That time I patched a tube with a dollar bill on the C&O Canal

Back in 2019 I was riding the C&O Canal trail near Harpers Ferry and got a nasty snakebite flat about 15 miles from the nearest town. I had one patch but no glue cause it dried out in my kit. Some old timer rolled up on a beat up touring bike and showed me how to fold a dollar bill between the tube and tire to limp it the rest of the way. It actually held air for like 8 miles before I got to a gas station. Now I always carry a spare tube and a couple actual patches but man I miss when solutions were that simple. Anyone else got a roadside hack that saved a ride?

2 comments

2 Comments

owens.anthony22d ago

I used to think the dollar bill trick was just an old wives tale but then I tried it on a sidewall gash once and it got me 12 miles to a bike shop. Total game changer when you're out in the middle of nowhere. What's the worst roadside repair you've pulled off?

the_tessa22d ago

Total game changer" is right. Dollar bill trick got me maybe 5 miles once before it blew again. Worst repair I've ever done was wrapping a busted derailleur cable around the shift lever with a zip tie, then just pedaling home in one gear. Legs felt like lead but it worked. Also used a twig as a makeshift pedal cleat once after snapping one off. Straight out of a caveman playbook.