Definitive List

tricky78

Hi All,

So, I've chosen my bike, about to go shopping big time!

Does anyone have a definitive list of essentials for the urban commuter!?

I've got what I think is all the obvious stuff but would appreciate your thoughts so I don;t miss anything and find out the hard way.

Thanks - Tricky78

il_principe

Lights
Spare batteries
Pump/Co2 canisters/both
spare tube/repair kit/both
minitool
latex gloves - for messy roadside repairs
tyre levers

SPD/SPD-L pedals and shoes
Padded shorts (tights for winter) - baggies over the top if you're shy
Cycling Jerseys - several short and long sleeve
Base layer
Jacket - windproof
Gloves - half finger - full finger for winter
Waterproof over shoes
Decent socks
Glasses
Cap/Helmet

Slow Downcp

Saddlebag/seatpack to carry all the bits in.

Rich158

I'd cut the essential down to

Spare tubes x2
Patches - self adhesive
Multi tool
Tyre levers
Mini Pump

helmet
Mini LED lights for emergency
A decent set of commuting lights

And whatever clothing you feel the need for

I've never needed any more, and like to travel light.

singlespeedexplosif

I'd cut it even further:

Spare tube x1
self-adhesive patches
multitool
pump

lights if dark.

clothing to suit conditions.

jjojjas

This is what I have,

Selection of Lights (remember a back up)
Spare batteries
Pump, spare tube & repair kit
tyre levers , minitool & latex gloves
Decent lock & a thiner longer cable lock for the wheels


Shorts & leggings for the cold
base layertops, gillet & good jacket
selection of gloves
wooly hat / helmet etc..
Glasses / Shades

panniers, guards, computer, and a little seat bag thing to keep your spares in.
A bottle carrier/bottle is a bonus sometimes, as is my track pump, but I don't take that with me

I'll vary this list depending upon where I'm going, for how long, where I'm leaving the bike and which bike I'm on. Spares are all in seat backs that hang off each of my bikes so I don't have to swap them around
Jas

Harry B

Errrrm what about a bike :?

Slow Downcp

Mobile phone for emergencies, and 20p for payphone in case no signal (or broke)

cjcp

Always worth carrying a couple of chain links and chain tool too. Also make sure you have enough juice in your mobile phone before you set off.

If commuting in London, replace your bell with a klaxon horn.

Good luck!

woodyonthebeach

decent rucksack or panniers to put all your other gear in.

Mudguards worth thinking about if nobody else has mentioned them

The Chingford Skinhead

+1 for the latex gloves. My hands were filthy yesterday and I thought "I must get some of those latex gloves that sureon's use and women fear". So filthy were they that I thought I'd leave my decent gloves off for the rest of the commute until I could get to work and wash my hands. Five minutes later with my hands welded to the handlebar I said "to hell with the clean gloves" They won't weigh much either.

I currently carry two tubes but the self adhesive patches may be a smart alternative to allow me to drop one of them.

Batteries smatteries. You should be able to tell when your lights are going so you buy a spare set then.

So my list is
Bike! Helmet (or "contributory negligance" avoidance purposes)
Pump, spare tube & repair kit with adhesive patches
Tyre levers , minitool & latex gloves
A decent lock for frame & backwheel and either a thiner longer cable or separate smaller lock for the front wheel
Lights if dark - just check they are charged before leaving home
mobile phone & some kind of ID in case I'm in no position to use said phone!

I almost always take a pannier but never leave home without...
Helmet
Clothes! It's not that I'm shy, I just tend to charge normally and don't see why anyone should get a free show :twisted:

The Chingford Skinhead

cjcp wrote:

Always worth carrying a couple of chain links and chain tool too. ....
...

Little point for me as I'd have no idea what to do with them :oops:

ride_whenever

Okay, I go a bit overkill but I'm also usually carrying my coaching kit as well.

Saddlepack:

inner tube
tyre levers
two multi-tools
spare length of chain
master links
chainring bolts
park self adhesive patches

bag:

pump
lock
cable
spare gear cable and brake cable
zip ties
duck tape
zinc oxide tape (for rowers)
first aid kit (useless without training)
[contents include spray antiseptic, spray plaster, plasters, bandages, two slings, knife, micropore tape, ibuprofen, aspirin, paracetamol, large wound dressing, thermal blanket, face mask (for cpr)]
Spare socks (usually a thick wooly pair)
spare gloves (whatever i'm not wearing from fingerless, windproof, sealskinz)
cleat bolts
lube
mobile and spare battery (essential for calling for backup)
lighter
money+cards
spare light batteries
spare baselayer
second hat
throw line (coaching)
megaphone (coaching, but very good for shouting abuse at drivers!)

lighting:

two front lights
three rear (one flashing on bag, one constant on bag cateye 1100 on saddle bag with both lines flashing)
reflective tape on bike

clothing:

either gore-tex xcr merrels or clip in shoes
leggings
tracksuit trousers
waterproofs
two wicking baselayers
hoodie/gilet
waterproof
neck warmer
other hat (usually one thin and one thick)
sealskinz socks (make sure your shoes aren't too tight)
one of my pairs of gloves


For commuting not in the back of beyond i remove stuff that isn't really necessary leaving:

pump
tube
levers
lock
patches
one multitool
spare brake cable
lights
whatever gloves are enough for today
one hat
shoes
sealskinz socks
one baselayer
hoodie/gilet in bag
waterproofs
leggings
FAK is reduced to:
spray anti-septic
pills
spray plaster
one wounds dressing and zinc oxide tape
thermal blanket
mobile
money and cards
lighter

you could probably go even more minimalist:

tube
levers
tool
lock
pump
mobile
antiseptic
lights
clothing (one good baselayer (top and bottom) and waterproofs are enough for most conditions possibly with gilet in bag)
gloves

ride_whenever

I forgot the most vital thing for all cyclist after a helmet...



decent padded shorts!!!!!

cjcp

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Always worth carrying a couple of chain links and chain tool too. ....
...

Little point for me as I'd have no idea what to do with them :oops:

Very easy, honestly. And I am a complete goon when it comes to bike maintenance. Try it out on an old chain, if you have one.

The Chingford Skinhead

cjcp wrote:

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Always worth carrying a couple of chain links and chain tool too. ....
...

Little point for me as I'd have no idea what to do with them :oops:

Very easy, honestly. And I am a complete goon when it comes to bike maintenance. Try it out on an old chain, if you have one.

You clearly haven't seen my manual dexterity skills - but as one of the (many) cycling gurus on here I shall take your word for it and give it a go sometime soon. I had a horribly frustrating time yesterday when I fixed the puncture but for the life of me couldn't get the backwheel back on (couldn't make head nor tail of the derailer upside down) and then had the mixed pleasure / embarrasment of flagging down a random cyclist - who just happened to be a colleague :oops: - escorted ride back to work to make sure I'd cleared the cause but a tad emabarassing). However, not to be done again, I stripped both wheels off the bike last night and cleaned it and now know where I was going wrong :roll: :twisted:

Cheers for the encouragement

biondino

cjcp wrote:

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Always worth carrying a couple of chain links and chain tool too. ....
...

Little point for me as I'd have no idea what to do with them :oops:

Very easy, honestly. And I am a complete goon when it comes to bike maintenance. Try it out on an old chain, if you have one.

Dude, you're not, you're my guru!!

The Chingford Skinhead

Biondino - assuming you hadn't seen my post before you sent yours (only a minute apart) we have both used the term Guru for cjcp - which must make it true

cjcp

:shock: Ok, chaps! Stop right there! I do not fall within the widest interpretation of "barely competent", let alone amount to any sort of guru.

Ask Nicklouse. Or my three year old, who calls me a "numpty".

DonDaddyD

jashburnham wrote:

Lights
Spare batteries
Pump/Co2 canisters/both
spare tube/repair kit/both
minitool
latex gloves - for messy roadside repairs
tyre levers

SPD/SPD-L pedals and shoes
Padded shorts (tights for winter) - baggies over the top if you're shy
Cycling Jerseys - several short and long sleeve
Base layer
Jacket - windproof
Gloves - half finger - full finger for winter
Waterproof over shoes
Decent socks
Glasses
Cap/Helmet

If we are talking about a definitive list of practical essentials you are likely to need use over the course of the year. Then the above is way forward.

+1

Rich158

If we're talking chaintools, then surely the easist thing to carry are a couple of SRAM powerlink connectors, a lot easier than trying to join the chain at the roadside. In fact I think I'm going to order a couple now :idea:

il_principe

Rich158 wrote:

If we're talking chaintools, then surely the easist thing to carry are a couple of SRAM powerlink connectors, a lot easier than trying to join the chain at the roadside. In fact I think I'm going to order a couple now :idea:

Probably being thick, but surely you're still going to need a chaintool... powerlink just makes getting a cahin on/off a bike very easy. Doesn't help if your chain has snapped.

ride_whenever

correct, you'll still need a chaintool and some spare links (for the inner plates)

tricky78

Thanks for all of your replies.

Not been using BikeRadar very long and I'm well impressed with the site and the speed of response

lost_in_thought

Holy bill of rights Batman!

You guys sure do carry a lot.

If I'm not on my way to work, I have wallet, phone (with good battery), lock, keys and lights (if it's going to be dark).

If I am on my way to work, I have a pannier with work clothes and a handbag in it, as well as the above.

I would spend money on warm tights, and good things for the varying conditions in tops - baselayer, long-sleeved and short-sleeved jerseys.

And I have an altura night-vision jacket, but if there's one thing I will spend money on when I find a good one that doesn't look like a condom (like the assos one) and is both waterproof and breatheable.

biondino

Worst case scenario - I get a cab (or an ambulance if it's even worster). No need to go crazy.

(I am so going to have a catastrophic carbon failure tonight after posting that)

cjcp

biondino wrote:

Worst case scenario - I get a cab (or an ambulance if it's even worster). No need to go crazy.

(I am so going to have a catastrophic carbon failure tonight after posting that)

And you are leaving at what time?