, and it’s important to be prepared.

Your coaches will help you learn how to use each item, but you’re expected to bring your own gear.

Here’s what you’ll need to carry every ride:

• Bike Tool: Pick one that’s compact and easy to carry.

  1. • A handheld bike pump – It should be small enough to fit in a bag or clip to your frame. This is what you’ll use to inflate your tire if you get a flat or just realize mid-ride that you don’t have enough air in one of your tires.

• A spare inner tube 

  1. • Whether you ride tubeless or have tubes in your bike, you’ll carry a tube as a way to fix a flat tire mid-ride. These vary in size, so it’s pretty critical to carry one that fits your bike; otherwise, you’ll be walking your bike back if you get a flat.

• A bike multi-tool 

  1. •  It should have basic hex/Allen keys and a chain tool if possible. These are inexpensive and allow you to tighten bolts, remove your wheel, adjust your saddle, and many more things.

• Tire levers (x 2)

  1. • These help you get your tire off the rim (the metal part of your wheel) without hurting your hands. Don’t buy the cheapest ones; they tend to break. Park Tool is an excellent brand for any bike repair equipment (in stock at Syracuse Bicycle).

• A bag or pack to carry it all 

  1. • A bag or pack to carry it all – This could be a seat bag, hydration pack, or small frame bag. In our experience, a seat bag is an excellent solution because once it’s attached, it’s there for the season, no need to take it on and off. It never gets forgotten.

If you’re riding with the Sharks, you’ll need to carry a spare inner tube every ride. But bike tubes aren’t one-size-fits-all, they come in different diameters and widths to match your tires. Don’t worry, it’s easy to figure out what you need.

Here’s how to find the right size inner tube for your bike:

1. Check the Sidewall of Your Tire

Look closely at the side of your tire. You’ll see numbers that look something like this:

29 x 2.25 or 27.5 x 2.4

The first number is the wheel diameter (in inches): 26”, 27.5”, or 29”

The second number is the tire width (also in inches)

You’ll need a tube that matches both of these numbers, or falls within the width range.

2. Match the Tube to the Tire

Tube packaging will list a size range like:

29 x 1.9–2.3

That tube would work for any tire with a 29” wheel and a width between 1.9” and 2.3”.

If your tire says 29 x 2.25, this tube would work perfectly. If it says 29 x 2.6, it would not.

3. Don’t Forget the Valve Type

Most mountain bikes use Presta valves (the long, skinny ones). But check your bike to be sure. Schrader valves are thicker and look like car tire valves. You’ll want a tube with the right valve for your rims.

Where to Buy Inner Tubes

We recommend picking up your tubes at Syracuse Bicycle, located at 2540 Erie Blvd East, Syracuse, NY 13224

Their staff can look at your tire size and make sure you get the right tube. If you’re not sure what to buy, just take a picture of the numbers on your tire and show them at the counter.

Bonus Tip: Bring a Ziplock – A spare tube can be packed small and carried in a Ziploc bag or tool wrap so it stays clean and dry in your backpack, seat bag, or frame bag.