10+ Useful items

I was cleaning out computer files today and came across this essay I wrote for my blog. Thought it might be of interest.

Does anyone else have any favorites or has that already been pretty much covered by the recent thread on long distance riding?

Anyway I hope you all enjoy.

10 + Useful Items for bike touring

As a solitary distance biker, I usually ride without the benefit of SAG support of any kind. Like a snail, I must carry my house and all of my necessities on my back in jersey pockets, bento box, and/ or depending on the distance, camel pack. A recent cross country tour with a group and the benefit of a SAG van gave me an opportunity to experiment with lightening my load and taught me about some new items and ways to use them. These items are in addition to or variations on the standard tool kit, tire tube, pump, cell phone, water, nutritional items, and a wallet with cash or credit card and ID which I normally carry in my bento box, jersey pockets Of course if it is a supported ride, I can automatically lighten load of food and water down to two bottles and a packet of gu, an energy bar, or just enough to get me through to the next SAG stop.

Sanitary Pads

Light Day pads are individually wrapped, compact and light. They are also highly absorbent and have a self adhesive back. They work wonderfully as sweat bands when cut into strips and placed inside the bike helmet. They also make good absorbent pads for scrapes and cuts. Since they are self contained in individual wrappers, they are also basically germ free until used.

Duct tape and pill bottles or film canisters (does anyone even use film anymore?)

Can one say enough good things about duct tape? Wrap several lengths of it around a pill bottle with a safety pin or two, some aspirin, some antihistamine tablets and wad in an individually wrapped wet wipe; combined with the Light Day pads, you have first aid for the most non immediate medical first aid problems until you can get to a SAG or help. The duct tape can also be used to cover rough spots on the inside of your tire or liner, tape a Light Day pad over a cut, tape an extra water bottle to your frame, patch a tear in a jersey or shorts, and generally hold things together for you.

Road ID

You should have your name, address, emergency contact and probably also your medical information as far as blood type and allergies in at least three places. This is especially important if you are riding solo. Most commonly used locations are inside the helmet and in your wallet or bike bag. I have met riders who laminate the information onto a business card and carry it in their bra, sock or shoe but these seem like less comfortable or accessible solutions. Another good solution is a soldier style dog tags on a chain around your neck. Envisioning the worst scenario of riding alone and being knocked off my bike and unconscious, I want anyone who finds me to have immediate access to the pertinent information. My solution is to wear a bright pink road id bracelet (www.roadid.com) on my wrist. Because of its color, it has the advantage of being highly visible, is easily and immediately accessible to emergency personnel and contains the important information including blood type, emergency contact, age, and in my case drug allergies.

Tweezers and tube socks

You can find mini tweezers which fit into your first aid pill bottle, depending on the size of the bottle and the size of the tweezers. Tweezers are particularly useful for pulling stuff out of the inside of your tire or liner after a flat, not to mention splinters out of the rider and small stones out of clipless pedals and clips. Tube socks are great for bike tubes. If you take your tube out of the box, powder it so it doesn’t melt or stick in hot weather and then slide it into a cotton tube sock, it will be protected from bumps and cuts, and it it will take up less room than in a box. As an added advantage, you will have a handy glove to cover and protect a body part or wipe your hands with. Write your tube size and tire pressure on the outside in permanent marker for future reference.

Cotton Bandanas or Handkerchiefs

Bandanas are good for wiping the sweat and sunscreen out of your eyes. Soak a bandana in water and keep it in a zip-lock bag and you have instant cooling by evaporation to wear on hot days, a hand and face wash, a way of wiping dirt out of a cut, and another way to fasten the Light Day pad around a deep scrape or cut, an extra booty bag tucked into the waist band of your shorts and an instant sling for a first aid emergency.

Pocket knife

It doesn’t have to be a Swiss Army knife, complete with all the blades, bottle opener, nail file, and toothpick etc. although, if you want to haul that much extra weight around no one will stop you. All you really need is a small simple knife with a large and a small blade. Keep your blades sharp, wipe them down occasionally with rubbing alcohol, and you’ll be able to spare your teeth on the duct tape, cut off a piece of tire patch, tighten a screw without getting out the tool kit, scrape a bee stinger out of your skin and a multiple of other delightful applications. Plus if you get stuck somewhere waiting for rescue, you can always whittle something.

Whistle
I wear a coach’s’ whistle around my neck when I ride. I use it instead of a bell in traffic and emergency situations to warn people that I am coming up on them when I toot it gently and then harder as needed. I also use it when riding with someone else to signal if there is a problem. It also seems to work well on loose dogs, at least for me.

Everything Balm by Goodies Unlimited ( www.goodiesunlimited.com )

This balm contains a veritable treasure trove of good healing stuff ranging from bees wax and shea butter through evening primrose and several other healing oils including tea tree, calendula and peppermint. This makes it a sovereign remedy for chapped lips, cold sores, sun burn, a general disinfectant for cuts and scrapes, quicker healing for bruises and bites. The peppermint oil makes it a particularly soothing after ride external salve for nether regions, saddle sores, and general itchiness and chapping. Strictly speaking, this is in my luggage rather than with me on the bike, but it is still invaluable.

Propel or Electrolyte replacement

You can buy a variety of powdered electrolyte replacement drinks in individual serving sized packets. As the day and the ride progress, you will probably find that you are more and more sensitive to sweet tastes. This will allow you to water down your drink over the course of the ride, so that by the end of the ride you are drinking plain or only slightly flavored water. This is a good thing as it will help all flush your body. Carry a couple of servings with you in a zip lock. That way you can use less than a full tube on each refill as the day progresses. The latest copy of Outside Magazine has an article on a new electrolyte mixture that you can make at home which allows your body to benefit from the energy provided by metabolizing two types of sugar( maltodextrin and fructose) at the same time. Whatever you use, the electrolyte replacement helps prevent dehydration and aids recovery time. If you are really paranoid about leaks and messy powders in your bike bag, use a little tab of duct tape to seal the partial portion of a pre packaged tube shut. Of course if it is in a zip lock bag, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Chamois Butter

Everyone knows about butt butter as a lubricant for the nether regions, but on this long ride I discovered Paceline Chamois Butt’r in individual packets. For me, each packet was good for three generous applications. The individual packs allow you to carry a refill without having to take along the big tube from the suitcase. Carry it in a snack size zip lock and even if it leaks, you won’t mess up your camel back or bike bag.

Sarongs and t-shirts

Strictly speaking, this is an after ride hint and probably applicable only for women although I’m pretty sure a self assured man could carry it off in his own fashion as well. After a long day in tight fitting bike clothes and sports bra, the last thing I want to wear off the bike is anything close fitting or restrictive. My solution is a 48” x 70” piece of soft cotton material with an optional fringe at both ends, cotton underwear and a comfortable t shirt. By wrapping the sarong around my hips and tying it I can create a long casual skirt to pair with the t shirt. If I put it behind my back, wrap and cross it in front and tie it behind my neck I have an easy sundress or cover up for a bathing suit, wrapped under my arms and tucked into itself it makes a handy cover up for dashing to the communal bathroom in common housing situations. If I add sandals and a bit of jewelry, I will probably never again have to worry about the weight of extra blouses and pants in my suitcase again on long tours.

Yeah, sarongs are so versatile!

I have one that I put into practice, today -- pickle juice for cramps (or to ward off imminent cramps).

I'd always heard this worked and I like pickles, but had never tried it. I had 3 disastrous marathons, thanks to cramping issues in my calves.

Today during a humid and hilly century ride I was feeling that familiar tightness that precedes cramps. About 5 miles from the finish we made a quick stop at a convenience store to refill bottles and because one of our riders was having blood sugar issues (we're on a JDRF fundraising team; he was having issues an his blood sugar meter battery died, so he called his mom to rescue him). I decided to buy a pre-packaged pickle in juice to see if it would help my issues.

And it totally did. I was popping Endurolytes like candy and guzzling Powerade like there was no tomorrow...and still feeling the tightness. Within a mile of sucking down that pickle juice (a few oz. worth) my legs had relaxed...it was astounding. NOW I see why ultra runners swear by the stuff!