What do you carry on rides and how...

ravey1981

I'm not new to road riding but I have started doing longer rides (50miles+) and I'm starting to get out of the acceptable, come and get me my bike has broken telephone call range.... If there is such a thing...

I've never had a puncture on the road before so I haven't been carrying a tube/pump/c02 etc. When I go out I generally just carry some food, money and phone. I realise I should probably be taking a tube and a method of inflating said tube, and probably a tyre lever at the very least...

I'm not keen on saddle bags and the like and I don't really want to overload my jersey pockets...

What does everyone else do? Any recommendations for small, discreet saddle packs (if I really must)

smoggysteve

Pump, gels, spare tube x 2, money,cheap phone, co2 pump, chain tool & missing links

All in rear pockets as God intended.

sirmol

I use topeak saddle bag inside; i carry inner tube, money (not much), tire leavers, pump, phone. I once got caught not realising i had forgotten my pump and it was a longgggggg walk home!! :oops:

homers_double

Saddle bag, unless you've got a secret orifice.

arran77

I'd take a couple of tubs, some patches, tyre levers and pump or CO2 as a minimum.

Also phone, debit card and a note of some description.

I sometimes also take a small multi tool with a chain tool plus a link.

As for where to put the stuff I generally prefer the jersey pockets but of you don't like this or a saddle bag how about one of those bottle type container things?

Druidor

My normal road ride is over 50 miles.

Saddle Bag
* Innertube
* Scab's
* Tyre Lifters
* CO2 Pump + 2 Cartridges
* Allen keys
* Multi spanner
* Light Battery

Pocket
* Food
* Pack of paper hankies (other uses if needed)
* Pump
* Phone
* Cash

butcher of bakersfield

At a very minimum I would take a pump and puncture repair kit, along with a multi-tool for any other repairs. Also a quick link for the chain, should it break. I have needed all of these things at some point or other. Many times.

Punctures are commonplace. I'm riding Gatorskins on the road at the moment, so less common than they were, but they are an inevitability of riding. They happen. Sometimes not for a while. Then you get three in the same week. Normally I carry a spare tube for a quick change, and a puncture repair kit in case of multiple punctures.

Outside of that: phone, money, food, camera, jacket. All in jersey pockets. Saddle bag is my toolkit. I'd feel uncomfortable going out with any less than that. Fair enough if you have someone on standby for a lift and doesn;t mind driving 50 miles to get you, but it's still going to spoil your ride, and if you ride through winter you'll probably have frozen to death by the time they arrive!

If you don't want to carry a saddle bag you can use a bottle.

dilatory

As standard a multi-tool with chain breaker. Tube (or two depending on distance). Micro pump for seating and a couple of co2 for pumping. Tyre levers. Phone. Card. Cash. Keys. Enough food for whatever distance I am doing. All fit fine in pockets.

duckson

Use a large Elite Super Byasi tool bottle for everything tool/tube wise....food, rain jacket etc in the back pockets.
For fluids if i'm going further than normal i'll take a 1L bottle, if not just a 750ml bottle.

964cup

Depends which bike, but something like this:

Saddle bag (Arundel Tubi): spare tubular, alcohol wipe (to reactivate the glue on the tyre), tyre lever, multitool, chain breaker, chain pin and spare links, 2 x gas cans, combined pump and gas head

Jersey pockets: Gels and/or energy bars, rainjacket (if rain likely), coffee shop covers if stopping anywhere for long, Lezyne caddy sack containing: phone, debit card, cash, house keys. On very long unsupported rides I'll also carry a can of Vittoria Pitstop.

On rides of 100 miles or more I'll also have a small top-tube bag with some more gels or bars.

On bikes with clinchers, instead of the spare tub, I carry a tube, some patches and an extra tire lever. If using deep section wheels, I'll also carry a valve extender in case I borrow someone else's tube and it has a short valve.

On bikes running tubeless I carry a tyre repair kit instead of a tube - it's so difficult getting road tubeless tyres on and off that doing so at the roadside in a reasonable time seems unlikely, so if I can't repair the tyre - which will already have sealant in it - then it's a taxi for me.

sloppyschleckonds

All you knead is a Rapha leather essentials case with a £50 note inside.

lesfirth

The best tip I got of this forum was to carry a pair of latex or similar gloves. Sorting a chain problem can be very messy.

dav1d1

Carry food, multi tool with chain link, old phone,cash, mini pump, levers, tube, patches, gilet all in jersey pockets,

simona75

Inner Tube
Chain Links
Chain Breaker
Latex Gloves
Small Pump
Tyre Lever
Couple of self adhesive patches
Phone
Card

All in pockets

If I'm going 50 miles + I will plan a food stop at a cafe or garage

WindyG

Inner Tube
Chain Link
Multitool
2 Levers
Patches
Latex Gloves
Ty-Wraps
Small amount of cash
All in a small saddle bag

Pump
Food
Phone
In jersey

Top tube bag for longer rides for extra food/gels

IanRCarter

Saddle bag - Spare tube, repair kit in a small case which also holds a spare cleat screw and chain master links, multi-tool with chain tool, disposable gloves and a small coil lock.
On the bike - Pump.
Jersey pockets - Cash, a few tablets (ibuprofen, now started carrying hayfever tablets too), club membership card which has emergency contact details on, old Nokia phone (avoids damaging expensive smartphone if I come off!), pocket waterproof (I've been caught out on a lovely day when the heavens opened and didn't have a waterproof, always carry one now happy in the knowledge that I probably won't need it because I carry one), energy gels & bars.

Nothing wrong with a saddlebag even if it's against The Rules. There's enough in my pockets without adding everything in my saddlebag to them too.

d_o_g

lesfirth wrote:

The best tip I got of this forum was to carry a pair of latex or similar gloves. Sorting a chain problem can be very messy.

Yeah, you could break a nail.

Bozman

lesfirth wrote:

The best tip I got of this forum was to carry a pair of latex or similar gloves. Sorting a chain problem can be very messy.

+1.
Any roadside mechanical and you'll get lube or grease on your hands and during the winter road grime, that ends up on your bar tape, gloves and bottle.

rolf_f

IanRCarter wrote:

Saddle bag - Spare tube, repair kit in a small case which also holds a spare cleat screw

Cleat screw? Really? The only problem I ever have with cleat screws is getting the damn things off if I need to change the cleat. The only time I've ever had them go loose is when newly fitted (due to paranoia about overtightening them and damaging the nut) but then it's very obvious that the screw is loose long before it drops out.

ai_1

Small saddle bag:
multi tool
spare tube
pre-glued patches
money for emergencies or coffee
CO2 inflater

Frame:
Small Pump
Small flasher lights all year round

Pockets:
Phone in a sandwich bag
Keys
Cereal bars and maybe a banana
Gilet or windstopper if I think I might need it.
Gels and/or electrolyte tablets for unusually long or tough cycles only

So the stuff in the saddle bag and on the frame just stays on the bike and is always there if needed. Nothing to forget. Just top off the money if it gets used for a coffee stop.

styxd

I cant afford to be spending £50+ on a Team Sky jersey, so I just wear my football shirts. These dont have pockets in the back though so I use a big Topeak saddle bag instead. For a big 60 mile ride I pack:

Multi tool
Innertube x 2
Tyre levers
Patches
Wallet
Phone
Keys
Split link
Spare tyre
Banana
Scotch egg
Jam sandwich
Flapjack x 2

smoggysteve

styxd wrote:

I cant afford to be spending £50+ on a Team Sky jersey, so I just wear my football shirts. These dont have pockets in the back though so I use a big Topeak saddle bag instead. For a big 60 mile ride I pack:

Multi tool
Innertube x 2
Tyre levers
Patches
Wallet
Phone
Keys
Split link
Spare tyre
Banana
Scotch egg
Jam sandwich
Flapjack x 2

Shame you wear football tops. I think almost every cycling jersey I own cost less than that of the average football shirt and all have 3 pockets on the rear and some an extra pocket with a zip for keys.

I prefer having everything in my pockets. Nothing wrong with saddle bags but I just don't like them. Closest I come to anything like that is a spare tubular in a small bag in my rear bottle cage.

chippyk

If you're wearing a football shirt rather than in the wrong places. Nowt wrong with an expensive top, but Decathlon, Planet X and a whole host of other places have their own brand kit or last year's kit in cheap.

Back OT,
Debit card for emergencies
Cash for cafe stop or extra water on a long ride, had drunk 2x750mls after 4 hrs Saturday
2xtubes
Patches, glue and levers
An emergency Kit Kat I shoved in the saddle bag two years ago
Multi tool
chain tool and links (only since I had to call the support car when my chain broke in winter, it was a long walk in cleats to a McDonalds fo wait. The LBS next to the McDs didn't have the right links or chain for the 9spd Sora on my winter bike)
Depending on the forecast I'll maybe shove a showerproof jacket in
Gels/Jam sandwich/Tesco economy flapjack depending on how far I'm going
Pump

Phone

Food, pump, jacket and phone in jersey, rest in the saddle bag.
Patches, glue and levers
Multi tool, chain splitter and links
Gels and flapjack or jam butties on a long ride
Depending on the forecast I might put a showerproof jacket in

chris_bass

styxd wrote:

I cant afford to be spending £50+ on a Team Sky jersey, so I just wear my football shirts

Why do you need to spend £50? my £6.99 aldi/lidl tops have pockets!

Having said that i tend to prefer to use a bumbag (i know, its about as cool as if i was cycling with sandals and socks!) I carry pump, 2 tubes, multi tool inc chain splitter, spare quick link, tyre levers, gear cable, phone and bank card and a fiver.

As long as I eat a lot before setting off i don't really bother with food whilst out.

Old_Timer

In a Avenir "Wide Mouth" expandable, under-seat bag:
Spare tube
Park Tool IB-3 multi-tool,patches and nested tire tools
CO2 inflator (sp) and 3 spare cylinders
A pair of latex gloves

Some cash (also to boot tires when gashed) and my cellular phone in a jersey pocket.

Road ID on my wrist, for the medics, if the worst happens

Either 1 or 2 water bottles in the frame cages.

cougie

LOL at riding in a footy shirt (how much are they again ?) rather than a cheaper cycling top.

Back pockets
Phone (in waterproof bag)
Energy bar
Tool Bag with patches, allen keys, chain tool. mini screwdriver, latex gloves and keys and cash in.
Mini Pump
Gilet folded away
Arm Warmers

Small under saddle pack
Two inner tubes.
Tyre Levers

ju5t1n

jersey pockets = tube, tyre lever, glue-on patches, phone, banana, keys

mrfpb

Hex keys, tyre levers, patches, inner tube, pump.
First aid - wound dressing, alcohol wipes, bottle of water
Latex gloves,
Waterproof saddle cover
Packable jacket
All the above in a saddlebag or rackbag (with maps if I don't decide my route before leaving home)

Tablet and/or paperback novel in bar bag
With
Couple of gels or energy bars
Couple of Zipvit electrolyte tabs for topping up water bottles.

Phone, keys, hanky, wallet in trouser pockets.

Nick Cod

Small Bag on top of the frame
- Multi Tool
- Gels, normally Torq
- Puncture repair
- £5 note
- Keys

Jersey Pockets
- Spare Tubes
- Flap Jack
- Mobile phone

Bike
- 2x Water Bottles (one water / one with formula)
- Small Pump
- Lights Max Exposure flash and flair (flashing even during the day)

thegreatdivide

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

All you knead is a Rapha leather essentials case with a £50 note inside.

Word.

CiB

Blimey - some kitchen sink merchants out there...

Spare tube, levers & CO2 in saddle bag that's always on the bike so I never forget to have it with me, and a 500ml bottle of water or squash plus a phone.

Depending on destination:

Weekend ride for the fun of it up to about a couple of hours - nothing more.
Commute - add door swipe + keys, prob some cash.
Long ride - more money, extra drinks bottle, couple of gels just in case.

If anything really unusual happens I'll either phone home or wing it, thumb a lift to get home or to a bike shop, but the only thing that's ever stopped me from continuing was not knowing that Shimano chain pins can't be re-used and having the chain split 11 miles from home - cue phone call from nearby pub and a pleasant hour on my own then with OH which was no hardship and a better option than always carrying enough tools to effect any repair in the unlikely event of it being necessary. I can't recall any other occasion when the bike has suddenly become unrideable.

Additional food & drink are not usually needed but if it is I'd rather stop somewhere and buy fresh than suffer something that's been in a sweaty back pocket for three hours.