What will you NOT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT?

[HappyAnika]

For anyone who is relying on cell phones for flats:
What if your battery is dead?
What if you're out of range?
What if no one you know is home/answering their phone?

PLEASE! learn how to change a flat. It can be really frustrating the first time, but then its really easy. Just practice at home. If you have a hard time using frame pumps, carry a mini pump and the CO2 cartridges. Then you still have the option of calling for help, but you also have the confidence of knowing you don't ever have to be stuck. You owe it to yourself and your family to be independent.

With that said, here's to flat-free riding!

[Geonz]

I agree ... I'm not *good* at flats but I can fix 'em (I keep the box so I can follow the directions). I'll accept help - but it's nice to know I don't have to.

[Denise223]

Hi Everyone!

Thank you all for your very informative replies to this post. This thread will be extremely helpful to everyone - especially those that are new to the wonderful world of cycling .

I am very happy to have found this site and to be a part of an exceptional group of women.

I will be meeting up with a woman from TE who has offered to show me how to change a tire on my bike. I am extremely grateful to her. It really means a lot to me.... Thank you again

Have a peaceful evening!

Denise

[kelownagirl]

I agree about fixing flats. I insisted Erik show me how to change a tube and then the next time we had to change one, I did it myself so I felt confident I'd be able to do it myself. It's actually pretty easy and I'm so glad I know how to do it now...

[latelatebloomer]

The onlyt thing I carry that hasn't been mentioned is a nicely broken-in bandana. Wet & tied around the neck, it keeps me from overheating on tougher PA afternoons. I figure it will also serve as tourniquet, bandage, washcloth, toilet paper...

or bandit mask, if I decide to go bad.

[SouthernBelle]

The onlyt thing I carry that hasn't been mentioned is a nicely broken-in bandana. Wet & tied around the neck, it keeps me from overheating on tougher PA afternoons. I figure it will also serve as tourniquet, bandage, washcloth, toilet paper...

or bandit mask, if I decide to go bad.

I was about to post the same thing! When I get a newer faster bike, I can take up robbery as a sideline.

[FreshNewbie]

In case nobody mentioned this : I always have pair of latex gloves in my bag to change the tire, multi tool, two spare tubes, phone, id, cash, snacks. Doing some shopping for tire levers and pump now

[SadieKate]

Tiny little bottle of hand sanitizer if I know only portapotties (or the really gross Pope Valley restrooms) will be available.

[Kano]

I'm seeing stuff listed that I need to acquire -- thank you!

I "found" a new can't ride without it today: spare batteries for my camera!

Camera comes along on my rides, and most of the time I don't use it, but today I had a few things I took pictures of, and then had a dead battery the next time. This wasn't so bad -- the river will be there next weekend, but later, there was the "SLOM" sign on the pavement that would have been fun to snap a picture of, and the biker hauling one of those water bike things on a trailer, and even better, and darn it, missed, the Osprey in flight, and the pair of eagles in a tree...

Yup, spare batteries for the camera is a new essential!

Karen in Boise

[Bad JuJu]

In case nobody mentioned this : I always have pair of latex gloves in my bag to change the tire, multi tool, two spare tubes, phone, id, cash, snacks. Doing some shopping for tire levers and pump now

Hey, these would come in handy for that life-of-crime that latelatebloomer and SouthernBelle are contemplating--you don't want to leave any fingerprints, ladies.

[margo49]

Good for delivering babies by the roadside with too!
Or anything else involving damsels in distress!

[Lise]

Good for delivering babies by the roadside with too!
Or anything else involving damsels in distress!

Now there's a thought. For delivering a baby by the roadside, I would want:

A tarp (clean surface for the woman & baby). A couple of clean, dry towels, OR newspaper (to dry and wrap the baby). Some latex/rubber gloves for me would be nice. Some dental floss (to tie off the umbilical cord).

If push came to shove (as it were ), I'd settle for some newspaper and dental floss.
And a cell phone.
............................
Margo, good to see you around. Every time I think of the ME, I'm doing a meditation BikerZ suggested: Breathe in chaos, fear, and violence, breathe out peace and safety. Makes me feel like I'm doing something. You're all very much in our minds & hearts. L.

[Kitsune06]

I *never* leave home without:
helmet, gloves, water (either hydrapak or bottle)
In my hydrapak:
light pump, patch kit, multi tool(invaluable. The only time I left it home, my seat post clamp decided to go loose... 5 miles into a 20 mile ride.

Tubes HAD slime in them... Will repeat this asap w/ my new tires'n tubes.

I strongly suggest the mechanically inclined take some time and go to the park tool site to read up on basic maintenance etc.
The mechanically uninclined should take a women's only course to learn their mechanisms.
You share miles and hours with your steed- please! know him/her/it well!

[DebW]

The mechanically uninclined should take a women's only course to learn their mechanisms.

That could mean alot of different things (depending on who/what the pronoun "their" refers to).

[run it, ride it]

That could mean alot of different things (depending on who/what the pronoun "their" refers to).

If unsure, wear bicycle shorts to the session. With the safety of padding and without the encumberance of underpants, you're set for whatever they have to teach you!