What do you carry and how do you carry it?

[Trek420]

I think I travel fairly light.

Any ride:
under seat bag:spare tube, tire irons, Alien multi tool in a baggie so it does not puncture tubes, patch kit, torreli mini-pump, CO2 thingy, teeny tiny first aid kit (bandages, moiste towlette, sunscreen).

Back pockets left to right: left pocket: clothing items, arm skins and or vest once I warm up, spare gloves like full finger if it's cold, middle pocket: food as in spare Luna bars from Cindysue, gorp, hammer gel, right pocket (is this too obsesive?) mini wallet with copy of driver's license and insurance card, cash (not a copy of cash) ATM or charge card, cell phone. tiny pocket knife.

On my bod: Road ID with contact phone numbers and location of ID (right rear pocket).

In my helmet: sticker with my name and address, thinking of adding "If you find me lost drop in any mailbox, return postage gauranteed."

On the bike: 2 water bottles either both electrolyte bev of choice or one EBOC & 1 of H2O. Road bike has gizmo to attach my HRM, and Cateye wireless. MTB has no gizmos but a couple of lights.

Commute add: back pack or messenger bag with blinky things, full size pump, small towel, clean shirt.

Long and or hot rides subtract the back pack and add:
camelback with water, no luggage in it but does have cords I could strap a vest on etc.

[ladyjai]

Any Ride:
-Saddlebag: 2 tubes, 1 patch kit, a boot pack, 3 alan wrenches that fit the screws I've needed to tweak on my bike. 1 eye-glasses screwdriver. 2 tire "irons". 1 spare set of contacts and contact lens case.
-2 bottle cages and up to 2 water bottles.
-1 road morph pump
-cell phone
-wallet with: $2+ in cash(or try to), debit card, med card(vital), and drivers license, and a paper with contact information.
-keys
-sunglasses and eye drops (these will be left behind if I elect to wear my prescription glasses)
-hankie (can be left behind if I'm not planning on riding hard)
-cyclometer and cadence reader.


for daily commute add:
I have a detachable seatpost rack with a bag which allows me to add 1 change of clothing, lunch, my bible, notebook, pens/pencils and whatever else I feel is vital for the day.
My bike has it's own "office" at work, so I don't bother with locking it up. i bring a lock only if I know I need to stop somewhere after work. Then I'll probably bring a back pack along as well.
-lights. even if I think I'll be home in time.


club rides and longer rides:
extra electrolyte packs and either cliffbars or probars (preferred) or some other form of energy source.
When it gets hot again, I have a camelbak for longer rides of 50+ miles.

[Quillfred]

On one bike I have a rack with rectangular bag made by Jandd. This holds about the same amount as my Deuter backpack which I use with my road bike. The Deuter is nice because it has a frame suspension which allows more air to circulate between you and the pack. I have a Camelbak that I have yet to use.

I won't bother to tell what I carry as I'm pretty much an unprepared Newbie and have yet to learn basic repair skills (which I expect to start the end of March). I mostly commute to work so I sometimes carry clothes and food. If I ever needed to carry heavy or large amounts of gear, I would definitely go with panniers.

Carole

PS - Good thread!

[DeniseGoldberg]

I have a seat bag - and pump - on each of my bikes so I don't have to worry about having the right tubes for that bike.

The seat bag contains 2 tubes, patches, tire irons, and a multi-tool. I also keep a "just in case" energy bar stashed in there too. I use a Topeak RoadMorph pump. I also usually carry some cash with me (for snacks, and also for emergencies).

I wear my id around my neck. I have an id from RoadID that contains the following info: my name, city/state, emergency contact phone numbers (2 for a good friend who lives in the same area as I do, 1 for a family member who does not), health insurance company name, the name & phone number of my primary care physician, info on allergies. Many of you have indicated that you carry an id and insurance info. That's what I used to carry - but as I learned from experience that leaves a very big hole in the area of emergency contact. (Of course, if you are riding with your emergency contact that's probably extra information!).

For short rides I use water bottles, for long rides water bottles containing Gatorade + a CamelBak containing water.

--- Denise

[uk elephant]

Reading all your comments here, I realize I'm totally unpreprared when I go out (granted I don't go very far, but 15 miles is still a long way to walk home if I had to). I just jump on my bike and head out with a water bottle in it's cage and a phone if my BF is there to remind me to take it.

Luckily I hear rumors that Bikeless in WI has a hydration pack waiting for me....she (and the pack?) will be arriving in just a month for a bit of hiking in the Scottish hills. After that I should be better prepared. And I am planning a shopping trip to REI in May. What should I buy? Multitool? Repair kit? (do they come with instructions?)

On my commute to work, I of course carry a back pack (as all Norwegians do) with my lunch, some water, a dry t-shirt, and my knitting (for keeping me occupied on the train).

[maillotpois]

I've started using this little wallet thingy. Works great and comes in many delicious flavors!

http://www.thejimi.com/index.php

[SadieKate]

Yum! I'm currently using my pink Trashy Cat change purse, but this looks really useful for us flyfisherpersons also.

Bubba's bday is coming . . . toddling off to my credit card.

Thanks!

[Nanci]

I use those too! I have them in my Bento Box, with their little chains attached so they don't blow out on the ride on the rack. I put Jelly Belly Sport Beans in one, and Succeed Electrolyte Caps in the other. Refill as necessary!

Nanci

[SadieKate]

That change purse is a really good marketing idea. Goes into my jersey pocket fine also. Driver's license, credit card and some bills. Much more durable than the Ziplock snack bag wallet.

[Brandi]

what is a bento box? I know what they are in Japan or at my sushi resturant! But what are they and where can I get one?

[SadieKate]

I didn't look. Does TE have them?

http://www.rei.com/product/47919280.htm

[Brandi]

where do you put it?

[SadieKate]

http://www.all3sports.com/product_in...ento-box-large

[Nanci]

I've seen 'em back attached to the top tube/seatpost, too, for people who want two.

Nanci

[SadieKate]

Must be really, really skinny people.

If the velcro on your seatbag isn't wrapped just perfectly, you can eat a $100 plus pair of shorts in no time (even a $2 pair probably gets eaten as fast ).