What to wear on a day out

Kieran_Burns

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

cjcp

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)

rolf_f

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

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

cjcp

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.

rolf_f

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.

cjcp

Kieran_Burns wrote:

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.

CiB

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

My God.


Robo-biker cycled past my place :shock:

cjcp

Kieran_Burns wrote:

My God.


Robo-biker cycled past my place :shock:

+1. Charlie Boorman and Ewan McGregor took less on their trips.

Stone Glider

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.

spasypaddy

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

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

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.

Feltup

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.

Jehannum

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.

shoulder_of_orion

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

Shoulder of Lamb wrote:

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

cygnet

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.

jjojjas

Shoulder of Lamb wrote:

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
Jas

Kieran_Burns

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

CiB

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.