I always bring my cell phone - what else should I have in there? Spare tube or patch kit and tire irons? What is everyone else carrying around.
Printable View
I always bring my cell phone - what else should I have in there? Spare tube or patch kit and tire irons? What is everyone else carrying around.
My saddle bag contains a tube, patch kit, tire levers, a CO2 pump, 2-3 spare CO2 cannisters, money, and I.D. with my name, address, insurance information, parents' phone number, etc. I also put my keys and cell phone in there during a ride. Needless to say, my saddle bag isn't itty bitty.
Tube, patch kit, tire levers, co2 pump, 6 co2 cartridges, Wrapper from powerbar or like for tire patching, Park multi-tool, chain repair tool, extra chain link, ID, mini plier for my disc pad retainers, a little money.
I think that's it. :)
Knowing how to use the stuff is important too. Can't count the number of times I've stopped to help some poor frustrated soul figure out a new pump or fix a flat. Not that I mind helping (sure don't) but sometimes they've been there quite awhile before I come by. Oh, and if you've got a tube kicking around in there you might want to protect it with something, sometimes they get holes rubbed into them while they're in a seat bag.
Add some off those non-latex gloves...changing a tube can get dirty.
Bike #1's saddle bag could fit a kitchen sink into if I tried hard enough. That holds money, snacks, CO2 inflator, cartridges, tubes, levers, a mini-tool, cell phone, keys, and room to add all my clothing that i'm ready to remove after it warms up. Bike #2's saddle bag is small. It holds money, mini-tool, CO2 inflator and cartridge, tube, levers. The essentials. It is water proof, unfortunitly, I don't have enough room to put my cell phone in there if I was to get wet, unless I rearrange and put stuff in my jersey pocket and everything else goes in my jersey pockets also.
Two tubes, tire levers, multipurpose tools,money, I.D, copies of insurance cards and emergency contact,cell phone and I can't go anywhere without my camera...old photographers never retire.
You could probably do without the camera but you never know what kind of interesting road kill you'll see.
bag #1, under the saddle contains: tool kit, spare tube, CO2, tire patch kit (bike / tire repair stuff)
bag #2, "Bento Box" on the top tube contains: ID, insurance card, benadryl, albuteral inhalor, cell phone, car key, and sometimes a Clif bar.
Tube, patch kit, tire levers, hex-key/screwdriver tool, and $20 bill (this item gets used most often). I have a pump on the bike as well. I have a bag on every bike I own (it's worth it not to have to worry that I'll have forgotten it when I most need it).
Cell phone depends on where I'm riding (there are a lot of places around here where a cell phone is just dead weight).
It depends on what you are doing. As a commuter, I keep a lot of stuff in my rack trunk. Recreational riding, or racing, or touring, etc will have different needs. The contents change when I do a century.Quote:
Originally Posted by cinnamon_toast
I agree, don't bother with patch kit etc unless you know how to use it. If you can't take a class, go to your local bike shop and ask them to show you.
The multi tool has been a good investment for me. I like being able to make my own adjustments, I've spent a lot of time with my riding buddies & the LBS learning from them. I can adjust my saddle angle in the middle of a ride, for example.
Tube, patch kit, levers, CO2 cartridge, cell phone, ID, chapstick, snack of some sort. I just don't like the feel of stuff in the back of my jersey (unless I'm commuting through the ghetto...then I keep my cell in my jersey pocket).
A girlfriend of mine just carries a cell phone. I feel a bit unprepared with just that.
IMO the minimum you need is:
tube, patch kit, 1 tire lever, money, sm. multi tool, copy of ID, and pump or co2 with 2 cartridges.
I have a very small seat bag and it all goes in there except the co2 pump...it goes in my jersey pocket along with my cell phone, a copy of my car key...no need to carry the whole key ring...and maybe a gel if I plan on going more than 30 miles. I like to travel light on the bike.
Yeah, I keep a spare tube, patch kit, mini-tool, tire levers, money (including quarters), ID, insurance card, CO2 cartridges and inflator, chapstick, and a small thing of sunblock. I usually carry my phone in my jersey pocket, although I'm finding the heat and sweat is causing some problems.
One trick with gels is to tape them to your top tube to carry them. makes them easy to access. Just make sure that your knees aren't going to hit the tube or you'll end up with some nasty paper cuts.
Would something like a ziploc sandwich bag help with sweaty phone problems? It's what we use with disposable cameras and it works great for that.
You've received good answers there.
My rule for this is: let's say you have a flat tire (a relatively common occurence) in the boonies somewhere, or in an industrial area on the weekend, five km walk from the nearest bus stop/phone booth/friend's house etc. Let's say that your DH does not answer his phone for a moment, or that your phone for some reason doesn't work. What do you need?
Which is why I make sure that I also have some way to patch a tire if it's slashed (energy bar wrappers work well for most of those, except sidewall holes, for which only a new tire will do, and then you're really stuck, but it's a much rarer occurence).
And the skills to change my own flats. As a woman, I find this especially empowering and important. I don't want to be at the mercy of any idiot who decides he wants to "help".....
Having something to boot your tire is a good idea...but there is so much trash along the sides of the road around here that I could probably pull a McGuyver and put a whole bike together if I needed to (assuming I had some mechanical ability). :p
I'm klutzy and expect to fall!
I bring two large gauze pads, two large "sport" bandaids, roll of waterproof tape, anti-bacterial cream, Tylenol, Benadryl, all in a ziplock bag. Use water from a water bottle to clean off.
I've only needed it twice, but it was great to have. The most recent time was a bike buddy doing an endo (braking, turning, hit a small pothole, up over the handlebars! :eek: ) and scraping his forearms and palms before we got riding. He opted to bandage himself up and head out for the 30 miles. I'm not sure I wouldn't have bailed at that point.
All good info in earlier posts. Two ideas, plus a question:
1) I wrap my phone is a small sheet of saran wrap - works great, no bulk.
2) If it is a long ride and I want to carry a bunch of stuff, I put my repair and first aid stuff in a tiny wedge that was meant to go under the seat, except I've rigged it up to go right under my stem, in front of the head tube. Also works great, and keeps the stuff out of my way when I'm digging for snacks, extra clothes, etc.
3) Question: how many of you have actually needed your chain tool, spoke wrenches...etc...the sort of "extra" or "over and above the minimum" tools? I don't carry chain or spoke tools, and have never needed them, but I always kind of wonder if I should?
The ABSOLUTE minimum?
A fully charged cell phone...
However... I also have a tube, levers, gas cylindar pump thingy, and a laminated card with my details in it...
Starfish... I have never needed more as I have only ever had flats on the road. However, I am thinking it might be useful to carry all these extra bits for the extra weight... it would make me stronger!!!
Starfish, I've used the chain tool on the road and trail several times, like when my rear der got toasted. Once or twice for myself, and the rest for others I've come across. Nice little bit to have and it can mean not having to hoof it back.
I've also used my chain breaker.
Have you thought about getting a Multi-tool, like a Topeak alien or Hexus? Granted, they usually don't work as well as the "full-sized" ones, but it would more compact and less stuff to forget
Thanks. I've got a small multi-tool that I carry, but have only had one lesson (a long time ago) with the chain tool...so I've got it, but don't feel confident about how I'd use it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fredwina