What are your "must haves"?

[OakLeaf]

Yes, Redhead, you caught us out. Most of us who've posted in this thread are recreational riders. Without going back through, I believe there were a couple of randonneurs who posted, so I don't know why they forgot to list their lights!

I, and at least half of the roadies I ride with, do have taillights zip-tied to our seat packs, since evening rides usually wind up at dusk, and winter morning rides can begin before it's fully light. I use a truly blinding taillight, actually, in addition to wearing only high-visibility jerseys and jackets day or night.

I do ride my commuter bike for SHORT rides at night (under three miles), mostly on MUPs and VERY low traffic low speed streets. On that bike I have a pro forma headlight plus a nice bright taillight. The headlight is more of a marker light - enough to be seen by low speed traffic, enough to keep me from getting pulled over by the cops, not enough to illuminate the road ahead very usefully or to be seen on higher speed roads. It's enough for the riding I do on that bike.

But there are much, much better headlights that are definitely a necessity for "real" night riding. Do a search or just browse through the commuter section here, and you'll find discussions about lighting.

[crazycanuck]

If i'm doing an mtb night ride, the list of stuff I carry pretty much still applies. Just the lights would be an extra addition.

I love riding at night-fewer people on the roads The dirt is so much more fun at night with kangaroos rustling in the trees & spiders building thier webs!

[pinkbikes]

My "Must have" list changes depending on what I'm doing....

On each of my bikes I have a small under-seat bag (tiny for the roadie, slightly larger pink furry one from TE for the pink commuter, and a nice Topeak one for the MTB) which has the basics for that bike in it. That means, a tube, a multi-tool, levers, a tiny packet of patches. Each bike also has a pump and a bracket for my AyUp lights. The MTB toolkit is a little more comprehensive - also a chain breaker, and spare quicklink and a hanger. I also have CO2 cartridges and nozzle if I am going for a decent distance or if I'm racing and time "wasted" pumping is an issue.

For road rides I actively enjoy taking as little as possible. Last year I did a metric century with only my little underseat bag with necessities as above, one waterbottle (my frame only fits one - I'm short and it's compact) a tiny pump, and what I put in my back pockets. The pockets had three snack-size ziplock bags. One had phone, credit card, $20 note, handkerchief, car key in it. Another had some jelly snakes (snack of choice)! The last had a nicely powdered second spare tube. I re-filled the waterbottle along the way and I was set!

For MTB rides I am a fair bit more risk-averse and carry a camelbak equivalent. I have renewed my first aid accreditation and carry a small first aid kit. I also carry a bag of jelly snakes and a cereal bar in case of bonking. Phone, little notebook and pen, wallet and a large hanky (useful for supplementing first aid kit if not already snotted on!) complete the kit.

If I am racing the MTB - I have a very small camelbak and the only thing in it is the phone and the cereal bar.

If I am racing the roadie (like in the tri the other week) then forget all the extra stuff - just phone, water bottle and jelly snakes!

Cycle touring - well that's where my inner Linus gets a bit to going to war with my more minimalist streak. Then I'm on the tandem with a big Topeak bag on the rack (with flip down panniers in the side pockets) and a nice little Topeak handlebar bag too. Then we're talking at least two tubes, Morph pump, camera, sunscreen, insect spray, pain relief, first aid, snacks for my small passenger in my back pocket where she can reach them, phone in back pocket so she can answer it when Daddy calls to say "I'm there already - where are you?" spray jacket for both of us, plus arm warmers and leg warmers since we usually tour in winter! Maybe even a kitchen sink? My thighs are bulging and my butt burning right now, just in anticipation of our imminent commencement of training for our upcoming 9day tour, and the thought of lugging all this gear up hills!

Oh - and the Garmin and the Road ID go everywhere on everything!

As for lights - I firmly believe in overkill! Too much can never be enough! Well, I would have to say this is predicated on night riding the MTB in the forest! And once you've had enough glorious light to do that, you will never want less! So I wear two sets of AyUps - one on my helmet and one on my bars. Even when just commuting or riding to my dance classes at night! They really are the best bang for the buck that you can get since they are bright, light, simple and so are their batteries. And they come in pretty colours!

Then I have enough red flashing things on my back to look like a Christmas tree! I have one on the back of my helmet, one hanging on the back of my backpack, one on the underseat bag, and if it is the roadie, one on the rear stay as well. I use the RoadID Firefly Supernova on my toolbag and those little "fish-shaped" ones with the loop of elastic for a tail everwhere else.

And as for reflectors - I go mad with them too! I bought some of those pretty reflective strips from TE that look like a vine and put them up the rear stays of my commuter. I have reflective tape on the back of my backpack and a piece on the back of my helmet. The shoes I wear at night have reflective spots on the back and I also wear reflective ankle bands as well. I WILL be SEEN!

[Caroline]

Saddle bag and back pockets w/ all the usual stuff ( food/tubes/pump/Cyclingclubcard/money ) I also make sure I have a few sweets with me, in case of bonking and low sugar level.

I also started a few months ago to pour a few drops of olbas oil on my gloves, near a seam of my left wrist. It works wonders when my nose is slightly bloked, I just smell it for a few seconds and i am better.