What do you carry and how do you carry it?

[jobob]

Here's a somewhat recent thread on a nifty bag that SadieKate is now using:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=5042


And from the wayback machine, here's a thread from 2 years ago about what we carried in our bags way back then.
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=948
Nowadays V is much more of a minimalist, but I'm still inclined to schelp around everything and the kitchen sink in my Carradice saddlebags, with, I might add, room to spare for friends' jackets and their purchases from the Jelly Belly factory

- Jo.

[Trek420]

I think I travel fairly light.

Any ride:
under seat bag:spare tube, tire irons, Alien multi tool in a baggie so it does not puncture tubes, patch kit, torreli mini-pump, CO2 thingy, teeny tiny first aid kit (bandages, moiste towlette, sunscreen).

Back pockets left to right: left pocket: clothing items, arm skins and or vest once I warm up, spare gloves like full finger if it's cold, middle pocket: food as in spare Luna bars from Cindysue, gorp, hammer gel, right pocket (is this too obsesive?) mini wallet with copy of driver's license and insurance card, cash (not a copy of cash) ATM or charge card, cell phone. tiny pocket knife.

On my bod: Road ID with contact phone numbers and location of ID (right rear pocket).

In my helmet: sticker with my name and address, thinking of adding "If you find me lost drop in any mailbox, return postage gauranteed."

On the bike: 2 water bottles either both electrolyte bev of choice or one EBOC & 1 of H2O. Road bike has gizmo to attach my HRM, and Cateye wireless. MTB has no gizmos but a couple of lights.

Commute add: back pack or messenger bag with blinky things, full size pump, small towel, clean shirt.

Long and or hot rides subtract the back pack and add:
camelback with water, no luggage in it but does have cords I could strap a vest on etc.

[ladyjai]

Any Ride:
-Saddlebag: 2 tubes, 1 patch kit, a boot pack, 3 alan wrenches that fit the screws I've needed to tweak on my bike. 1 eye-glasses screwdriver. 2 tire "irons". 1 spare set of contacts and contact lens case.
-2 bottle cages and up to 2 water bottles.
-1 road morph pump
-cell phone
-wallet with: $2+ in cash(or try to), debit card, med card(vital), and drivers license, and a paper with contact information.
-keys
-sunglasses and eye drops (these will be left behind if I elect to wear my prescription glasses)
-hankie (can be left behind if I'm not planning on riding hard)
-cyclometer and cadence reader.


for daily commute add:
I have a detachable seatpost rack with a bag which allows me to add 1 change of clothing, lunch, my bible, notebook, pens/pencils and whatever else I feel is vital for the day.
My bike has it's own "office" at work, so I don't bother with locking it up. i bring a lock only if I know I need to stop somewhere after work. Then I'll probably bring a back pack along as well.
-lights. even if I think I'll be home in time.


club rides and longer rides:
extra electrolyte packs and either cliffbars or probars (preferred) or some other form of energy source.
When it gets hot again, I have a camelbak for longer rides of 50+ miles.

[Quillfred]

On one bike I have a rack with rectangular bag made by Jandd. This holds about the same amount as my Deuter backpack which I use with my road bike. The Deuter is nice because it has a frame suspension which allows more air to circulate between you and the pack. I have a Camelbak that I have yet to use.

I won't bother to tell what I carry as I'm pretty much an unprepared Newbie and have yet to learn basic repair skills (which I expect to start the end of March). I mostly commute to work so I sometimes carry clothes and food. If I ever needed to carry heavy or large amounts of gear, I would definitely go with panniers.

Carole

PS - Good thread!

[DeniseGoldberg]

I have a seat bag - and pump - on each of my bikes so I don't have to worry about having the right tubes for that bike.

The seat bag contains 2 tubes, patches, tire irons, and a multi-tool. I also keep a "just in case" energy bar stashed in there too. I use a Topeak RoadMorph pump. I also usually carry some cash with me (for snacks, and also for emergencies).

I wear my id around my neck. I have an id from RoadID that contains the following info: my name, city/state, emergency contact phone numbers (2 for a good friend who lives in the same area as I do, 1 for a family member who does not), health insurance company name, the name & phone number of my primary care physician, info on allergies. Many of you have indicated that you carry an id and insurance info. That's what I used to carry - but as I learned from experience that leaves a very big hole in the area of emergency contact. (Of course, if you are riding with your emergency contact that's probably extra information!).

For short rides I use water bottles, for long rides water bottles containing Gatorade + a CamelBak containing water.

--- Denise

[uk elephant]

Reading all your comments here, I realize I'm totally unpreprared when I go out (granted I don't go very far, but 15 miles is still a long way to walk home if I had to). I just jump on my bike and head out with a water bottle in it's cage and a phone if my BF is there to remind me to take it.

Luckily I hear rumors that Bikeless in WI has a hydration pack waiting for me....she (and the pack?) will be arriving in just a month for a bit of hiking in the Scottish hills. After that I should be better prepared. And I am planning a shopping trip to REI in May. What should I buy? Multitool? Repair kit? (do they come with instructions?)

On my commute to work, I of course carry a back pack (as all Norwegians do) with my lunch, some water, a dry t-shirt, and my knitting (for keeping me occupied on the train).

[maillotpois]

I've started using this little wallet thingy. Works great and comes in many delicious flavors!

http://www.thejimi.com/index.php

[Nanci]

I use those too! I have them in my Bento Box, with their little chains attached so they don't blow out on the ride on the rack. I put Jelly Belly Sport Beans in one, and Succeed Electrolyte Caps in the other. Refill as necessary!

Nanci

[SadieKate]

That change purse is a really good marketing idea. Goes into my jersey pocket fine also. Driver's license, credit card and some bills. Much more durable than the Ziplock snack bag wallet.

[bcipam]

I use those too! I have them in my Bento Box, with their little chains attached so they don't blow out on the ride on the rack. I put Jelly Belly Sport Beans in one, and Succeed Electrolyte Caps in the other. Refill as necessary!

Nanci

Nanci:

I just noticed ads for the Jelly Belly Sports Beans - how do you like them? Eating "candy" on a ride is right up my alley!!!!!

[nuthatch]

I love reading all the personal (but important!) things people bring - bibles, knitting, teabags (are these a first aid item, Corsair?). I carry a teeny tiny Team Saturn cowbell - just for good luck. I know that's pretty silly but it makes a nice jingle going up hills! Does anyone else carry a lucky charm?

[Nanci]

Bcipam, I love them! I carry them in the Trashy Cat zipper coin purse, in my Bento Box. I munch about one bag (100 calories) per hour. They have 60mg of Sodium, and 60mg of Potassium. That is fine in cool/warm weather, but would have to be supplemented on long hot rides. They also have a bit of vits C and E, 20% RDA. Can't say much for the nutritional value, they are made of sugar and corn syrup! But are tart, not sickly sweet. Anyway, a calorie is a calorie...They do a good job of keeping me fueled on 1-2 hour rides, but for longer rides I add in bars and choc milk. If you order them from Jelly Belly, the shipping charge is horrendous. I get them on eBay. They end up about $1/bag. Maybe more places carry them now, but I like the service from the eBay seller. They come in Orange and Lemon Lime. Kind of like Gatorade!

Nanci

[carimail]

I love reading all the personal (but important!) things people bring - bibles, knitting, teabags (are these a first aid item, Corsair?). I carry a teeny tiny Team Saturn cowbell - just for good luck. I know that's pretty silly but it makes a nice jingle going up hills! Does anyone else carry a lucky charm?

My Starbucks card is my lucky charm! I have a mini wallet just for cycling that has a photocopy of my driver's license with several emergency numbers on it, a $5 bill and my Starbucks card. It lives in my helmet wih my gloves when I'm not on the bike so it's always ready to go.

[carimail]

Why do some of you carry CO2 and a pump? I only carry 2 tubes, CO2 inflator and 2 cartridges. I wonder if I should be toting a pump as well?

[Trek420]

nuthatch "I carry a teeny tiny Team Saturn cowbell - just for good luck. I know that's pretty silly but it makes a nice jingle going up hills!"

ooooh good idea, I have a teeny tiny Velogirls cow bell thanks to Lorri.

"Does anyone else carry a lucky charm?"

Yes I do. You'll be surprised I think.

Before ALC 3 a friend of mine gave me a pin of an angel on a motorcycle She couldn't find a bike angel. * But you know how our friends worry. But from any distance it's simply an angel on a bike. Hmmm, she does look a little like one of the gals on moto crew Anyway....

She said I was not to ride any faster than that pin could fly

So....the angel is always on my under seat bag.

Yeah yeah I know probably sacriligeous to have an angel "watching my butt", my good freind is Wiccan, I'm Jewish and bat for the other team but it's worked so far Knock on wood. Must be one of those non denominational angels ;-)

The worst that's happened is the dreaded FU fall. Maybe get 2 more for my other bikes

* and I just found one:

http://pinsaver.com/cart/results.cfm..._Categories=23

Says "wearing this pin may actually help keep your tires inflated!" And here I thought that was the Continentals.