What are your "must haves"?

[Vireo]

All this talk of essentials on a ride has given me an idea for my website. I will compile some of the good ideas and make kits based on mileage.

[SadieKate]

maps CAN YOU SORT THIS OUT BEFORE YOUR RIDE?
extra gloves ROUGH IT A LITTLE -- YOU ARE ON A BIKE
Magnifying glass: IF YOU WEAR GLASSES OR NEED THEM FOR READNG THEN BRING -- READING GLASSES.

On my gawd. I must be so uncool because I carry a magnifying glass and extra gloves when I'm mtb-ing. The magnifying glass takes up much less space and enlarges contour lines on topo maps far better than reading glasses, especially when you already are wearing corrective lenses. Matter of fact, I'm going to put one in my road bike bags because, hey, it takes up less space that the recommended reading glasses.

An extra set of dry gloves when it's snowing can mean non-frostbitten fingers. I even carry extra gloves up long mountain climbs on my road bikes because dry gloves descending can be more effective than a jacket. We each have our own weak points for staying warm. For me it's gloves. I know jobob likes her neck warm. Carry what you need to.

Then all of us carry maps cuz there's nothing like getting lost in the back of beyond out of cell phone range. I guess some of us like to ride new routes and trails, to see new territory. Or perhaps just like the assurance when they're in the back of beyond on a route that they can only ride a couple times a year that they're taking the right turn.

Too each his or her own opinion, but can you not shout it (ALL CAPS IS SHOUTING ON THE WWW) because it makes you sound like the proverbial sneering lycra-clad racer. I truly don't think you intend that at all. You don't strike me as that type, so perhaps no shouting?

[Vireo]

maps CAN YOU SORT THIS OUT BEFORE YOUR RIDE?
extra gloves ROUGH IT A LITTLE -- YOU ARE ON A BIKE
Magnifying glass: IF YOU WEAR GLASSES OR NEED THEM FOR READNG THEN BRING -- READING GLASSES.

On my gawd. I must be so uncool because I carry a magnifying glass and extra gloves when I'm mtb-ing. The magnifying glass takes up much less space and enlarges contour lines on topo maps far better than reading glasses, especially when you already are wearing corrective lenses. Matter of fact, I'm going to put one in my road bike bags because, hey, it takes up less space that the recommended reading glasses.

An extra set of dry gloves when it's snowing can mean non-frostbitten fingers. I even carry extra gloves up long mountain climbs on my road bikes because dry gloves descending can be more effective than a jacket. We each have our own weak points for staying warm. For me it's gloves. I know jobob likes her neck warm. Carry what you need to.

Then all of us carry maps cuz there's nothing like getting lost in the back of beyond out of cell phone range. I guess some of us like to ride new routes and trails, to see new territory. Or perhaps just like the assurance when they're in the back of beyond on a route that they can only ride a couple times a year that they're taking the right turn.

Too each his or her own opinion, but can you not shout it (ALL CAPS IS SHOUTING ON THE WWW) because it makes you sound like the proverbial sneering lycra-clad racer. I truly don't think you intend that at all. You don't strike me as that type, so perhaps no shouting?

My apologies about the caps I wanted my comments to stand out from Zen's copied post. I was not shouting.

My assumptions were based on a moderate temperature day. Obviously rain, snow or any type of inclement weather carries with it its own requisite gear.

By the way, I will admit I am totally clueless about MTB'ing and getting "lost" on purpose for the adventure. I have spent plenty of time in the "bush" in my 12 years in the Marine Corps and maps was vital to my survival.

I will be carrying a map and compass for Trans Iowa.

[Delta7]

I had a mechanical on today's ride. Fortunately, since I keep a pair of disposable gloves in my bag, I did not get grease on my hands nor on my cool new Luna gloves !

[jobob]

All this talk of essentials on a ride has given me an idea for my website. I will compile some of the good ideas and make kits based on mileage.

Glad we were of assistance.

[salsabike]

All this talk of essentials on a ride has given me an idea for my website. I will compile some of the good ideas and make kits based on mileage.

Actually, that's a pretty cool idea. If you are willing, please let us know if you really do put that together and put it up on your site.

[crazycanuck]

+1! Vireo(Can well call you george?) do you just have info on roadie stuff or mtb stuff as well on your training site?

In terms of a roadie ride-I just carry a phone, change, id & keys in my little ground effect wallet thing. If i'm doing 50km+ I'll just have a baggie with my drink stuff & fill up at at the beach(the pee stop) plus a couple of clif blok packages.

Mtn biking-Ground Effect hydration pack with phone & id, sock with co2 cartidges w little pump top thing, multi tool & a gu or raisins or whatever else I choose.

Sk-thanks for the coolio seat like Madame Snap has.

Oh, Jobob-why not have leebob toast the old bagels?

[cylegoddess]

I would like to add my two cents!

I agree with Zen, as to me - a 20 mile ride IS LONG. Im frail, still and although I would love to be able to get by with a banana and a bottle of electrolytes, it takes me a while to cycle that. I cant eat at cafes due to allergies so have to carry food stocks, like Im riding bush rides.

My work commute is about 45 - 50 min ( about 25 km) but I add for that( Im a pack rat linus person anyhow!)

codeine ( I get migraines too)
sunscreen( a nifty tiny tube, for lips ears and nose, as we have high skin cancer here)
contact lens solution( as my eyes turn bright red and scare the cafe people without it.)
a towel( to shower before work)
whatever work clothes I need
wallet( with too much crap in it.)

So its pannier time.

I do agree with the race chick, less can be good. Im working on that!
but I think taking bike into shops is a no no here( as much as I like the idea of not letting it out of my sight) the Mall is gonna have other ideas, sadly.( I mean , why shouldnt I take my bike? People take their prams, and wheelchairs but I digress..) A lock is essential sometimes. I do admire someone who breaks the non bike barriers, good on ya!
I dont carry patches, rather tubes as my best riding bud, said - those dont work so well for road bikes. Besides tubes are cheap.
Sadly, I get cold, even in summer so I am always carrying around heaps of clothes I am shedding and re-wearing, Its annoying but from a virus so cant be fixed. I was once insulted by a cycle shop mech who sneered at my pile of jumpers in a pannier , on a 28 km ride. I had a two hour wait,later at a friends and wore them all later that day. I would love to be someone who sets off like those gorgeously fast riders in packs that whip around in shorts and a jacket, on frosty mornings( and ride my commute in like 25 minutes!)

I also had a handsome guy rider give me a spare tube cap. People who have spares rock, if your one of them, I love you! I have ADD and I KNOW someday I will lose my rear ,even clutching it with both hands so someday, I may need you kind people!
And racers, someday I hope to be like you . Lean,mean riding machines with a banana and bottle of water( and NO BAGS!)

[ZenSojourner]

Sadly, I get cold, even in summer so I am always carrying around heaps of clothes I am shedding and re-wearing, Its annoying but from a virus so cant be fixed. I was once insulted by a cycle shop mech who sneered at my pile of jumpers in a pannier , on a 28 km ride. I had a two hour wait,later at a friends and wore them all later that day.

I get cold too, its being hypothyroid. I've never actually tried to carry around extra clothes because if it won't fit in my camelbak or the seat bag I generally leave it.

Although with the rear racks permanently mounted now, there's no reason I couldn't stick a sweater in a dry bag and take it with me if I'm on a ride where I'll be stopping off at a shop or restaurant.

People who don't get cold really don't understand people who do. Imagine being stuck in a walk in freezer for hours. The warmth just leaches out and the cold bites into your bones and you cannot get warm no matter what you do - that's what it's like for me more often than not. I am cold ALL the time, often even when I'm wearing a sweater and people around me are too hot.

Getting caught in a summer shower is like being forced to take an ice bath for me.

I hate it when somebody is rude to you like your bike mechanic. I am NOT thin and I doubt I ever will be again, but I get around pretty well nevertheless. I was on a SAGged ride a couple of years ago where this guy and his friends kept passing me, and every time he'd pass me, he'd come up from behind and start barking at me, "Woof! Woof! Woof woof woof woof WOOF!"

His friends weren't doing it but they weren't telling him to shut up either.

And btw, it just occurred to me, if he was all that as a cyclist and I'm such a dog, how the heck did I keep getting ahead of him? I didn't realize it, but they must have been passing me on the climbs and then I was passing them on the flats. Never heard a word out of them when I passed them, I guess that's why I didn't realize before how this was happening.

[Heifzilla]

I was on a SAGged ride a couple of years ago where this guy and his friends kept passing me, and every time he'd pass me, he'd come up from behind and start barking at me, "Woof! Woof! Woof woof woof woof WOOF!"

OMG, I would NOT have been able to keep my mouth shut and he would have been calling me the female version of "woof" at me afterwards

[ZenSojourner]

Well normally I would have too, but this was the first ride of the season, they were passing me on long climbs, and at that point I didn't have the BREATH to cuss 'em out, LOL!

[SadieKate]

Sk-thanks for the coolio seat like Madame Snap has.

I forgot I sent that to the crazy lady down under.

All the long road rides around here have no food and water for purchase, so I started using my Detours High Tail more frequently and got very spoiled by not having all that weight in my jersey (not to mention I can actually pull something out of a pocket while riding). Love the thing. This coming from someone who was raised in a culture to use only tiny bike bags, your pockets and short white socks.

And I noticed DeTours now has tres cool new recycled bags. Hmm, I have a new mixte still be to be accessorized for maximum around town shopping expeditions.

[Brandy]

What are my must haves?

Flat repair kit (2 tubes, CO2, chuck, boot, one lever which are neatly bound by electrical tape) which I can shove in my middle pocket

ipod

gels (if it's a 3+ hour ride)

2 bottles

Showers Pass Protech shell (if it's cold and looking like rain) which I shove under my jersey when I'm not wearing it, though it could fit in a pocket if I have a free one.


I get by without a seat bag on most of my rides. If I ride in the mountains, I throw it on the bike because it leaves an extra pocket for additional gels.