What are your "must haves"?

[Heifzilla]

When you ride, what absolutely, positively must come with you?

I just started really riding, and I need to start carrying some more gear with me. For the "in case of". I know I should probably carry an extra innertube and a pump, but what else do you guys consider must haves?

[Becky]

For a road ride:

Spare tube
Patch kit
Tire levers
Pump
Multi-tool
ID bracelet
Copies of my driver's license and insurance card
Keys
Cell Phone
Food
Water and sports drink (1 bottle each)

For MTB:
Swap the bottles for a Camelbak
Add a map, first aid kit, more food, and a space blanket.

[Geonz]

If you have a cell phone and a friend with a van, it makes up for a lot

My bag looks a lot like Becky's, though, except the keys. I can't find them anywhere.

[Biciclista]

for any ride:
HELMET
GLOVES
protective glasses.

For rides more than 1 mile:
pump, tube, multi tool, tire levers, cell phone

for rides more than 10 miles:

water

[Zen]

gum
water

[sundial]

gum
water

Such a minimalist.

[ny biker]

Adding to Becky's list: a pocket pack of tissues and a small bottle of Purell. And band-aids in assorted sizes.

[RoadRaven]

If you have a cell phone and a friend with a van, it makes up for a lot

Yup, that's pretty much me.
Cell phone, water and sometimes my MP3. If I am intending to ride for more than 90 minutes then I'll take a fruit/muesli bar with me as well.

No pump/spares etc. I'm hopeless at changing tires and so I ride with people who can, or I ring someone to pick me up.

[HillSlugger]

For a road ride:

Spare tube
Patch kit
Tire levers
Pump
Multi-tool
ID bracelet
Copies of my driver's license and insurance card
Keys
Cell Phone
Food
Water and sports drink (1 bottle each)

For MTB:
Swap the bottles for a Camelbak
Add a map, first aid kit, more food, and a space blanket.

I go out like Becky except I don't always carry the patch kit or food. Everything else is pretty much a must.

[SlowButSteady]

Asthma inhaler
Cell phone
multi-tool
Pepper spray
Water or Electrolyte solution
1 pack of Hammer Gel
If very far from home, add oral Benadryl & Epi-pen
Kleenex

[indigoiis]

phone
debit card
id card
key
lock (depends on bike or where I am going)
tube, C02, levers, multitool (in seat bag)

banana or granola bar, just in case. But not always.
water

helmet
gloves
cheap home depot tinted safety glasses

[Heifzilla]

So far, my must haves have been:

Helmet
Gloves
iPod (I listen to it in one ear, leaving the other open to hear)
Cellphone
Water
License & debit card
Portable hex wrenches thingermabob
Cyclocomputer
Windbreaker than I can stuff in my handbar bag
Keys (if I am driving to a trail first)
Bike lock (around my seatpost)
Cheap HD yellow safety glasses (indigoiis! Probably the same ones )

My RoadID just came in the mail today, so that will go with me, too. I also plan on getting an extra tube to keep in my bag, as well as the tire levers, a small pump, and a multitool (thanks to your suggestions).

[madscot13]

tell me again, what is insurance?

[IvonaDestroi]

phone
debit card
id card
key
lock (depends on bike or where I am going)
tube, C02, levers, multitool (in seat bag)

banana or granola bar, just in case. But not always.
water

helmet
gloves
cheap home depot tinted safety glasses

What is with the banana thing? I heard it's some sort of cycling tradition...???

[wildeny]

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 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.

I wear helmet & gloves. My butt doesn't hurt much for a distance less than 100 km

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.