Cycling UK Forum

Hi All,

I have just got into riding (Road Riding), and it occured to me (about 20 miles away from home) that I dont have any spares/equipment with me.

What should I be taking on 30/40mile rides and can anyone suggest the best way to carry this equipment.

Thanks in advanced

Jamie

I take:

- multitool with chain tool
- tube
- puncture kit
- mini pump
- phone, keys, cash and a credit card
- a couple of other small things that might as well go in the bag but aren't really essential, like a long 5mm allen key and a spoke key

The pump attaches to a bracket at the bottle cage; the phone, cash and card (in [url=http://thejimi.com/]a Jimi[img]) go in a jersey pocket or a tiny bar bag; and the rest goes in a small saddlebag.

The best way to carry stuff is 'on the bike'.

I tend to have a small kit with me:
Tyre levers, patches and a spare tube (or two)
Hand pump (mini track pumps are available as well)
Chain tool, and spare quick link or two
Schraeder/Presta adaptor (only ever used for other people)
Allen keys/spanners for all the important bits and pieces (axle nuts etc)
Latex gloves (if I need to be cleanish at the far end - I normally forget they are there until too late)

Optional
Pedal spanner (mine is a multitool that does axle nuts as well, but I have had to use the pedal spanner on the road)


All except the pump and pedal spanner are in a case that fits into a bottle cage.

I'd echo what Bez said as a bare minium along with some form of ID incase of the worst. Tyre levers too if they aren't part of the puncture kit. I keep mine strapped to a spare tube with an elastic band so they don't wander off.
If night riding and using battery lights, spare batteries.

Coffee? Small stove? Fuel? Bialetti? Chair? Kindle?

Slight overkill may be?

Other items of overkill that I have had suggested.

First Aid kit.
Suncream
leaflets to advertise my not-so local CTC section.

My personal overkill is a GPS, Swiss army knife, titanium spoon and spare tyre.

For short rides I have 2 tubes & a multitool including tyre levers in a small toolkit that hangs from the saddle rails, a couple of bottles, a Topeak Roadmorph pump and a GPS that doubles as counter & HRM on the bars. That's all on the bike. In my back pockets I have keys, phone, a couple of energy bars, and a freezer bag that contains my wallet, small change and my ID docs. Maybe a rain jacket too.

On longer rides (> 100 km) I'll add a bar bag with more bars, a reflective vest, whistle, camera, map, puncture kit, and a bunch of other stuff that I should really clear out but hey, folding scissors can be really useful once every couple of years. Well, I say >100 km, but I often just grab it anyway no matter how far I'm going - easier than forgetting something.

Longer yet and it's a Carradice with extra togs, more tools & spares, first-aid kit, foil blanket, bag of boot-laces and spring toggles, kitchen sink, etc.

I used to carry energy-drink powder but I don't bother any more - a banana and a bar or two are just as good.

[XAP]Bob wrote:The best way to carry stuff is 'on the bike'.

Not a good idea for the phone, as I discovered several years ago when the seat pack quietly unzipped itself enough to deposit my phone on the roadside, somewhere during a 150km day in northern France.

Heltor Chasca wrote:Coffee? Small stove? Fuel? Bialetti? Chair? Kindle?

@ the OP - just to explain - he ^ has a Surly Big Dummy cargo bike and likes to show off.

Me, I'm jealous.

Most of what I have has been covered above but here's the full list of what's in my saddle bags or clipped onto my bike

2 spare inner tubes
Tyre levers
Multitool
Pump
Cable Ties(Can't beleive no one else has listed these, they fix everything!)
Water Bottle
Bike Lock
Phone
Cash
Bank Card
Water Proof Jacket
Spare battery for lights

I've also found a pair of pliers is pretty useful as well but my saddle bags can't fit any more in!

Along with multi tool, tube, levers and pump I carry a hotel freebie of soap to minimise the use of levers getting the tyre back on and to clean up if I need to.

In addition to most of the above, I also take a spare chain joining link, a small chain tool, and a small section of old tyre to use as a tyre boot in the event of a slashed tyre. I've had cause to use both the joining link and the tyre boot on occasion, which is why I also make sure I've got them.

kylecycler wrote:

Heltor Chasca wrote:Coffee? Small stove? Fuel? Bialetti? Chair? Kindle?

@ the OP - just to explain - he ^ has a Surly Big Dummy cargo bike and likes to show off.

Me, I'm jealous.

Tut. At least a Mazzer SJ and an Elektra Casa Leva.

My don't leave home without list:-
Wallet with cash card and small amount of cash in a pocket with the phone and some form of waterproof (unless I'm damn certain its not gonna rain!)
Everything else except the pump in a seatpack
inner tube
tyre levers
multitool
patches
fast link for chain
and of course a pump!

I don't take noticeably more for longer day rides, some energy blocks and perhaps a second tube

Heltor Chasca wrote:Coffee? Small stove? Fuel? Bialetti? Chair? Kindle?

I must confess I have taken the coffee and small stove with its gas cannister on a ride of 50 miles. I did enjoy sitting on a camping pillow looking out over the countryside. I do have a kindle app on the phone.
No idea what a Bialetti is