New bike, first road bike!

[millefolia]

I wanted to share my excitement--I bought a new bike this week, my first road bike! (I also have a Trek 7100 hybrid which I use for commuting, a 1970s John Deere bike which I keep just because it's so neat, and a Target-brand mountain bike that I need to figure out what to do with.)

New bike is a Trek 2.1 Triple WSD, on sale at my LBS because it had been a demo/rental model. Still in great shape, and not old at all, it's a 2009 model. I took it out last night and it almost seemed to accelerate on its own! It's a lot of fun to ride. I can tell I'm not as good at riding it yet as I am at riding my hybrid, but that will come with time.

I haven't had a chance to take a picture yet, but here's a stock pic of the same model with the same orange-and-cream Dreamsicle coloring. :-) I already swapped out the saddle for something wider, though.

I'm putting together an emergency kit to keep in the seat bag--patch kit, etc. Suggestions of things I might forget to put in the kit are welcome! (I still need to put one together for my hybrid too.)

[momtohanna]

Congrats!! Nice looking bike, enjoy!

[MtnBikerChk]

I'm putting together an emergency kit to keep in the seat bag--patch kit, etc. Suggestions of things I might forget to put in the kit are welcome! (I still need to put one together for my hybrid too.)

sweeeeet! congrats.

put a waterproof card or something that says "In case of emergency contact....."

[tzvia]

OOOh nice bike! Congrats! Love the colors.

My emergency kit consists of (way too much stuff):
1 extra brake cable
1 spare tube (two if on a long ride)
1 patch kit (not those crappy self stick ones, a real patch kit with the glue.)
2 tire irons.
1 piece of old water bottle, about 2" square (to act as a tire boot if you slice the tire.)
1 multi tool (I use the Crank Brothers mini 19).
Several sizes of bandaids (you never know...)
1 tiny mini leatherman type tool (has knife- for shaping tire boot- and mini pliers).
1 emergency gu packet.
1/2 doz low dose aspirin.
1 extra cleat screw (if you use clipless pedals.)
And not really in the seat bag, but an important part of the emergency stuff, a good quality tire pump.
Oh, and I also stuff my cell phone in there.

Whew, hope I remembered everything...

Have fun! (and yea, my seat bag is the Lezyne and it's a bit bigger than the typical weight-weenie ones you see racers use.)

[Trek420]

.... but you're the person to rescue racer dudes who "never ride with anything more than you can fit in one jersey pocket" when stuff happens. :p

[Bike Goddess]

I think Tzva means tubes not tires in your seat bag.

I ride a lot and I just have 2 extra tubes, a multipurpose bike tool, and 3 tire irons (plastic) that fit together in my under seat bag. Be sure to cover the tubes with (REAL) talcum powder before you stash them in the bag. It will make changing flats a whole lot easier!

I use a Road Morph pump with a folding step and pressure gauge. That way you pump as you would at home, going down instead of sideways, to get air in the tire. That pump is fastened onto the frame of my bike and strapped on with velcro to keep it secure.

I also have a "bento box" fastened to my top tube thanks to the TE girls a few years ago who raved about this little goodie! I can put my cell phone in there as well as my cleat covers and paper towel for messy jobs like flat tires on the back wheel. Wallet with identification and extra food go in back pockets.

The biggest problem I"ve had in the 5-6 years I've ridden have been flat tires. Yes, you should have something to temporarily fix a tire should you ever have a blowout (dollar bill works fine). Hopefully you'll be riding with others who can help you out should anything happen on the road.

[Miranda]

.... but you're the person to rescue racer dudes who "never ride with anything more than you can fit in one jersey pocket" when stuff happens. :p

HA! This is true! My guy buddy I ride w/in the in the one pocket club. He's of the sort that the bike should be "naked" looking as possible. For the race cool factor, ya know:rolleyes:. But, then he tells me stuff like riding an event time of year that for ME I would start heavier dressed & strip. I have a Delta bungee cord that can go with a rear rack that I gerry rig behind my saddle bag. Works out nicely. BUT, definately not the bike naked look lol. HOWEVER, until like 'him' who complained "...ooo, the first X miles were miserable cold blab blab...", I'm warm and happy cuz I took my gear.;):D


My emergency kit consists of (way too much stuff):


I got plenty of my own stuff, but can I ride with you lol? That's prepared.:) I say whatever makes you happy on your bike is a good thing.:cool:

OK... to original OP...

Congrats on your new ride! Btw, on the old Target mtb, since you are still under what someone on TE declared the # of bikes before you have "problem" (think it's 5 bikes ?)... keep it. Maybe in winter you can try studding the tires for snow riding? Crash it--no biggie--it's a lesser $ mtb, vs your new roadie ride.

Saddle bag stuff... well, let's see, mine is packed right now for my training rides w/the same stuff / weight I plan to carry for my upcoming century.

*2 spares tubes (both individually wrapped in zip lock sandwich baggies cuz I think it keeps them wound up tighter & less risk of getting cut by something else in the saddle bag
* 2 threaded CO2 cartridges-- 1 w/varying cut strip lengths of duct tape wrapped around it for optional patch of tire
* CO2 inflator head for threaded cartridges (takes less space than needing canister tube for non-threaded cartridges--need head only this way)
* presta-to-schrader valve adapter /convertor-- I do not carry a bike pump as a back-up, HOWEVER my hope is that maybe a farm house /gas station might have a "regular pump" to loan some air-- the schrader valve is more common for lesser $ bikes, like your Target mtb-which average non-cycling peeps would have for bikes in their garage & that type of pump to go w/it... have the convertor & your good to go... no covertor, the loaner pump help is worthless (since it's not a presta type)... OH & in a snack sized bagige cuz it's tiny & I think it makes it less likely to fall out & get lost--plus I'm obessesed w/baggies
*tire levers
*patch kit--prestick on kind
*crisp $ bill to use as tire boot / patch (in a baggie in case of rain)
*a bike multitool
*some spare $ for extra H2O stops at conv store if needed (in snack baggie w/boot crisp $ bill)
*1 chamois butter packet (in snack baggie)--can be a life saver to get home if your shorts do an unexpected rub you the wrong way etc.
*3 advil tablests (in same baggie w/chamois butter packet)--good for migraine head-ache attacks from sunlight, or helping an old injury flare ups I have to make getting home a bit more comfy w/pain meds
*spare set of disposable contact lens scotch taped together to help get loss factor--I had one rip out on a ride & it really suxed getting home not being able to see right
*tiny bottle of contact lens re-wetting drops
*1 compact sized tampon, JIC
*house key
*asthma inhailer --a must, exercise is one of my triggers
*cell phone (in a snack sized baggie)--don't like too much in my jersey pockets--also with ICE phone number in it & bici lock combo # in notes section--plus I wear a RoadID band on my wrist-- the cell bothers my back problems in the jersey & I had it fall out once on a crash in a ditch--was an important thing that was hard to find when I needed it--flew outta the jersey pocket--not so in the saddle bag
*spare lens for my Rudys (clear) in questionable light conditions since mine sunglasses don't change colors
*Firefly tail light blinkie goes on outside of saddle wedge bag
*Amonia bee sting stick--that I put in my jersey pocket (slim / tiny)--been stung alot lately & the stick does help when used right away
*in jersey pockets--Cliff Electrolyte shot blocks & lara bars for food stuff
*in jersey pockts--paper map in a snack baggie for the sweat /wet paper factor & I also write down my bici lock combo in case I have a stupid-attack & forget it by memory
*when riding alone--my iPod in jersey pock in sport sweat sleeve & or baggie if rain--zipped shut just enough to let earphone cord slip out & small piece scotch tape for good measure
*if traveling far when I know I will stop for my H2O at gas station, I wind a small bici lock under the saddle secured w/a velcro strip (no rattles this way) to lock up while inside store--I've had more than one bici stolen in my life--amazing only takes a minute for the theif to grab it!
*and if stripping clothes is in the plans, I also wind my Delta cargo net under the saddle & bag

In my mtb bag... I carry similiar... but I have some steri strips for crashes & an extra OFF bug wipe--my Camelbak is the ladies Charm & it only has one small pocket for external storage. Thus, I do a bici bag seat too.

Btw... my seat bag is a Topeak medium sized wedge. I get all the above in the bag without it being it being in the unzipped expandable position it can also do for a bit more capacity. That bag is freakin bomb proof too! And here is a pic of my set up w/my Dela cargo net that I mention. Scroll down through the thread link after you click on it and there is a pic of my set up...
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=22078&highlight=wind+jacket+storage

Hope you and the new ride have many happy & safe miles together!:cool::)

Miranda

[maryellen]

Good-looking bike.

Only items I carry that aren't listed (or that I didn't notice) are:

--one foil-wrapped hand wipe
--tissues (usually just 1/2 pack), in case of an impromptu pit stop
--sample size tube of sunblock
--folding reading glasses (they come in their own tiny case)
--tweezers (to remove foreign object from tire)
--piece of paper w addresses/contact info of area bike shops (I cut it out from the local bike map)

You'd be amazed at what you can fit into a seatbag. Just be careful that nothing sharp goes near your spare tubes.

I am utterly convinced that need for items is in inverse proportion to whether I have them. I'd rather carry items and rarely need them.

[tzvia]

I knew I forgot something in my list :D. I do take a sample size of sunblock everywhere I go as the Russian side of my family is big on skin cancer and I wasn't lucky enough to get the wonderful dark olive skin of my middle eastern mother :(.

Of course, some stuff does go in the jersey pockets, like my cleat covers (speedplay cleats are huge), food, money, paper towel and ID/insurance info. Every time I think I should cut down, something happens on the ride and I actually use the things that I toyed with leaving behind. I do stop to help fellow riders and it's a good feeling to have the tool they need to get going again. I only wish I could enjoy my 'lightweight' bike.:rolleyes:

[Roadrunner]

Congratulations Millefolia, nice bike. I wish you lots of good health and dry sunny days to get out in.

[millefolia]

Thank you all for the good wishes and lists! Everyone's post will be a great help as I put together this kit.

[ccbloom]

LOVE the color of your bike! Congrats and have fun!

[DDH]

congratulations on the new bike, she is a beauty!!! I hope you have lots of fun and productive rides on her.

[tctrek]

Congrats on your new bike! Looks like you got tons of fab advice about stuff to take along. I have found that if you go out prepared, you will not need the stuff. If you go out unprepared you will need the stuff. Murphy's law :D

[millefolia]

I went out for a 20-mile group ride tonight with the new bike (I say "group ride," but tonight it was just the ride leader and me). So far so good! My hands got tired of the position because I wasn't moving them around at first, and my back is stiff, but so far my legs feel just fine!