Carrying stuff with you on long rides

[ehirsch83]

We are all different- that is what makes TE so great.

This just shows the different mentality of a racer/group rider verse a touring rider/ longer distance relaxed rider.

[jobob]

This just shows the different mentality of a racer/group rider verse a touring rider/ longer distance relaxed rider.

Oh, absolutely! I was looking back at some of your earlier posts and I realized you were approaching all this from a very different perspective than mine.

And heaven knows I'm a relaxed rider ... my motto is "every ride is a recovery ride"!

[Crankin]

I have a medium-ish seat bag. It's stuffed with 2 tubes, Co2 cartridges, anti-biotic cream, Shot Blocks, an extra Luna bar and a tube of Nuun. It expands and I can put my vest in there, or arm warmers, but those tend to go in jersey pockets.
I've saved a few people who crashed with my antibiotic cream. I carry it for when I lead rides.
Nothing else on my bike except 2 water bottle cages. At one time, when I had my Trek I had a front bag. Then, when I took it off, I noticed how much better my bike handled. Seriously, I have enough trouble cornering, I didn't need something to make it worse!
My "second" bike has a rack and pannier. But, that's the bike I don't use for long rides. I depend on DH to carry things like jackets or a big lunch, as he can fit a Carradice bag on his bike, but mine has essentially no seat tube. I've learned to dress the right way because of this.

[wackyjacky1]

I used to use a large Topeak seat bag that would hold my phone, wallet, keys, extra tube, gu gels or shot blocks, etc. It was great and held everything I might need.

Then I got my Kindle. Now my Kindle goes where I go, and it doesn't fit in the seat bag. (Sometimes I like to stop for a coffee and read for a bit when I'm out on my longer weekend rides.) Enter the Toba trunk bag. It holds everything, including my Kindle and u-lock.

Funny thing is, I generally don't carry a purse -- I just grab my wallet and phone, and I'm good to go. For some reason I carry way more cr@p when I'm on my bike.

[OakLeaf]

Chamois cream in a 1/2 oz screwtop jar, sunblock in half a contact lens case. Keeps 'em distinct.

[PscyclePath]

+100 for KnottedYet & Bicyclista... those guys rock it!

The bike I ride most all the time when I need to go somewhere, or off on club or training rides is a Surly touring bike with rear and front cargo racks. I usually have a Columbus rack trunk back there, but will either swap it out or augment it with panniers on a regular basis. All my goodies and comfort stuff go back there, as well as any Good Samaritan-type accessories. On both the LHT and my carbon road bikes, I carry a small Janndd handlebar bag that holds a spare tube, CO2 cartridges & inflator, flat-fixing tools, a tube of Nuun tablets, the battery & cable for my headlight, and maybe a few other small things that need to be squeezed in.

Racks, trunks and panniers are way under-rated... One of the reasons I ride my steel tourer so much more than my road or MT bike is that I've gotten spoiled by all the little comforts I can take with me on a rack-equipped bike. And it has a training benefit, having been pushing a 50-pound bike all spring and summer, when I load up for the HH 100 at the end of the month and go from the 50-pound Surly to the 18-pound (loaded) Orbea, I'm counting on that 30-pound handicap

[smilingcat]

Wow!!! Maybe I need to change my ways!

Always was and always will be a roadie

I carry my cell phone, patch kit, spare CO2 cartridge, CO2pump with cartridge, spare tube, tire "iron", about $5.00 in cash and Luna bar/banana on occasion. And it all fits in mt jersey pocket.

I guess I'm not as prepared as some here

[soprano]

I'm always surprised that I don't see more people with handlebar bags. I have a touring-type handlebar bag with a map holder that will take everything I need for a long ride. Yes, it does affect slow-speed handling (must be careful not to overload!) but I get lost easily and I've never regretted having a real paper map and compass on hand; I dislike using a GPS because I never feel like I know where I am.

[spokewench]

We are all different- that is what makes TE so great.

This just shows the different mentality of a racer/group rider verse a touring rider/ longer distance relaxed rider.

By the way, I've been both, a racer and a long distance/mountain bike rider; so I kind of understand both mentalities, I'm like a hybrid bike!