Okie so my new road bike is set to arrive next week (fingers crossed) now Im putting together a list of things to bring on long rides…
Coming from a mtb background - I usually carry a lot of stuff in my hydration pack including tools, food, raingear, spare tubes, pump, light etc…
What do you carry when you go on a long road ride and how do you carry it? When I say long - I mean a coupla hours at least and most of the time away from civilization (and the nearest lbs)
so Im thinking:
Spare tube (or two)
Pump
Gel/power bar
tire levers
multitool
cell-phone
keys and cash…
Where do you stash all this stuff? - those jersey pockets seem pretty flimsy and I dont think I’d like to stash all this stuff in those pockets…
Here’s what I take for 2+ hours
In pack under seat
-2 x Tube
-CO2 with 2 cartridges
-2 tire levers
-crank brothers multi tool
in jersey pocket
-cell phone
-1 or 2 cliff bars
-1 carb-boom
-arm/leg warmers
-cash
Normally take 2-3 bottles of liquid too, half sports drink, the rest water. And I always always have my ROADID with me. Makes me, and my girlfriend worry less that I am smashed up in the hospital somewhere, and no one knows
Little box of patches I picked up in NZ. Spare tube is great for the first puncture but I’d rather not lug two around on the tiny chance that I’d puncture again so these are great - jou just find the hole stick em on and go! Dubious at first (where’s the chalk? where’s the glue?) but I’ve done 200 miles on a tube that I forgot I’d mended this way and it’s all good.
Don’t stash the bars in your pockets cause they’re annoying to get out - go with a bento box or unwrap em before the ride and stick them to your top tube (actually know a good story about a guy forgetting he’d done this, relieving himself a bit innacurately halfway round a long European road race and having a 30 mile dilemma as to whether or not to chow down anyway…)
I fit the following into the really tiny Jandd saddlebag: 1 spare tube, 2 CO2 cartridges, one CO2 inflator nozzle, one plastic tire tool (all I need), one metal tire tool (not for the tire, I’ve just found this VERY useful for prying, bending, levering any number of problems to resolution), tire patch kit, the small (5 tool) Pedro’s multi-tool, and a $20. Fits snuggly so there is no jingling of parts (don’t you hate that?). When riding (racing) with my 404 tubulars, I add a little tool my my own invention (a bent piece of a wire coat hanger) that I use to stick down into the valve extender to deflate the tire for removal.
In my jersey pockets: cell phone, keys, HammerGel and iPod (save it).
I have never taken a cell phone on any ride (just a quarter and my home toll free no.) because I am the only American left who does not have a cell phone.
Greg/ORD, I belong in that club with you. What do we call it? The “Old fart cheap bastards” no cell phone club? Although with all of the bike accidents I’ve reading about since I’ve been on this forum, what do think of the pay as you go cell phone to carry along in case of emergencies?
I think that you have it all covered. The only thing that I would add would be some extra clothing if out for a really long ride, and you are expecting changes in the weather - typically for the worse. Also if you live in a mountainous area it’s nice to have arm warmers and leg or knee warmers along. Even in the summers, it can be quit a bit cooler at altitude and after a hot sweaty ascent, you can get chilled on the descents.
I always have my old driver’s license (mentioned earlier) and an old medical insurance card (same information, just last year’s version). Last time I was injured I didn’t have my card with me and I had to spend 10 minutes in pain answering questions about my coverage.
I take nothing but a Visa card and Cellphone, maybe some cash. I never carry a spare tire or tube. I also carry no tools. For some reason if I carry a spare I need it - if I dont - I dont. I often check my tires for glass and rocks in the tread (before every ride) and keep my bikes all well tuned. No issues. I think it is bad mojo for me to carry a spare.
Good question, so I went and disassembled my seat pouch that I carry training and here is what I found:
(2) Tubes (and they were even the right size)
(3) CO2 cartradiges (16g)
CO2 Inflator
Patch Kit
(2) Tire Levers
Park Muli-tool
Leatherman Juice Multi-Tool
Presta to Schreader Adapter
10 Dollar Bill crumpled up in the bottom.
About 1ft of duct tape.
I typically also bring a Cell phone, $20, a bandana, and fuel for an hour longer than I expect to be out. I typically carry enough fluids for 2 hours and plan my rides to have stops where I can refill along the route. Now, if you guys want what I take on my “Epic” MTB rides thats a different story
with all of the bike accidents I’ve reading about since I’ve been on this forum, what do think of the pay as you go cell phone to carry along in case of emergencies?
I think I am in the “cell phones are overkill for 98% of life unless you are an ER physician” no cell phone club. And the ugly cell towers are everywhere and continue to kill birds by the thousands.
But a good question above: If you crash and are unconscious or are very badly hurt, will you be able to even make a phone call? If you are not as badly hurt, could you ask one of the car drivers on the road to make a call for you? Off road is another question of course–there are not likely to be any cars around. But then no cars = a lot less chance of severe injury. And then if you are quite remote, will you even have reception anyway?
Life and riding is full of risks. But bike riders have been going out on rides without this device for 100 years. Is it really that critical? Not sure, but for now (for me) I say, no.
No cell phone for me, but I do not consider myself old (27) yet.
Frame pump, one powerbar energy drink bottle and one bottle of water
Left pocket is food, two clif bars, and one gel for each hour
Middle pocket is chapstick and a map if it is an odd route along with my third bottle w/ water and wind vest.
Right pocket is the trash pocket
Saddle bag:
two tubes
patch kit
two tire levers
allen wrences
presta adapter
quarters, dimes and nickels for pay phones (which are dissappearing very fast)
$20
house key
old drivers license
Sometimes I don’t bring my saddle bag (riding with buddies on my tri bike) and just make sure they have stuff for me.
Almost forgot. This is for rides in the 2-6 hour range. More than 3-4 hours requires a water bottle refill.
