tools, tube, pump?? how do you carry yours, if at all?

BoydD

New to road, been mtb a while so used to carrying a bag/hydration pack with waterproof, tube, tools, tyre levers etc.. I see guys on the road who don't appear to have anything with them at all.

Just looking for some advice really as to what to carry. I'm thinking of getting a small saddle bag for multi-tool, tube, levels and pump. I guess I'm more curious as to what most other people carry on a ride? Regards Boyd

Skippy2309

honestly I cheat, I have a combo-pump on my fixed gear, pure CO2 pump on my Caad9 and I carry a tube in my saddle bag along with a spare link and a multi tool. other than that it something went wrong it wouldn't be something i would be trying to fix on the side of the road.

smurfylicious

BoydD wrote:

Just looking for some advice really as to what to carry. I'm thinking of getting a small saddle bag for multi-tool, tube, levels and pump. I guess I'm more curious as to what most other people carry on a ride? Regards Boyd

This is a rough estimate of what I normally carry. I cycle on my own so some of it won't be required if you're in a large group.

Bottle: In the bottle cage
Pump: I use a pump that fits my frame
Tools, two inner tubes, allen keys, tyre levers etc: In seat pack
Bananas and other food: Left and right shirt pockets
Map: Centre shirt pocket
Waterproof top: Centre shirt pocket
Keys and money: Securely zipped away in seat pack
Seal skins skull cap: Centre shirt pocket

BoydD wrote:

I see guys on the road who don't appear to have anything with them at all.

Have you checked their shirt pockets? Mine are normally stuffed with food and other things!

dennisn

Cell phone. Along with money, multi tool, chain link, food, water, clothing to suit the expected weather, spare tub, plastic tire irons, pump or CO2. Can't imagine going out with less. Just doesn't make sense.

garrynolan

I do adventure racing so have to carry everything with me - I use a small backpack (the 20 quid own-brand one from Decathlon) that takes a bladder for actual race days. If you're used to the backpack don't fix it if it ain't broke! I do have a tri-bag behind the stem on crossbar for my mobile and paper tissues. As for roadies that appear to carry nothing - some of them don't have anything... idiots!

nferrar

Tube, patches, tyre levers, tyre boots, power links and multi-tool in smallish saddle bag. Bottles in cages. Phone, mini-pump, energy bars/gel, wallet, cleat covers, house keys and sometimes a rain jacket in jersey pockets. On a really long ride I sometimes put a top tube (tri/bento) bag on the bike as well for extra food.

Jason82

I have my tyre keys multi-tool and spare inner tube in a sandwich bag inside a water bottle on my frame. I then have a pocket pump in my err pocket. I have two water bottles on my frame one is for drinking obviously.

MattC59

I carry the following:
On frame:
One or two water bottles, depending on distance.
Mini pump : http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24666

In seat pack: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28821
One spare tube
Tyre levers
Glueless patches: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24778
Multitool: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13239
Chain tool
Chain links
Phone
Keys
£20

In Jersey pockets:
Grub
Waterproof jacket

sloppyschleckonds

I've always wondered why mtbers carry so much 'stuff' with them

nferrar

Not sure they do really, in my MTB pack the only extras (over the road) I carry is a first-aid kit and usually a suspension pump, it's just all in the pack (with drink) rather than spread between bike and pockets.

Headhuunter

I carry tubes, patches, glue, tube, multi tool, phone, £10-20, bananas or dried fruit, door keys.... I think that's it. At the moment I'm experimenting with one of those strap on bags up near the bars. I used to use a saddle pack thing but the velcro wore holes in my lycra shorts and leggings as my legs swung up and down and brushed it. The head tube bag is quite good, although it needs straightening every now and then as it flops over and also still rubs against my longer lycra shorts and leggings, near the knee...

vorsprung

I always have a huge saddlebag attached to whatever bike I'm on. Typically a 23 litre Carradice Super C. I always have about half a kilo of tools,a tyre boot, some insulating tape, some cable ties, 2 spare tubes, a Topeak Road Morph pump (it's like a mini track pump) and a phone

Depending on the time of year etc I might have various extra clothes too. The bag is great for commuting or long distance rides

Last year I did experiment with a tiny micro seatpack instead with just a multitool+patch kit. I had a smaller pump attached to the frame

I keep meaning to try out a co2 inflator

Crem

I carry pretty much the same as everyone else.

I think the £20 for a taxi home is the most essential piece of equipment. Should I ever get a puncture I can see that being used before the spare tubes, tyre levers and CO2.

Headhuunter

Crem wrote:

I carry pretty much the same as everyone else.

I think the £20 for a taxi home is the most essential piece of equipment. Should I ever get a puncture I can see that being used before the spare tubes, tyre levers and CO2.

That's an expensive way to deal with a puncture! Round my way in London, a £20 taxi fare will only get you about 6 miles ish and I am highly unlikely to be within 6 miles from home when I get my puncture...

ollyridesfirst

mini pumb attached to the front of the seat stem (weird i know, but it fits and it's out of the way). saddle bag with tyre levers, multi-tool and tube. Everything else goes in my rear pockets.....wind-jacket, 2 bananas, 2 gels, electrolyte tabs, phone, cash.

anto164

mini pump with co2, tyre levers, spare tube, multitool, ipod, phone and emergency food. All stuffed into my jersey pockets. Going to get a saddle bag for my new bike so i don't have to load my pockets constantly. I tend to put all my tools in one pocket, which slowly starts to twist my jerseys.

smurfylicious

garrynolan wrote:

As for roadies that appear to carry nothing - some of them don't have anything... idiots!

Maybe they're all Pros.

Crem

smurfylicious wrote:

garrynolan wrote:

As for roadies that appear to carry nothing - some of them don't have anything... idiots!

Maybe they're all Pros.

..or don't mind paying £20 for a taxi home

garrynolan

smurfylicious wrote:

garrynolan wrote:

As for roadies that appear to carry nothing - some of them don't have anything... idiots!

Maybe they're all Pros.

Some of them think they are (I'm a roadie but don't take myself that seriously). Going out without anything - even a tenner for a cab - is just stupid and asking for trouble :? .

mattsccm

Crikey. Small saddle pack has 2 tubes, and the 2 allen keys that fit the bike. If on road bike there is a small pump under the bottle cage. CX adds 2 gas carts and adaptor.
Cash in jersey pocket with light shell. Room for anything I take off.
A wheel qr serves as a tyre lever but I have never needed 1 in 30 years. Might add food for 20 mile + rdies in pockets

sungod

minipump, puncture repair kit, kmc links, spare tube, minitool, tyre lever, tyre boot, disposable gloves, spare contacts, all in a small fabric pouch (cut down from the bag a seat tube came in)

all fits in middle back pocket with room to spare, but i chose all these bits to be small+light

two pockets free for food bars/gels/whatever, phone, keys, cake/emergency money

brucey72

I have one of those BBB 500ml tool bottles in which I keep 2 tubes, glueless patches, Multi-tool, 2 Tyre Levers, CO2 pump and a KMC link and a tenner. Its a tight squeeze but this summer hasn't exactly been hot so one 750ml water bottle has been fine for me.

In my jersey pockets
Middle - Waterproof Jacket or Gilet depending on conditions and mini pump.
Right - Phone and keys
Left - A banana, nutrigrain bar and a gel or two.

pottssteve

I can't believe how much cr@p I carry! The full list:

In saddle pack - spare tube, tyre levers, glueless patches, multitool, small penknife.

In pockets - food (crackers/flapjack/banana, for example), map (photocopy of the relevant area), plastic bag with money (notes and change), mobile phone, copy of passport (required here), door key, prescription sunglasses, cap, very thin waterproof jacket, hi-vis vest if riding at dusk.

Bottle - in cage.

Pump - on bike mount (winter bike) or also in jersey pocket (summer bike).


No wonder I'm so slow.....

BoydD

thanks for all the replies.

I think I'm going to run with the following set up: Under Saddle bag with muntitool, tube, patches, tyre levers and split link and an ait-tool on the bike. Like the idea of the £20 never heard of that before although I plan on knocking some good distance on the this bike and would like to think I could fix most running issues. Many thanks, Boyd

Xommul

I admit it!

I have a meduim fizik saddle bag, maybe not cool but it fits 2 tubes, levers, multi tool, co2 cannister, mobile, cash.

In jersey pockets wallet/money/mobile if not in saddle bag, 2 energy bars and a gel

2 bottles with go science drink in lemon for added energy. .

Pump attached to bottle cage, its a mini that fits co2 aswell.

I have heard people say thye take a cut open bottle and stuff it full of bits and keep it in the seat post down tube bottle holder. I would be paranoid it would all pop out goign over a bump.

Wow, that lot sounds like a tonne but i am 17.5 stone and so a little extra makes no diff. Would rather have it and not need it etc..

Xom

andy46

small water bottle in cage, mobile phone, keys, spare tube, patches, tyre levers and mini pump all in jersey pockets. On longer rides may also take some money and/or food.

on the mtb all of the above plus shock pump, 2 tubes and a first aid kit but everything goes into a camelbak.

smurfylicious

pottssteve wrote:

copy of passport

We escaped that by the skin of our teeth in the UK.

RowCycle

I use a small camelbak rucksack.

pottssteve

smurfylicious wrote:

pottssteve wrote:

copy of passport

We escaped that by the skin of our teeth in the UK.

Dutch nationals are required to carry an ID card. Foreign residents should carry a passport, or at least a paper copy. I don't have a problem with it; I'm here legally.......

smurfylicious

Headhuunter wrote:

Crem wrote:

I carry pretty much the same as everyone else.

I think the £20 for a taxi home is the most essential piece of equipment. Should I ever get a puncture I can see that being used before the spare tubes, tyre levers and CO2.

That's an expensive way to deal with a puncture! Round my way in London, a £20 taxi fare will only get you about 6 miles ish and I am highly unlikely to be within 6 miles from home when I get my puncture...

I do carry money, but I don't think I'd be trying to call a taxi if I was stranded in the Yorkshire Dales. I'd be more likely to try and get to the nearest railway station so that I could make it back to Settle, which is where I usually start my rides.

I can't really believe someone would pay £20 rather than fix a puncture. It's got to be fixed when you get home anyway, unless you're one of those people who takes it to the LBS everytime you get a puncture.

thecryof

Tiny pump, tube, 3 tire levers and a sock for use as cleaning cloth. All enclosed within a flat topped water bottle look-a-like.