What to carry when out.

Babbs

Im trying to think of things to carry when out on my future purchase. feel free to comment on what i think, any additions or alternatives etc. . .. .

2x spare tubes
Puncture repair kit
Tyre levers
Pump Plus Valve
Chain Links + tool
First aid kit + space blanket
Mobile Phone + Map

Any other essentials i have over looked???

Andy B

Shock pump (if needed for your bike)
Compass
Multi tool
Money
Some form of ID, just in case something really bad happens.

Babbs

By multi tool you mean leather man or similar. ill carry money if i have any left from buying the bike!!!!

OllyUK

Water is rather essential (eg camelbak or bottle)
Food? Just an energy bar or some chocolate etc
By multitool, its more just a set of standard sized allen keys and screwdrivers etc on one tool.

Babbs

its all carried in a 2l camelback. never thought of food even though eating is my fav hobby!!

OllyUK

Haveing like a kitkat in the bak is just like the best thing ever...getting to the top a hill or scienic view and having a snack is always lovley

stumpyjon

Tyre patches (from park tools), take up no space, weigh nothing and could just prevent a very long walk home if your tyre splits. I don't bother with the puncture repair kit, but I am quite lucky and very rarely get punctures, except of course for this coming Saturday as a direct result of posting this :evil:

SRAM powerlinks ?

Why do people take a shock pump out?

I've recently also purchased a set of cheap lightweight LED lights which I carry in the winter, mistimed a ride in November and unintentionally ended up coming back on the road in the dark, nearly got splattered (which was entirely my own fault).

prophet_1000

I carry a shock pump, have never used it yet as my rear shock has been reliable and I set it up in advance, I imagine if it did give up while out on the trail, then the pump would be pretty useless anyhow.

Now I think about it why do I carry a shock pump???

Probably to top up a mates shock if they haven't checked it in a while and its lost air before the ride and didn't notice untill already on the trail,so I ask myself again why do 'I' carry a shock pump?????

Good question Stumpyjon :?

prophet_1000

Could take it out on maybe a few rides just while someone was trying to set up ideal settings?

Does any body else take a shock pump and why?

Babbs

are these tyre patches the ones that cover the tyre externally?? Kit Kat. . . . have a break .....

OllyUK

I think he is referring to the sort that you just stick on to the tube like a stamp?

dirtbiker100

when i'm out on my bike i carry in my camel bak:
spare choc bar in case of emergency really
2 x inner tubes
puncture repair
pump
alien II multitool - contains chain tool, allen keys, tyre levers, small spanner sizes, spoke key etc
headtorch
sram power links

erm thats about it i think

jacktheoc

innertubes
repair kit
multi tool
first aid kit
pump
map of the area
mobile

thats the usual but some times i.d if im travelling far away e.g when i went to spain

jimmyp1873

could always carry a rear mech hanger, i went over my bars due to hitting dog and as bike landed it mangled the mech hanger
good bit was i was finished my ride and just mucking about in the car park
bad bit it was my dog

xcracer

Personally, I never leave without a water purification system, a bowie knife and bivouac...and that's just for a trip to the shop!!!

dave_hill

stumpyjon wrote:

Why do people take a shock pump out?

I could never work that one out. Set your shock/forks up before you go out. If they fail or start leaking no amount of pumping is going to make them work properly again so why bother? And if your mate can't be bothered getting his settings right thats his problem!!!

BlackSpur

xcracer wrote:

Personally, I never leave without a water purification system, a bowie knife and bivouac...and that's just for a trip to the shop!!!

Don't forget sat phone, flares, hexi block...

OllyUK

BlackSpur wrote:

xcracer wrote:

Personally, I never leave without a water purification system, a bowie knife and bivouac...and that's just for a trip to the shop!!!

Don't forget sat phone, flares, hexi block...

nor you flint striker, wire saw and snare wire.

clas

I carry nothing.
I make my eldest son carry it all!

dave_hill

This is a topic of conversation that crops up regularly. What to take with you on a ride should be a mix of items to ensure that you are prepared for MOST eventualities, the length of time that you are out for, where you are going, and personal choice.

At any one time, the permanent contents of my hydro pack are as follows -

Inner tube 26 x 2.1 filled with Slime
Packet self adhesive puncture patches (Leeches)
Tyre levers
Multi Tool
Pocket knife
Spare gear mech hanger
Pair spare brake pads
Small First Aid Kit (swap out for larger Gregson Pack on long trips)
Compass
Space Blanket
Whistle
Notepad
Pencil
5 medium size cable ties
Coil of parachute cord
Yorkie bar or packet of boiled sweets

If I'm riding more than 10 miles I carry snack food (high carbohydrate, usually biscuits, fig rolls, malt loaf, fruit cake that sort of thing plus a banana or two)

If it's going to be wet and/or cold, or I'm going well away from civilisation (at any time of year) I add my waterproof jacket plus a spare pair of gloves.

In winter, if I'm going to be out all day I carry a small (250ml) flask with hot water and powdered drink or soup mix from an MoD 24 hour ration pack.

My mobile phone (with a topped up battery) goes with me everywhere, but unless it's an absolute screaming-for-mummy emergency I try not to use it.

No doubt by now you think that either a) I'm a complete loon, b) that's too much to be carrying, or c) both.

However, the items that I carry at all times actually take up very little space and the First Aid Kit lives on the shoulder strap of my pack for instant access.

I'm also a great believer in "being prepared" - no, I was never a boy scout or in the forces - but I just happen to believe that if you are going to take part in an activity that can potentially put you in a hazardous situation you should at least be able to make an attempt at getting out of it on your own accord before screaming for help.

And no I didn't acquire everything at once - my kit has been built up over time, taking into account what I do and don't need and can comfortably manage.

But there you go - a few ideas to get you started!

Babbs

I like to think of the P's Proper, Planning & Preperatiion Prevents Piss Poor Performance. I woudl rather look at some thing than be stuck some where looking for it!!!!

dirtbiker100

spare rear mech hanger might be an idea. i've gone through a few and a mate bent one on whites level afan a short while ago...

cjw

dirtbiker100 wrote:

spare rear mech hanger might be an idea. i've gone through a few and a mate bent one on whites level afan a short while ago...

Couldn't you just go single speed though if the worst happened?

iiJonnyii

man this really shows me how little i take.. These are the things me and my dad take -
allen keys, spare innertubes, tyre levers, phone, pump. Mind you we only have small 1.5 L camelbaks..

cjw

My Camelbak always contains;

Spare Inner Tube
Pump
Puncture kit + self adhesive patches
Multi-tool
Tyre Levers
Penknife
Small First Aid Kit
SRAM Powerlinks
Disposable Gloves (mainly as I run tubeless and changing to tube is messy!)
Map of where I'm riding (A4 printout from memory map usually) - GPS is on the bike

On longer ride also some food.

Sometimes mobile.... but I have yet to find a trail where it works, so it tends to stay in the car

Matteeboy

Multi tool
Spare inner tube
Little pump
Park repair patches
Map if needed
Money.
Bit of food.
Water.
Mobile Phone.

A fleece if it's likely to be cold and a beany hat too.

That's it.

OllyUK

cjw wrote:

My Camelbak always contains;


Sometimes mobile.... but I have yet to find a trail where it works, so it tends to stay in the car

I think most mobiles work for emergency calls (ie 999) even with no signal, so its worth taking one.

cjw

OllyUK wrote:

cjw wrote:

My Camelbak always contains;


Sometimes mobile.... but I have yet to find a trail where it works, so it tends to stay in the car

I think most mobiles work for emergency calls (ie 999) even with no signal, so its worth taking one.

Nope.... a mobile phone can't work without a signal. This was a rumour started a few years back. See Snopes http://www.snopes.com/science/mobile.asp

OllyUK

Sometimes my phone, when it has really low signal says emergency call only, but I think that may just be very low signal as opposed to no signal at all.

cjw

Never seen that on mine.... the signal just stops and the (in my case Orange) text vanishes. It may be that a 999 call will connect to other service providers? But it still needs some form of signal.

cjw

Ps... Don't take that post that I don't believe it happens on your phone... mine is a crap Nokia 6230 :roll: