What are your "must haves"?

[SadieKate]

I read the all caps as him trying to differentiate what he wrote from the post he was quoting.

Yeah, but my hackles were going up and I realized that it was the all caps - and that the "shouting" was probably completely unintentional.

My forum options include bold, italics, underline, font size, font color, etc., not to mention just using quote tags (that little icon that looks like a square cartoon bubble). Lots of ways to differentiate.

[Heifzilla]

I love all the replies so far

It's interesting to see what is a "must have" for one person is something completely irrelevant to another. I do think it also really matters what, where, and how you ride: a road racer isn't going to need the same stuff that a mountain biker will. And someone that does extremely long endurance-type rides into very remote/uninhabited country isn't going to need the same as someone who rides in very urban/suburban environments.

The idea is to see what everyone needs and then take into consideration your own needs For someone like me, who is just really starting out riding at any real length, it's great to look through these and say, "Hmm. I never would have thought of that, that is a great idea!" or "Hmm, I don't think I'd ever need that because it just doesn't apply to the way/place/length I ride."

IMO, the most important thing you can carry is an ID and a cellphone. The ID in case you get hurt, and the cellphone because it means help is just a call away

Thanks for a really great thread

[jobob]

It's interesting to see what is a "must have" for one person is something completely irrelevant to another.

Bingo!

I used to be the butt of lots of good-natured jokes among my riding friends (you know who you are ) because of all the stuff I would carry with me on rides. And the big-azz Carradice saddle bag to stuff it all in.

(Wish I could still find that photo that one of my dear friends found on the 'net and posted that made fun of my "bring everything" tendencies - it was perfect!)

This is not the same one but it's close enough ...



Over time that tendency has evolved some, but I probably still carry more stuff than many, it's part my randonneur mindset, and yep, part Linus Blanket Syndrome (too funny! too true for me! Cue the Linus & Lucy theme ...)

Interesting stuff here.

[Vireo]

Yeah, but my hackles were going up and I realized that it was the all caps - and that the "shouting" was probably completely unintentional.

My forum options include bold, italics, underline, font size, font color, etc., not to mention just using quote tags (that little icon that looks like a square cartoon bubble). Lots of ways to differentiate.

Point taken, I'll be more careful.

[SadieKate]

Point taken, I'll be more careful.

Besides, it's a great outlet for silliness.