That would be BikerZ. Not moi. I merely kowtow at her feet (as she spends my money).Quote:
Originally Posted by maillotpois
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That would be BikerZ. Not moi. I merely kowtow at her feet (as she spends my money).Quote:
Originally Posted by maillotpois
I prefer other people to bring more stuff than less with them.
Why does it matter to me?
Because I'm the kind soul that ends up giving a spare tube (I usually carry two) or a CO2 cartridge to someone who's stuck on the side of the road and didn't have the good sense of bringing their own. I'm not talking about the guy that had gone through four tubes on a rainy day, but the people that bring NOTHING. Then they try to call someone on their cell phone and they're out of range or something.
I've also loaned water bottles and my spare gloves. Of course I could have let them freeze their fingers off and enjoy the toasty dry gloves myself, but mine were not that awful and it sort of would have ruined the ride if a fellow club member lost her fingers, no?
I've also been on the receiving end of a phone call for help and while I didn't mind (it was an unpredictable mechanical problem: who brings spare cranks and pedals on rides??!), if it would have been a simple flat tire it would have made me... cranky.
So I'm happy for people to bring the kitchen sink with them on bike rides. Who knows, if I have an urgent need to do dishes I can borrow it from them just like others have "borrowed" tubes from me!
LeeBob frequently has old bagels and cream cheese handy.:pQuote:
Originally Posted by Grog
Uh oh, moderator in the house, play nice. ;)
I blame jobob for my seat bag. I used to use a cute little hawaiian print bag that just barely held my stuff. Now I've got a giant (to me) Banana Bag that contains
1 tube inside an old sock
multi tool
speed lever
spare car door opener (after locking my keys in the car before a ride)
copy of drivers licence, insurance and a credit card in my jimi wallet
snax -- fig newtons are a favorite
sunscreen stick or small spray bottle
cell phone
Purell wipes
spare camera battery (charged)
patch kit - although I don't know why, I hate patching tubes. :rolleyes:
bandana -- instead of kleenex
On the bike, two water bottles, pump, computer
I also have a small bento box that holds my digital camera.
Map/cue sheet holder
Depending on where I'm riding, I might have a Krebs map
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h1.../bananabag.jpg
I was wondering if anyone would mention this. I haven't yet done group rides, but I've certainly done hiking and camping and the people who didn't bring a spare whoozit are a pain.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grog
I marvel at lack of emergency preparedness in general. I loaned out ALL my flashlights and camping lanterns and extra batteries during the blackout. Not that I mind loaning; I was just shocked at how many people had no emergency lighting, no battery radio, etc.
Pam
Propel - because Gatorade and all of it's cousins make me throw up when I ride, and at least Propel has a few vitamins and electrolytes not present in plain water. I substitute Propel and dried fruits which I can tolerate for the Gatorade and energy bars that I cannot.
Magnifying glass - I am dam' near blind for near vision. Distance vision is fine. Sure, I take my reading glasses with me. But as my decrepitude continues to advance, I find I can't read things like fine print, map details, or I need an extra boost in low light or when I'm very tired. Packing a magnifying glass because you're going blind isn't silly. It's foresight.
Maps - Really now. Until such time as you can get GPS implanted directly into your head, maps are still useful
Tiny tube of sunscreen - skin cancer runs in my family, my dad's had it twice and a cousin died of it. OK with you if I touch up the nose and face where I've sweated or rubbed the sunscreen off on long rides? That's a good idea for everybody spending hours in the sun.
valve stem and caps - came with my inner tube repair kit and I see no reason to sort them out and toss them. The caps I've used on occasion when I've lost one in the grass or in a puddle, they keep dirt out of the valve stem, I find them useful. They weigh next to nothing and take up no extra space, packed inside the tube repair kit as they are.
rain gear (for long rides), ditto spare shorts - I choose not to risk being cold and wet if I can avoid it. On occasion, I've been so cold after having to ride in the rain that I have thrown up while experiencing extreme chills - in the summer. Rain gear helps me to stay warm and dry, or at least to warm up when I get caught in a downpour and have to take shelter. I'm hypothyroid, that tends to make me more sensitive to cold, but it doesn't make me silly.
Bike lock - If I'm going grocery shopping or need to stop at a gas station to pee, I don't think the store owner is required to accommodate me AND my bike. Leaving it outside is only being considerate, and leaving it locked up is only sensible. Besides, I don't want to have to drag it along with me when I have more important things to do, like pick up groceries. Or pee. It's just in MY way as well as being a problem to others.
Camelbak - clearly you prefer water bottles. I prefer a camelbak. So what?
Bandaids - seriously, you want to bust my chops over BANDAIDS?
I could go on but I'm not going to bother. This was about you knocking the newby down to size, you don't care what I pack or why.
You know there were any number of non-judgmental ways to ask why I carry this or that. Simply saying "I never thought of taking an extra pair of gloves along, how have you found that useful"? or "I have this thing called a "tire boot" and this is what it does and this is how to use it, that's what I use instead of carrying a spare tire, do you think that might work for you?"
But instead you chose to be just as confrontational as you possibly could over such trivial items as the extra valve caps and stem that come in my inner tube repair kit, a few bandaids, a tiny thing of sunscreen.
Something you might consider as well, your definition of a long ride and someone else's definition of the same thing are highly likely NOT to match. From your comment about sponsors' logos on your bike shorts it would seem you have at least semi-professional standing in the cycling world, if not pro.Quote:
YOUR RIDES ARE SHORT ENOUGH YOU CAN WAIT TO GET HOME . . . YOUR RIDES ARE SHORT ENOUGH YOU DON'T REALLY NEED . . .
So maybe you can do a 50 mile ride in a couple of hours or less, and that seems "short" to you, but I take a more leisurely pace. A 50 mile ride is INTENTIONALLY an all day thing for me. I like to take it easy and go tooling through the countryside at my leisure, making frequent stops to watch somebody's horses for awhile, or to enjoy the wildflowers or birdsong, or just to sit in the shade and munch a few dates and slug back a bit of Propel (substitute the sports drink of your choice for yourself).
When you ride like that, you're at a higher risk for sudden changes in the weather, like rain, or high winds, or even, on occasion, hail and thunderstorms (I've weathered more than one of those in somebody's outbuilding with the hail peppering the metal roof). Sometimes a property owner or their kids will come out and talk to me when I stop to take a break, ask me about my bike, just have a casual conversation. I've never had anybody run me off or be rude to me when I'm off on a rural jaunt (except for rare occasions when I'm WAY off the beaten track and I have a problem with dogs running loose, and ignoring the occasional moron in a motor vehicle who throws or spits something at you).
Everything doesn't have to be YOUR way. The way you ride isn't the only correct way. If I'm carrying different things with me than you do, that's not silly, it's simply a reflection of my different outlook and needs.
No. This presupposes an ability on your part to judge what is silly; not only the ability, but the RIGHT to do so. It also shows a condescending and dismissive attitude to what you think isn't important that has no basis in reality and is surely not rooted in compassion.Quote:
Additionally, while I believe there should be a "safe" place to post your concerns there should also be the attitude of "If I post something that is just silly can you girls set me straight?"
I have good reasons for packing the things that I pack. It works for me. If you find something of value there, welcome to it; if not, that's not a license to beat me over the head with your silliness bludgeon.
Different isn't silly. It's just different.
Some of us just like to take our time, to look without judging or compartmentalizing, not to hurry. There's always time to hurry; it's making time to take your time that sometimes seems difficult, but life is so much poorer if you don't. If you want to shake your head over it, feel free. Just don't expect me to hurry up. Every now and then, promises can wait a bit, while I take all day for a 50 mile bike ride.Quote:
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
by Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Well gee you just never know when hunger strikes! :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by SadieKate
Actually, that's a pretty cool idea. If you are willing, please let us know if you really do put that together and put it up on your site.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vireo
Glad to help. Bwah hah hah. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by snapdragen
+1! Vireo(Can well call you george?) do you just have info on roadie stuff or mtb stuff as well on your training site?
In terms of a roadie ride-I just carry a phone, change, id & keys in my little ground effect wallet thing. If i'm doing 50km+ I'll just have a baggie with my drink stuff & fill up at at the beach(the pee stop) plus a couple of clif blok packages.
Mtn biking-Ground Effect hydration pack with phone & id, sock with co2 cartidges w little pump top thing, multi tool & a gu or raisins or whatever else I choose.
Sk-thanks for the coolio seat like Madame Snap has. :)
Oh, Jobob-why not have leebob toast the old bagels?
I would like to add my two cents!
I agree with Zen, as to me - a 20 mile ride IS LONG. Im frail, still and although I would love to be able to get by with a banana and a bottle of electrolytes, it takes me a while to cycle that. I cant eat at cafes due to allergies so have to carry food stocks, like Im riding bush rides.
My work commute is about 45 - 50 min ( about 25 km) but I add for that( Im a pack rat linus person anyhow!)
codeine ( I get migraines too)
sunscreen( a nifty tiny tube, for lips ears and nose, as we have high skin cancer here)
contact lens solution( as my eyes turn bright red and scare the cafe people without it.)
a towel( to shower before work)
whatever work clothes I need
wallet( with too much crap in it.)
So its pannier time.
I do agree with the race chick, less can be good. Im working on that!
but I think taking bike into shops is a no no here( as much as I like the idea of not letting it out of my sight) the Mall is gonna have other ideas, sadly.( I mean , why shouldnt I take my bike? People take their prams, and wheelchairs but I digress..) A lock is essential sometimes. I do admire someone who breaks the non bike barriers, good on ya!
I dont carry patches, rather tubes as my best riding bud, said - those dont work so well for road bikes. Besides tubes are cheap.
Sadly, I get cold, even in summer so I am always carrying around heaps of clothes I am shedding and re-wearing, Its annoying but from a virus so cant be fixed. I was once insulted by a cycle shop mech who sneered at my pile of jumpers in a pannier , on a 28 km ride. I had a two hour wait,later at a friends and wore them all later that day. I would love to be someone who sets off like those gorgeously fast riders in packs that whip around in shorts and a jacket, on frosty mornings( and ride my commute in like 25 minutes!)
I also had a handsome guy rider give me a spare tube cap. People who have spares rock, if your one of them, I love you! I have ADD and I KNOW someday I will lose my rear ,even clutching it with both hands so someday, I may need you kind people!
And racers, someday I hope to be like you . Lean,mean riding machines with a banana and bottle of water( and NO BAGS!)
I get cold too, its being hypothyroid. I've never actually tried to carry around extra clothes because if it won't fit in my camelbak or the seat bag I generally leave it.Quote:
Originally Posted by cylegoddess
Although with the rear racks permanently mounted now, there's no reason I couldn't stick a sweater in a dry bag and take it with me if I'm on a ride where I'll be stopping off at a shop or restaurant.
People who don't get cold really don't understand people who do. Imagine being stuck in a walk in freezer for hours. The warmth just leaches out and the cold bites into your bones and you cannot get warm no matter what you do - that's what it's like for me more often than not. I am cold ALL the time, often even when I'm wearing a sweater and people around me are too hot.
Getting caught in a summer shower is like being forced to take an ice bath for me.
I hate it when somebody is rude to you like your bike mechanic. I am NOT thin and I doubt I ever will be again, but I get around pretty well nevertheless. I was on a SAGged ride a couple of years ago where this guy and his friends kept passing me, and every time he'd pass me, he'd come up from behind and start barking at me, "Woof! Woof! Woof woof woof woof WOOF!"
His friends weren't doing it but they weren't telling him to shut up either.
And btw, it just occurred to me, if he was all that as a cyclist and I'm such a dog, how the heck did I keep getting ahead of him? I didn't realize it, but they must have been passing me on the climbs and then I was passing them on the flats. Never heard a word out of them when I passed them, I guess that's why I didn't realize before how this was happening.
OMG, I would NOT have been able to keep my mouth shut and he would have been calling me the female version of "woof" at me afterwards :DQuote:
Originally Posted by ZenSojourner
Well normally I would have too, but this was the first ride of the season, they were passing me on long climbs, and at that point I didn't have the BREATH to cuss 'em out, LOL!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZenSojourner
What are you talking about?
I did not criticize you or correct you. I was not snarky. I asked a question, and I presented my thoughts which were in contrast to yours. And yes, it is okay to disagree with someone or indicate that you do things differently. What is not okay is to jump all over someone for responding with a differing viewpoint.
I forgot I sent that to the crazy lady down under.Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycanuck
All the long road rides around here have no food and water for purchase, so I started using my Detours High Tail more frequently and got very spoiled by not having all that weight in my jersey (not to mention I can actually pull something out of a pocket while riding). Love the thing. This coming from someone who was raised in a culture to use only tiny bike bags, your pockets and short white socks.:p
And I noticed DeTours now has tres cool new recycled bags. Hmm, I have a new mixte still be to be accessorized for maximum around town shopping expeditions.
What are my must haves?
Flat repair kit (2 tubes, CO2, chuck, boot, one lever which are neatly bound by electrical tape) which I can shove in my middle pocket
ipod
gels (if it's a 3+ hour ride)
2 bottles
Showers Pass Protech shell (if it's cold and looking like rain) which I shove under my jersey when I'm not wearing it, though it could fit in a pocket if I have a free one.
I get by without a seat bag on most of my rides. If I ride in the mountains, I throw it on the bike because it leaves an extra pocket for additional gels.
You know very well what I'm talking about.Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
I responded that if you thought that little bit - everything fits in my seat bag or in my camelbak - is going to weigh you down so much that you won't be able to get up the hills, maybe training was what you needed?Quote:
This is a lot of stuff. You carry extra shorts and gloves on every ride over 50 miles?
I try to strike a balance between being prepared and keeping the overall weight of bike+rider to a minimum. I have enough trouble getting up hills without extra stuff weighing me down.
That was ALSO posed as a "question", but it was no more a real question than yours was.
I found it to be sarcastic in a sort of petty way, which is how I defined snarky, and I snarked right back.
Note that I also started the whole response with a remark about MY OWN weight, so I wasn't really going after you anymore than I was "going after" myself.
Now if I had TRULY been pissed off - which I was not, just annoyed - I either wouldn't have responded at all or I'd have taken a long time to do so.
However, since then this constant bickering back and forth over two snarky postings, neither one of which should really ever have been posted, has gotten just plain silly.
So here's what, I should never have responded to the first posting. It was a minor, petty snarky comment and it was petty and snarky of me to respond in kind.
Mea culpa. I apologize.
Hopefully that's an end to it.
ZenS and nyc biker:Quote:
Originally Posted by ZenSojourner
If it's not, I will step in.
Thank you.
Tee hee! <sarcasm> as a stick up my butt, elitist, spandex wearing, "you are not worthy to polish my carbon fiber with your ExOfficio panties" racer snob I've found that my IUD is a much better solution. Not only is it incredibly lightweight, but I don't have periods anymore. I find this to be insanely beneficial to my rigorous training schedule of "Hmmm, today looks like a good day for a ride," and my strenuous weight lifting program of long neck bottle lifts (6 reps thankyouverymuch!). </sarcasm>Quote:
Originally Posted by Miranda
Kitchen sink bringers might do well to avoid looking at this. I got this bag from the Topeak rep and I love it!
http://www.topeak.com/products/Bags/ProPackMicro
It holds a tube, my Park MT-1 "multi-tool," CO2 cartridge and levers. If I really beat on it I can get some chapstick in there. I suppose for anything above 50 miles I might switch to my slightly larger bag and take two tubes, two CO2 just in case.
Otherwise I throw my Jimi wallet in my back pocket with my phone, some grub in said pockets and call it good.
I can empathize with those who bring what seems to others as a lot of stuff. I was very much the same way for a long time and then inevitably I'd regularly forget something, or it would get taken out of the pack and a few rides would go by and I'd realize I didn't need it.
I took an outdoor living skills/survival class a while back and one of our outings was to simulate being lost on a day hike. We had to have our packs weighed beforehand, couldn't be over ten pounds. Essentially an extra layer or two and snacks was all we could bring. So we had to build and sleep in emergency shelters in November, at 3500 feet.
Perhaps that has an impact on my minimalist packing. Sure I could bring a boo boo kit, but is a bandaid going to really make my scraped up palms feel any better riding home? Probably not. Major flesh wounds will be addressed with whatever piece of apparel fits the bill, and in that case my phone will do lots more good.
And to this day whenever I travel I bring oh, about ten pairs more socks and underwear than I could possibly need. Why? Because once when I was young I had to spend a week at my dad's and forgot underwear. It was awful and despite only being 15-20 miles from my mom's I didn't dare say anything to my dad because uh, well I haven't talked to him in 8 years if that says anything. Inside out underwear, not too terribly uncomfortable though.
I have to let you guys know that if i am going to be on a ride that is going to last more than a few hours and therefore, with more than one temperature, I'm going to bring extra gloves too. Why why would i rough it? gloves don't weigh anything. I might bring 2 extra pairs! and you know what, when it gets hot out, my hands get icky and sweaty. how nice to change gloves.
And bandaids? most of the people I ride with carry little first aid kits. Maybe I'm going to be home in 30 minutes, but maybe i'm going to be out all day. And just maybe, I'm going to run into a 10 year old who just crashed his bike! he might like a bandaid.
If i am riding with faster friends, I will wear a camelbak in the summertime even for a 25 mile ride. Why? I can drink at my leisure and in comfort.
I have a buddy who carries practically everything and the kitchen sink. He and a friend were on a 200k ride where something broke in the crank. My friend had EVERYTHING they needed to fix it and they completed the ride.
I REALLY like riding with that guy.
I agree with some of the other posters on here. Each of us is entitled to having our VERY own list of what we feel we "MUST HAVE" on a ride. I see no need to critique other people's lists. what they carry on their bike is their prerogative.
Along with the basics for fuel, tire changing and ID, I carry a baggie with some various sized bandaids, including some really big ones, some antiseptic wipes, a few ibuprofin, and a papertowel.
I was with a friend when she crashed, and we used just about everything in my little baggie. Fortunately, she was not seriously hurt, and it was not necessary to call an ambulance or anything, but it sure was nice to be able to bandage up that road rash. I scraped my leg one time on a ride, and the rest of the ride was much more enjoyable since I was able to put something on the cut and not have blood running down my leg and messing up my cute Sock Guy socks. :)
Hello,
This is my first post, so pretty please be nice! I've been considering commuting to/from work (right now I only ride on the weekends/evenings on road/easy MTB trails). I work rotating 12-hour shifts from 5.30 AM to 5.30 PM (or vice versa), so depending on the time of year, one or both of my rides to/from work are in the dark. Given this, I was searching the web for must haves for nighttime commuter biking and came across this thread....
Does no one ride in the dark? No one mentioned carrying or having installed lights or reflectors on their bikes?! Are they just not helpful? Right now, I have two LEDs installed on the front and back of my bike and they are useful at dusk, but I haven't yet used them at night. Do you think they will be enough or should I get something else?
Any other helpful suggestions?
As for the OP's question, I usually have the following with me on any sort of ride:
helmet
sunglasses
gloves
ID
keys
$$
water
some sort of food
vitamin B
extra socks (I have a thing about sweaty socks)
bike lock (we frequently stop for beers at a brewery on the way back from a ride in a semi-seedy spot)
hey there!
I'll be nice :).
I think lights weren't mentioned possibly because: one has them on thier bike permanently or most folks were just thinking day riding?? For back lights, I have one on my bike & one on the back of my helmet. For front lights, I have a good set of Ay-up lights. Since I normally only use helmet lights (can't see with them mounted on my handlebars), these ones are great!
Yes, there are other brands but since i'm in Australia, Ay-ups are very very popular.
I would ensure that i'm visible front and back!!! Don't take your safety lightly when you ride at night. (ok, that's for all times as well but esp at night)
Just remember not to blind anyone ;) :o with your lights.
Have fun :D wweeeeeeeeeeeee
I started to ride a "longer" distance for pleasure in the end of Jan last year (I have commuted by bike since 2002). I had patch kit, tire levers & multi-tools in my saddle bag but didn't carry a pump :o This Feb, after bought my 2nd bike I carried a mini pump too. This year I ride more often by myself so I really need to be prepared.
What I must have:
* Mini pump (only 15cm in length)
* Patch kit
* Tire levers
* Multi-tools
* Plain water (one bottle for up to 30km and two for more than 30+ if I cannot refill somewhere)
* Cellphone
* Local map (optional -- when I explore a new route)
* a little money/key
I'm going to add an inner tube in my bag too. I'm thinking about carry a CO2 inflator as well, because I'm afraid that the mini pump is difficult to pump up enough pressure for road tires. :confused:
I wear helmet & gloves. My butt doesn't hurt much for a distance less than 100 km :D
I normally don't carry food for distance less than 60 km, but recently I start to put one or two candies for distance more than 40 km. Just in case.
Yes, Redhead, you caught us out. :o Most of us who've posted in this thread are recreational riders. Without going back through, I believe there were a couple of randonneurs who posted, so I don't know why they forgot to list their lights!
I, and at least half of the roadies I ride with, do have taillights zip-tied to our seat packs, since evening rides usually wind up at dusk, and winter morning rides can begin before it's fully light. I use a truly blinding taillight, actually, in addition to wearing only high-visibility jerseys and jackets day or night.
I do ride my commuter bike for SHORT rides at night (under three miles), mostly on MUPs and VERY low traffic low speed streets. On that bike I have a pro forma headlight plus a nice bright taillight. The headlight is more of a marker light - enough to be seen by low speed traffic, enough to keep me from getting pulled over by the cops, not enough to illuminate the road ahead very usefully or to be seen on higher speed roads. It's enough for the riding I do on that bike.
But there are much, much better headlights that are definitely a necessity for "real" night riding. Do a search or just browse through the commuter section here, and you'll find discussions about lighting.
If i'm doing an mtb night ride, the list of stuff I carry pretty much still applies. Just the lights would be an extra addition.
I love riding at night-fewer people on the roads :D The dirt is so much more fun at night with kangaroos rustling in the trees & spiders building thier webs!
My "Must have" list changes depending on what I'm doing....
On each of my bikes I have a small under-seat bag (tiny for the roadie, slightly larger pink furry one from TE for the pink commuter, and a nice Topeak one for the MTB) which has the basics for that bike in it. That means, a tube, a multi-tool, levers, a tiny packet of patches. Each bike also has a pump and a bracket for my AyUp lights. The MTB toolkit is a little more comprehensive - also a chain breaker, and spare quicklink and a hanger. I also have CO2 cartridges and nozzle if I am going for a decent distance or if I'm racing and time "wasted" pumping is an issue.
For road rides I actively enjoy taking as little as possible. Last year I did a metric century with only my little underseat bag with necessities as above, one waterbottle (my frame only fits one - I'm short and it's compact) a tiny pump, and what I put in my back pockets. The pockets had three snack-size ziplock bags. One had phone, credit card, $20 note, handkerchief, car key in it. Another had some jelly snakes (snack of choice)! The last had a nicely powdered second spare tube. I re-filled the waterbottle along the way and I was set!
For MTB rides I am a fair bit more risk-averse and carry a camelbak equivalent. I have renewed my first aid accreditation and carry a small first aid kit. I also carry a bag of jelly snakes and a cereal bar in case of bonking. Phone, little notebook and pen, wallet and a large hanky (useful for supplementing first aid kit if not already snotted on!) complete the kit.
If I am racing the MTB - I have a very small camelbak and the only thing in it is the phone and the cereal bar.
If I am racing the roadie (like in the tri the other week) then forget all the extra stuff - just phone, water bottle and jelly snakes!
Cycle touring - well that's where my inner Linus gets a bit to going to war with my more minimalist streak. Then I'm on the tandem with a big Topeak bag on the rack (with flip down panniers in the side pockets) and a nice little Topeak handlebar bag too. Then we're talking at least two tubes, Morph pump, camera, sunscreen, insect spray, pain relief, first aid, snacks for my small passenger in my back pocket where she can reach them, phone in back pocket so she can answer it when Daddy calls to say "I'm there already - where are you?" spray jacket for both of us, plus arm warmers and leg warmers since we usually tour in winter! Maybe even a kitchen sink? My thighs are bulging and my butt burning right now, just in anticipation of our imminent commencement of training for our upcoming 9day tour, and the thought of lugging all this gear up hills!:D
Oh - and the Garmin and the Road ID go everywhere on everything!
As for lights - I firmly believe in overkill! Too much can never be enough! Well, I would have to say this is predicated on night riding the MTB in the forest! And once you've had enough glorious light to do that, you will never want less! So I wear two sets of AyUps - one on my helmet and one on my bars. Even when just commuting or riding to my dance classes at night! They really are the best bang for the buck that you can get since they are bright, light, simple and so are their batteries. And they come in pretty colours!:D
Then I have enough red flashing things on my back to look like a Christmas tree! I have one on the back of my helmet, one hanging on the back of my backpack, one on the underseat bag, and if it is the roadie, one on the rear stay as well. I use the RoadID Firefly Supernova on my toolbag and those little "fish-shaped" ones with the loop of elastic for a tail everwhere else.
And as for reflectors - I go mad with them too! I bought some of those pretty reflective strips from TE that look like a vine and put them up the rear stays of my commuter. I have reflective tape on the back of my backpack and a piece on the back of my helmet. The shoes I wear at night have reflective spots on the back and I also wear reflective ankle bands as well. I WILL be SEEN!:)
Saddle bag and back pockets w/ all the usual stuff ( food/tubes/pump/Cyclingclubcard/money ) I also make sure I have a few sweets with me, in case of bonking and low sugar level.
I also started a few months ago to pour a few drops of olbas oil on my gloves, near a seam of my left wrist. It works wonders when my nose is slightly bloked, I just smell it for a few seconds and i am better.