What bits and bobs to carry on the road?

rodgers73

I already carry -

1. spare tube
2. levers
3. pump
4. multitool
5. spare chain links
6. chain tool
7. tube patches
8. disposable gloves

Any idea what else might be good to carry with me? I generally run into few if any problems (never had a puncture so far) but can't help feeling that there might be something I should add to the saddle bag.

Tie wraps perhaps?

Finlaz22

Depends how far you go. I assume you take water and any snacks you might need? But that list looks pretty comprehensive to me!!

ShutUpLegs

I wouldn't bother with 4,5 & 6 but take a £5 note

rodgers73

I'm asking mainly about the mechanical stuff. I'm well equipped with cash, phone, food etc.

JackPozzi

Sounds pretty comprehensive for a portable toolkit, zip ties are always handy, a mate of mine managed to hold a disintegrated BB together with them for a 30 mile ride home!

smidsy

I think your 1 to 8 are as good as any.

+1 on cable ties, all sorts of uses.

Also duct tape (you can wrap it round your pump or seat post), again can be a life saver in numerous ways.

rodgers73

Duct tape is a good one - never thought of that!

lc1981

ShutUpLegs wrote:

I wouldn't bother with 4,5 & 6 but take a £5 note

What if your chain snaps? It's not that uncommon an occurrence. It happened to me a few weeks ago and I had a chain tool on my multitool, but stupidly not a quick link. Thankfully someone else had one they could lend me.

rodgers73

Yeah, been on too many sportives and seen chains go in the first 5 miles. No thanks!

smoggysteve

If you are carrying a spare tube, why take patches?

I would take a form of ID too. And a energy bar, gel or a mars bar etc.

Gizmodo

lc1981 wrote:

ShutUpLegs wrote:

I wouldn't bother with 4,5 & 6 but take a £5 note

What if your chain snaps? It's not that uncommon an occurrence. It happened to me a few weeks ago and I had a chain tool on my multitool, but stupidly not a quick link. Thankfully someone else had one they could lend me.

Another vote for carrying a multi-tool.
- My front mech wouldn't change one day, 2 minutes fettling with screwdriver bit on the multi-tool and got it working.
- A mates chain snapped. Split the chain, took out 2 links and put the chain back together again, all with the multi-tool.

MattC59

SmoggySteve wrote:

If you are carrying a spare tube, why take patches?

I would take a form of ID too. And a energy bar, gel or a mars bar etc.

In case you have more than one puncture.

ShutUpLegs

rodgers73 wrote:

Yeah, been on too many sportives and seen chains go in the first 5 miles. No thanks!

Due to a poorly maintained bike or bad gear changes :?:

lawrences

A condom. just because... y'know.

rodgers73

ShutUpLegs wrote:

rodgers73 wrote:

Yeah, been on too many sportives and seen chains go in the first 5 miles. No thanks!

Due to a poorly maintained bike or bad gear changes :?:

Who knows!

essjaydee

Everyone will carry different items based on their own assessment and experiences, but in addition to what you listed, I always carry the following;
1) Two tubes as well as a few patches.
2) Tyre boot. If you have an old tyre you can make your own by cutting about a 50mm length off, and then cut the beads off this. Hardly takes up any room.
3) If dark or likely to get dark, a small maglite.

CiB

I base it on what's likely to happen, so punctures mainly. A couple of tubes, tyre levers, two Co2 bombs and a PRK just in case. It's incredibly rare for things to break so badly that the bike becomes unrideable so rather than spoil every ride with a pocketful of spare bike I reckon that the once in a blue moon when it does go pear shaped is worth it. That's what mobile phones are for, and cash if it comes down to phoning for a taxi. Owning a nice light bike and then lugging a stack of spare bits and tools around on it seems to me to be a bit pointless.

Chains & things fail at the start of an event because people insist on doing un-necessary maintenance the night before. Do all your fettling a week or so before your big event, get some miles in in the intervening days and then leave it be. If you can't keep your paws off it the night before, just clean it back to shop condition.

d87francis

I put my tools in a sock in my pocket, that way you can rub the grease off your hands.

Rigged

My tool kit is:

1 mini pump
1 inner tube
1 crankbrothers multi-tool
3 Tyre levers
1 puncture repair kit

All neatly stored in a bottle that goes in one of the cages.

bernithebiker

CiB wrote:

I base it on what's likely to happen, so punctures mainly. A couple of tubes, tyre levers, two Co2 bombs and a PRK just in case. It's incredibly rare for things to break so badly that the bike becomes unrideable so rather than spoil every ride with a pocketful of spare bike I reckon that the once in a blue moon when it does go pear shaped is worth it. That's what mobile phones are for, and cash if it comes down to phoning for a taxi. Owning a nice light bike and then lugging a stack of spare bits and tools around on it seems to me to be a bit pointless.

Chains & things fail at the start of an event because people insist on doing un-necessary maintenance the night before. Do all your fettling a week or so before your big event, get some miles in in the intervening days and then leave it be. If you can't keep your paws off it the night before, just clean it back to shop condition.

+1 for this. I carry a small can of sealant and my phone. That's it. I have never had a major mechanical problem in over 10 years road riding, maybe because i keep the bike well maintained. In the event of one, i'll call either my wife or a taxi.

Some of your lists of stuff are huge. I'm surprised you don't need a trailer to carry that lot around....

And yeah, NEVER touch your bike the night before a big event, that's asking for trouble.

slowbike

Haven't we had this conversation recently?

I carry tube, levers, puncture repair patches & pump - as I know I'm going to get a puncture, it's just a matter of when (two in the last 2 weeks)
Multitool with chain breaker - I used the multi tool in anger when the snow came unexpectedly during the day (I was at work) - I dropped the saddle a little to make it easier to dismount when I hit the ice ridges hidden by snow.

As this little lot weighs very little and sits in the saddlebag (frame mounted pump) I don't need to remember to carry it - it's just there.
Other things can go wrong with your bike - and a simple multitool will help you resolve the majority of them on the roadside so you can at least ride home/to the car.

I wouldn't rely solely on mobile signal - I can go several miles with no signal ... !

smoggysteve

This can start getting a bit ridiculous. I remember reading someone in a thread saying how light they were trying to get their bike. Different wheels, groupsets etc, then mentioning that they carry a small toolbox worth of kit on them in case of a breakdown. Take all you feel you need to keep you moving. Only things that are really going to stop you are a puncture or a chain breakage so a few tubes , pump and levers plus chain tool and missing link cover that. If you really have so little confidence in the bike or your maintenance skills, stay at home.

A jacket for wet weather is not always required. If it looks like rain then duh , yeah take one. If you are riding somewhere you know may be out in the sticks, take a phone. Remember the 6
P's before you even get out the door.

Pumpkin Positive

For me it's a bit seasonal. In the summer it's puncture repair only (spare tube, pump & levers). My spare tube is rolled up like a sausage, wrapped in clingfilm and carefully slid into my seatpost. In the winter time I take an extra tube and a space blanket which weighs nothing and folds down to the size of a credit card.

thegreatdivide

In my Rapha Essentials Bag (What? You don’t have one darling?)

BC card and club membership card for ID
CO2 and head
2 x Taxc tyre levers
Lezyne patch kit – for when you get a double puncture
Inner tube
Rubber gloves – used one just the other day when fixing a manky dropped chain
Small hex key for my shoe – one end has a screwdriver head which has come in handy for all sorts of things
Bank card
A quid coin
A four leaf clover – the Mrs gave me it, bless her.

Cleat Eastwood

If its short local, I only take a phone.

One thing I did see on a sportive was a guy who had stuffed his rain cape and a few tools in an old water bottle - suppose it leaves your pockets free for food etc.

deadhead1971

+1 for the silver space blanket.
Could have done with three yesterday - bit of an epic
http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/2013/02/su ... f-an-epic/

Loretta Damage

For winter rides I always tuck a spare pair of gloves in my pocket. Always carry 2 spare tunes as well, although was no use yesterday when a submerged pothole took care of my front tyre in dramatic fashion.

CiB

Loretta Damage wrote:

For winter rides I always tuck a spare pair of gloves in my pocket. Always carry 2 spare tunes as well, although was no use yesterday when a submerged pothole took care of my front tyre in dramatic fashion.

Ah - we did this not so long ago. I went for Nelly The Elephant, and Remember You're A Womble. They keep me ticking over at a good rhythm.