genejockey

Chain breaker: Back in the Pre-Cell Phone Days, I had a rear derailleur cable break on a ride, 8 miles from home. All of a sudden, my only choice was 53x12 or 39x12. As it happens, there's no way to get from there to my house without at least a half mile long climb of about 6%, so that wouldn't work. So I broke the chain, shortened it, and rewrapped it as a single speed, 39x16 or so, and rode home.

Quick link: I had one break on me at the bottom of a hill - my fault, because I cheaped out and reused an old one when I replaced a chain, because some sneaky b****** had stolen the one from the package the new chain came in. I was only 2 miles from home, and I DID have a cell phone, so I made the Call Of Shame. If I'd had a spare quick link, I could have installed it and saved the call.

Note - I don't carry all that stuff anymore. Just two tubes and a pump. But my wife is willing to come pick me up if I have a problem, and I'm more fastidious about maintenance these days. And the OP is obviously concerned about having his bases covered.

billridesbikes

If you’re a AAA member their vehicle service extends to bicycles and they’ll try to get someone to pick you up if you have cell coverage your entire ride. I’ve never used it but take my AAA card just in case.

I ride sometimes in eastern Oregon and rural Idaho often through BLM land where you can be easily 20 miles from anywhere during a self supported century and maybe only see a couple cars an hour and never had a mechanical I couldn’t fix and limp home. No banjos out here but you do sometimes run into yokels shooting whistle pigs or bottles way too close to the road for my comfort.

Iride01

I only carry one tube and a CO2 inflator. But I do have a couple allen's, screwdriver and swiss army knife. So I guess you still got me beat for lightness.

I do think that being able to do your own maintenance and as you say how "fastidious" one is about keeping up with and just plain knowing how well the bike's condition condition is prior to a ride will make taking anything more seem like being overprepared or a worry wort.

Though for those that are doing multi-day trips, it's understandable to take more of a bike repair shop with you. But for a five, six or even seven hour ride. I'm not too worried about anything but maybe a flat.

genejockey

Given my size, that doesn't seem likely.

I used to carry two tubes, levers, instant patch kit, traditional patch kit, spoke wrench, chain breaker, and a little clip-on thingie with two allen keys with different sized heads covering the range from 3-6mm, with one of the wrenches wrapped in duct tape. After a few years, I realized I never used any of it - not after that one time I described above. But again, that was in the days before everyone had a cell phone with them all the time.

WhyFi

Ah. If you're doing rides in destinations away from home, I would strongly consider a dedicated GPS cycling computer with mapping/routing capabilities (turn-by-turn with road names is handy) and I'd also download the regional map to your phone, too, so that it can be used off-line, if necessary.

Koyote

Yeah, I can't recall the last time I used my mini-tool (which is one of the larger and fuller-featured models), and I haven't fixed a puncture in ages, since I converted my two main bikes to tubeless. But I still carry all of the stuff, along with some redundancies such as CO2 and a mini-pump. My wife's job pays for all of my cycling gear, and it is pretty demanding -- so she would not be able to drop everything and pick me up if I had a breakdown on a weekday.

Nachoman

My advice is to skip the dog whistle.

burnthesheep

Tips, assuming totally unsupported meaning possibility of no food or water availability and going 100mi:

-Look into a clamp-on behind saddle bottle cage mount, put some extra drink back there. Assuming nowhere to get more fluids.

-Certainly a fully charged/new battery good rear red blinking light. I love my Garmin radar, but realize that may be out of budget for some.

-Fully charged cell phone. Then, if not necessary at time, maybe leave it off to conserve battery.

-Look in Google Maps streetview ahead at some of the route to make sure no surprises or closures.

-2 spare tubes, a few of those little patch stickers, a $5 bill for emergency or sidewall tear, frame pump, very simple cheap mini tool

-Give a person not going your route and expect time/location of halfway and finish. Send a text or something at halfway.

bblevens

I’ve got the Garmin radar. Feel naked without it.
all of these are great tips.

My main concern of the unlikely event of being stuck for some reason and needing a pickup has been resolved. It seems my Velosurance policy has roadside. Sadly my AAA doesn’t see bikes as part of their coverage.

I’ve got some routes planned. Just need the weather. 😊

10 Wheels

USE a Marine Air Horn to Stop Dogs

bblevens

And most anything else I suspect. 😊

In a pinch I’ve used a good squirt from the water bottle. Catches them off guard and stops them where they are.

woodcraft

Bringing a headlight can make the difference between high risk and/or bad decisions,

and no big deal if stuff happens and you finish after dark.

big chainring 

Oh for the days of putting a couple bucks and a banana in my jersey pocket, spare tubular behind my saddle and taking off on a long bike ride. No wallet, no ID, and long before cell phones. Tens of thousands of miles, no incidents of being stranded. Oh, and never considered wearing a helmet.

That was kind of the attraction of bike riding. The bike enabled you to venture out and be self sufficient.

Drew Eckhardt 

There was a "no services for 50 miles" sign on the 200 mile loop starting at my front door hitting two of the three highest paved peaks in my area with a population of 7.7 million.

Except for a fire station which kept water out for cyclists the sign was accurate.

WhyFi

Cool.

Iride01

"out of" or "out for" ??

Drew Eckhardt 

Out for.

znomit

Take a spare tyre to swap in after your second mysterious puncture. Three tubes and a patch kit.
Know how to deal with spoke breakages and a busted derailleur or chain.
An emergency ration and a little more water than you think you'll need.
Have fun.