Safety-A Mother's Concern (Long and a little funny)

[Cataboo]

My mom still calls me most nights and asks if my doors are locked, if I'm scared, and tells me to go to sleep. Definitely if she's seen something about a murder or rape on the news. My biking does freak her out - but she's more worried about me being hit by car.

That being said - I do carry more than you do, especially on longer rides... and especially if I'm going alone. I do tend to ride in rural farm land, and the closest friends/relatives that I'd feel comfortable calling to come rescue me live an hour away. Now, I suppose there's co-workers who live near me, who'd be fine with coming to rescue me... But I feel bad about the "Yeah, I don't really hang out with you, but I'm willing to use you when I need help" and am not likely to do that unless I absolutely have to and if I absolutely have to, I'm probably injured to the extent that I need a first aid kit.

I tend to just keep a bag packed for biking, have another that I keep packed for hiking, and another for skiing, and there's a set in a dry bag for my kayak ... And pretty much they all have the same basic supplies.

I have a deuter race x air 1 backpack/hydration pack that I carry with:
- small multitool with knife in it (I have a couple different leatherman's... one stays in my hiking backpack, one stays in my biking backpack, one stays in my car)
- bike tool
- chain tool
- spare chain connector (I use sram chains, so their powerlock thingie)
- spare innertube, patches, a tire sleeve in case a tire splits (on longish rides, I will sometimes toss a spare tire in... just because I once passed some guy whose tire had split open and he was calling his sister to come get him)
- my cell phone
- a gps (I like having a track log)
- water
- a small first aid kit with tweezers & a suture kit
- some ibuprofen
- some duct tape (you can roll it around itself and use it for splinting or emergency repairs, whatever - and if you have to duct tape a wound closed, it works)
- a couple velcro straps
- a cliff bar or two, some cliff shot blocks
- one of those thermal blankets
- a lightweight wind/rain shell (I use the arc'teryx squamish pullover, extremely light... ), depending on the season I'll have a wool layer in my bag.
- a map
- a blinky light, a dot stick:
http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-DOT-S...0016844&sr=8-1
- a headlamp for the bike
- a reflective striping vest
- a kit of waterproof matches
- road ID
- a credit card
- a few dollars
- safety whistles just attach to my pack.


My deuter pack isn't that big, it does have a vented back panel so my back doesn't get sweaty, and yeah, it's probably a few more pounds... but there's more than a few spare pounds on me and I like the peace of mind. And most things have been added to the pack in response to something on a trip and realizing "oh crap, it would have been really handy to have that..."

[Cataboo]

If I know I'm only going 10 miles or so... I have a little seat bag that's packed a lot more minimally, still the tools & innertube.

[redrhodie]

Wow, you are prepared!

I switched bikes the other day, and in checking my saddle pack, realized I'd been riding all winter without my CO2 pump. How's that for prepared??? Flats happen way more on wet roads, so I'm lucky that I made the discovery the good way.

[MomOnBike]

You got off easily. When I went on my solo tour (the first of many - more to come) my brother wanted me to haul my gun along. Nope, the gun probably weighs as much as the bike, so somehow I forgot it - never needed it, either.

I do second the idea of a knife at all times, though, they are endlessly useful. Of course, basic bike/person repair stuff (pump, patches, bandaids, blanket, etc.) are always on your bike. Right? /Mother mode

The rest of the safety stuff fall into the category of "It Depends." Maybe you should expain why, say, the shark cage won't be terribly useful if you are riding in a desert, but you'll be sure to use one if conditions warrent. Likewise with any other thing she comes up with.

Remind your mother of all the lessons she taught you about safety and finding yourself, and, um all that. After all, you learned from the best!

[Eden]

Geezum.... after that berating I feel like I go out practically naked...
I carry
2 bottles
1 or 2 food bars depending on the length of my ride
1 spare tube
2 co2 cartridges
1 minipump (doesn't really pump past 70psi so just a get you out pump..)
1 patch kit
2 tire levers
cell phone
wallet stuff - credit card, bus pass, insurance card, starbux card...

Granted I am riding on the road, in very populated urban areas with a high unlikely hood of being far from habitations or out of cell range, but on training rides if it won't fit in my little seat pack or in my pockets it doesn't come with me..... I've found the longer I've been riding the less I feel the need to carry.

[Zen]

Grayson, she didn't tell you "don't forget your rubbers?"
no not those kind of rubbers

[PamNY]

Sylvania-DOT-Stick-Bonus-Batteries

Those Dot sticks look nifty. I usually carry something in my purse in case of a blackout. Do those provide enough light to be of use -- for example, on the subway? Grayson, don't mean to hijack your thread -- I'm sure your mom would approve of safety-related discussions.

Pam

[Flybye]

What about lipstick and deodorant in case you run into Lance?
Here are a few things that might come in handy:
A sewing kit - for those awkward moments when cycling shorts develop a hole in the rear end.
Portable Privacy room - for those times in the countryside when nature calls.
Slingshot - for dogs.
Binoculars, a pad of paper, and a pen - to write license plate numbers down of motorist who are terrible drivers.
Laptop - to pull up the law about drivers and cyclist to show to motorists.
Umbrella - keep rain off or act as a sail in a tailwind.

[GraysonKelly]

What about lipstick and deodorant in case you run into Lance?

ROTFL!!! My mom would ECSTATIC if I carried lipstick especially if it was to attract Lance or any other man. LOL!
Gray

[Cataboo]

Those Dot sticks look nifty. I usually carry something in my purse in case of a blackout. Do those provide enough light to be of use -- for example, on the subway? Grayson, don't mean to hijack your thread -- I'm sure your mom would approve of safety-related discussions.

Pam

It depends on what you want to do with them... I'm not sure I'd read a book with them - but they're plenty bright for signaling or making your way around... you can either use them as a steady light or have them blink. They're lightweight.

[smilingcat]

And be sure to tell a family member of your route and when to expect you home. (and to send out a Search&Rescue team out if you don't return home by some pre-arranged time).

pepper spray anyone?? Was that on the list?? Its not just for people ya know. works really well on nasty mean dawgs. don't get me wrong. I love dogs. We have a lab and a golden.

what I carry:
2 water bottles
a spare tube
a patch kit
2 CO2 cartridge
2 tire levers
cell phone
about $10.00 in cash
extra aspirin
paper towel (to wipe clean of my glasses if it gets too grimy.)
chap stick cherry flavor
a luna bar.

smilingcat