Must haves?
Do you guys have any must haves when you're commuting? I know the basics but is there some that you bring that's a game changer?
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The only must-have game changer is stashing a spare set of clothes at work, permanently. I always need it eventually.
Everything extra that I have on my bike, or carry with me, or equiped on the bike, is there for a pretty good reason but certainly not a game changer. Convenience, comfort. I ride the other bike 1/3 of the time, with none of it. |
I'm retired now, but I found a bike rain cape to be a must-have. I had tried various rain gear before the cape, and I would always sweat so much when wearing it that I got just as wet with as without. But a cape lets you stay cool and (more or less) dry at the same time. I never found rain pants that weren't too hot, so I would get wet below the knees when it poured, but otherwise the rain cape was the bee's knees, as my grand daddy used to say.
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Originally Posted by Viich
(Post 20935689)
but in the spirit of this thread, lights are what brought me to year round riding and not an occasional lark. |
Originally Posted by tclune
(Post 20935676)
I'm retired now, but I found a bike rain cape to be a must-have. I had tried various rain gear before the cape, and I would always sweat so much when wearing it that I got just as wet with as without. But a cape lets you stay cool and (more or less) dry at the same time. I never found rain pants that weren't too hot, so I would get wet below the knees when it poured, but otherwise the rain cape was the bee's knees, as my grand daddy used to say.
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Originally Posted by 7Shifty
(Post 20935425)
Do you guys have any must haves when you're commuting? I know the basics but is there some that you bring that's a game changer?
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A “Plan B” for getting to work
This Plan B will be different for almost everyone, but you WILL find your bike unridable some morning...
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The only must haves are a bicycle. There are no must have accessories. Everything else needs to be selected based upon the persons personal preferences, their needs and their riding style.
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spare tube and c02 to inflate are my only must haves! Nothing worse than being beeped at by your work buddies as you walk a flat the rest of the way to work...
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Originally Posted by tclune
(Post 20935676)
I'm retired now, but I found a bike rain cape to be a must-have. I had tried various rain gear before the cape, and I would always sweat so much when wearing it that I got just as wet with as without. But a cape lets you stay cool and (more or less) dry at the same time. I never found rain pants that weren't too hot, so I would get wet below the knees when it poured, but otherwise the rain cape was the bee's knees, as my grand daddy used to say.
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A destination, hopefully pleasant. ;)
Everything else is situational, even stuff for repairs. My commute is 4 miles, so my worst case scenario is walking 2 miles. I wear rain gear if it's actually raining when I leave for work, otherwise I usually risk it, depending on the forecast. I might also ride in my flip flops and carry my shoes in a plastic bag. |
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Gumption
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A pair of disposable latex gloves. They only weigh a few grams and don't take up much space, but it sure makes a difference when changing a rear flat.
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Originally Posted by mcours2006
(Post 20936267)
I fear this much as well. I've tried various combinations, but when it is a consistent, steady rain, my feet are going to get wet. I haven't used a cape, and probably won't. I will just have to live with what I have.
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Originally Posted by wphamilton
(Post 20935431)
The only must-have game changer is stashing a spare set of clothes at work, permanently. I always need it eventually.
Everything extra that I have on my bike, or carry with me, or equiped on the bike, is there for a pretty good reason but certainly not a game changer. Convenience, comfort. I ride the other bike 1/3 of the time, with none of it. |
For me the must-haves are:
In the winter I also mount fenders, but I remove them as the weather becomes more reliable. I also use the bike for trips to the store, which can happen after dark. In those cases the front and rear light become mandatory, and my bottle blinky (side light) is the optional accessory that I much prefer having, for safety's sake. I do carry a multi-tool that I never need. A lock would be on my list, but I leave mine at work. I am a fair weather commuter. If it's raining I take the car to the light rail station. If it's clear, I take the bike. |
Originally Posted by blackieoneshot
(Post 20937633)
A pair of disposable latex gloves. They only weigh a few grams and don't take up much space, but it sure makes a difference when changing a rear flat.
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Must haves?
Originally Posted by 7Shifty
(Post 20935425)
Do you guys have any must haves when you're commuting? I know the basics but is there some that you bring that's a game changer?
Originally Posted by rumrunn6
(Post 20936580)
Gumption
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 20760531)
Extreme condition challenges--winter
...My watchword for Winter is “Gear and Gumption.”
Originally Posted by lostarchitect
(Post 18374616)
Don't a lot of these things go without saying for the vast majority of people? Clothing (a jacket is clothing, too), footwear, keys, money, ID, cell phone etc.
It's probably more interesting to ask what non-standard things do people always have with them…It could also be interesting to ask which typically standard things do people usually NOT carry?.
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
(Post 18375482)
...I have a flat mesh black bag, about 8 x 6 x 3 inches I call my “clutch bag” with some of my non-standard items I take everywhere, including bike rides:
Washington Post Sunday, December 14, 2008 Let's make a list of the important things you need before walking out the door: Wallet: Check. Cellphone: Check. Keys: Check. Lip balm? You slap your back pocket. Nope. Rummage through your bag. Nada. Search the bedside table. Negative. This is a problem. A huge, paralyzing problem. You are a lip balm addict, after all. And you are not alone. Countless Facebook groups are dedicated to the "crackstick" in all its varieties: ChapStick, Blistex, Burt's Bees, Carmex. Any lip lubricant that comes in a tube or a tub. There are online quizzes that measure how addicted you are to ChapStick. (Question: When you are wearing only a bathing suit, do you have ChapStick on you at all times?) And there is a self-help Web site, Lip Balm Anonymous (Lip Balm Anonymous), dedicated to helping lip balm addicts. |
Game Changer?
Game changer to me means something that gives a distinct advantage over the "old way" of doing something. A competitive advantage in sports. An efficiency leap in accomplishing some task.
So, I'd say that, apart from the wealth of common sense given in the thread above, the game changing item(s) have been (for me): - a bicycle cover that keeps the rubber/shifter hoods/saddle/tires out of the sunlight and sheds light rain. XPORT is the branding. Works wonders. - prepositioning a stout chain and lock at work, so that I only must carry the key - keeping a full sized floor pump in my office at work, for inevitable tire repairs before the ride home - carrying the Pedro's tire bead jack in my panniers for those impossible to mount Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, in the rare event that I have to remove one and remount it. This was necessitated recently when I had a spoke broken at work and needed to replace a spoke nipple. The Schwalbe tire needed to come off first. Ugh. |
Originally Posted by SylvainG
(Post 20937792)
AND A PAIR OF UNDERWEAR! Few times I got to work only to find out I forgot to stash a underwear in my bag :( Being commando under dress pants is... special.
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Originally Posted by Phil_gretz
(Post 20938421)
Game changer to me means something that gives a distinct advantage over the "old way" of doing something. A competitive advantage in sports. An efficiency leap in accomplishing some task.
http://fatlion.com/sailplanes/images...hompson_lg.jpg (not my photo, found on internet) |
Originally Posted by jskita
(Post 20938018)
I also always keep a handkerchief with me to for dust or keep sun off my neck. I have used the handkerchief to wipe my hands (when I couldn't find a latex glove) and also to bandage another rider that had a bad fall.
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Originally Posted by mcours2006
(Post 20936267)
I fear this much as well. I've tried various combinations, but when it is a consistent, steady rain, my feet are going to get wet. I haven't used a cape, and probably won't. I will just have to live with what I have.
Originally Posted by Korina
(Post 20938792)
I always ride with a bandana. It's like a mini towel, and you should always know where your towel (or bandana) is.
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