What to wear on a day out

Kieran_Burns
Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
edited July 2009 in Commuting chat
This is something i've been meaning to ask for some time:

could you kind folks lend me your wisdom regarding what to take on a ride out?

Food wise
Drink wise
supplies / spares wise

Also what to carry the above in. The last time I went out for any sort of ride I died at 35 miles due to a complete lack of energy and that was because I took no food with me.

I'd really appreciate knowing what to actually prepare and have the next time i attempt a longer loop
Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter

Comments

  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Money
    Credit/Debit card
    Tools/pump/2-3 inner tubes
    Food - avoid chocolate - go for bananas, malt loaf, fig rolls, or gels and energy bars if you like that stuff. Allow 15-20 mins for gels to kick in.

    NOTE: You will need a good meal beforehand though, and drinking fluids before you go out reduces the risk of dehydration.

    Two bottles of fluids - over one hour, you need something more than water. If necessary, stop at a garage for food and drink.

    Something to keep the rain off (depending on force of rain)
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    I did 85 miles or so last week. I took

    tools: pump, 2 inner tubes, multitool.
    stuff: rain jacket, map, scribbled sketch map of the bit of my route I didn't have a proper map of, a fiver, accidentally left phone at home!
    Food: 2 and a half gels, two bottles, energy drink powder for the second bottle, energy bar, two bananas. Anything else I figured I could find on the way.

    In other words, pretty much same as cjcp :D

    PS - my first longish ride - a towpath trip of about 45 miles I took no food and had, on the way, a pint of bitter, a portion of chips and an ice cream. I nearly died :lol:
    Faster than a tent.......
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Rolf F wrote:
    I an ice cream.

    Hell, yes. Stop for ice cream. There's always time for ice cream. Christophe and I stopped for one a couple of weeks back. Makes the ride more enjoyable. FACT.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    On Sunday I also stopped for a cup of tea at Leeming Railway station - served in a 1970s buffet car! No harm in a stop off!

    BTW, the stuff I carried was on my rack in a cardboard box wrapped up in a linen bag - all non waterproof. I really need to get some proper bike bags. Fancy a handlebar bag for starters.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Also what to carry the above in.

    Oops; missed this bit.

    I have a saddle bag, two bottle cages and stuff the rest in the three pockets at the back of my jersey.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    When I came past your house the other week on my 108-mile slog I was carrying:

    2 drinks bottles of dilute apple juice + pinch of salt
    A ruck sack containing this lot:
    Another carton of apple juice for dilution later on [buy water en route; it's readily available]
    Fig rolls (2 packets of)
    Flapjacks (Morrisons too much for one person really pack)
    Apple turnovers 2? 3?
    Energy gel tubes x 5.
    Bananananas x <some>
    Multi-tool thing (not used)
    Spare tube, set of self-stick patches + tyre levers + mini pump (not used)
    Cash
    Card
    Phone
    Walkman loaded up with feelgood stuff - R4 comedy, Fighting Talk, 70s pop & rock mainly
    Camera - 4 pics in tot, was too busy cycling to remember to take any usually.
    Laminated route attached to h/bars

    That was about it. I carried most of the fig rolls, flapjacks and apple turnovers all the way there and gave them to the kids when I got to the in-laws - it was ballast not fuel, although I did a planned stop at Monyash nr Buxton for decent lunch & a rest. Reality is I hopelessly overestimated what I'd eat, but was bang on fluid-wise.

    For anything up to 40 maybe 50 miles a good breakfast like a large bowl of sugary porridge and a coffee is adequate, with 1 drinks bottle for the ride.

    5' 11", with fat to burn.
  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    My God.


    Robo-biker cycled past my place :shock:
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
    2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
    2011 Trek Madone 4.5
    2012 Felt F65X
    Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    My God.


    Robo-biker cycled past my place :shock:

    +1. Charlie Boorman and Ewan McGregor took less on their trips. :)
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Stone Glider
    Stone Glider Posts: 1,227
    Something else to wear, especially if out for more than an hour in this "summer" - SUN CREAM, high factor of course. Despite generous coating before setting off, as all prudent riders do; you will need to refresh the cream through the day.
    The older I get the faster I was
  • spasypaddy
    spasypaddy Posts: 5,180
    I take a saddle bag held within:
    1x Tube
    1x multi tool that is able to fix EVERYTHING
    1x presta to schrader converter to use at a petrol station
    2x tyre levers
    1x set of clear lenses for cycling glasses
    1x set of rubber gloves

    Back pockets:
    2 or 3 gels depending on distance
    2 or 3 bananas again distance dependent
    A bottle of water (weather, route dependent) like an evian bottle not a cycling bottle
    Montagne featherlite jacket in case of rain, if its a boiling day i dont bother obviously
    Possible second spare inner tube

    On the bike:
    Two bottles, one normally of lucozade energy or other energy drink, the second is orange squash with salt added for those cramps. The water then goes into one of these and the spare bottle binned.
    Garmin 705

    Clothing:
    Hot day - Jersey, shorts, socks, fingerless gloves, shoes, helmet, sunglasses, ipod on armband
    Midweather day but dry - Full length base layer, jersey (thickness will depend on heat/weather), possible arm warmers, shorts, fingerless gloves, socks, shoes, fabric overshoes
    Wet weather - Duvet.
  • Roastie
    Roastie Posts: 1,968
    Soem good suggestions here (although I'd probably avoid the the kitchen sink approach :shock: ). What I would add are a tyre boot in case of a torn tyre - cutting these from old tyres works well. If you run a Shimano Hollowtech crank, a pre-load tool is worth carrying in case your crank bolts work loose. It hardly weighs anything, but can mean the diff between a quick fix and damaging your crank arm irrepairably trying to limp home.
  • Rich158
    Rich158 Posts: 2,348
    I try to travel as lightly as I can

    1 tube, tyre levers, mini pump, patches & multi tools in one pocket
    gels, energy powders + energy bars in the other
    phone, cash card plus cash in the middle

    Two bottles of energy drink, which I replace with water as and when I need to. This normally does me for up to about 80 miles or so, and I've yet to be stranded.
    pain is temporary, the glory of beating your mates to the top of the hill lasts forever.....................

    Revised FCN - 2
  • Feltup
    Feltup Posts: 1,340
    Same as Rich but I put tools and tube in small saddlebag so they don't puncture me if I come off. If the weather is looking dodge then I will throw a waterproof gilet or montane jacket in as well.
    Short hairy legged roadie FCN 4 or 5 in my baggies.

    Felt F55 - 2007
    Specialized Singlecross - 2008
    Marin Rift Zone - 1998
    Peugeot Tourmalet - 1983 - taken more hits than Mohammed Ali
  • Jehannum
    Jehannum Posts: 107
    I'll second the flapjacks suggestion. They're excellent, and can be had as plain or with dried fruit and other such goodies included. They're also very good for your heart thanks to the oats. Plus they release their energy in a more measured way than suggary energy or breakfast bars.

    The best ones are home made.

    Easy to eat on the move, too.

    J.
    Reduce your carbon footprint - ride a metal bike!
  • Does anyone have a saddle-bag on their commuting bike?

    Is it a pain to have to take it off everytime you stop somewhere to lock your bike?

    I find it a pain to take off two lights, computer, water bottle everytime I stop but am also carrying a lot of excess crap such as CO2 inflator, tubes, tool etc in my bag and want to reduce the weight of my pack due to some back pain...
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,440
    Does anyone have a saddle-bag on their commuting bike?

    Is it a pain to have to take it off everytime you stop somewhere to lock your bike?

    I find it a pain to take off two lights, computer, water bottle everytime I stop but am also carrying a lot of excess crap such as CO2 inflator, tubes, tool etc in my bag and want to reduce the weight of my pack due to some back pain...

    Get a clippy one, simples :)
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • cygnet
    cygnet Posts: 92
    Roastie wrote:
    What I would add are a tyre boot in case of a torn tyre - cutting these from old tyres works well.

    I've used a £5 note on the two occasions I've had a torn tyre (I've never remembered a 'proper' tyre boot.) They last long enough to get a new tyre.
    _____________________
    I'm part of the association!
  • jjojjas
    jjojjas Posts: 346
    Does anyone have a saddle-bag on their commuting bike?

    Is it a pain to have to take it off everytime you stop somewhere to lock your bike?

    I find it a pain to take off two lights, computer, water bottle everytime I stop but am also carrying a lot of excess crap such as CO2 inflator, tubes, tool etc in my bag and want to reduce the weight of my pack due to some back pain...

    Get a clip off one. I got sick of removing stuff aswell, so everything is in the saddle bag all the time (just a small one). Only thing I need to remove is teh front light. The rear one is on the saddle bag. i removed the computer permanently. I enjoy riding more that its gone now :wink:
    Jas
    it looks a bit steep to me.....
  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    Just want to post my sppareciation for the answers on this thread folks 8) I really wasn't sure what was suitable and the ideas / suggestions have been excellent.

    I also appreciate the ideas about what to prepare with (what to eat beforehand). I have genuinely ran out of fuel on rides before but know I could go further if i'd prepped properly.

    It spoils the ride somewhat if you hit the wall and can go no further - I really want to get 50+ miles in again and I know I need to prepare properly.

    Now I know how to,I'll be getting set up when I get paid at the end of the month :D
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
    2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
    2011 Trek Madone 4.5
    2012 Felt F65X
    Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    Fill yourself with porridge before you set off. Good for 40 miles worth of effort.

    Of my trailer load, the only stuff I wouldn't take on the next 100 miler would be some of the pile of food, and the camera. The rest is all either necessary or insurance.