Originally Posted by
GlennR
What kinds of "stuff"? Seriously, if you're just riding and not commuting, what do you need to carry other than a spare tube and some tools?
I do 50+ miles rides and this is all i carry.
Serious stuff...
I don't carry anything other than a flat kit/multi-tool if I'm "just riding", but I also sometimes ride my bike to do things other than just riding, and like to be able to carry things. I don't actually carry much of anything when commuting to the office (back when we did that), because my commute is short and I just ride in street clothes, but on weekends and evenings I use my bikes for lots of reasons. Sometimes I'm going shopping, visiting friends, going to a park, going to a museum, stopping to get a drink or a meal, running errands, etc. Sometimes I'm combining those activities with longer rides.
Here is some of the "stuff", beyond keys, wallet and phone which usually just fit into my pockets:
- Anything bought at a retail store
- Food or drinks or other things, either to stop and eat along the way, or maybe to visit a friend for a meal, or to buy and bring home, etc.
- Street clothes, a pair of street shoes - useful if I'm planning on doing things with friends/family, and later "take the long way home".
- Bike locks - in the city this is two U-locks
- Camera equipment so I can visit interesting places and take photos of interesting things
- A book so that I can stop and read under a tree in a park
- A bluetooth speaker so I can listen to music while I read my book
- A laptop or tablet so I can log into BF and justify my use of a bag on my road bike, or do other things that I might do on a laptop or tablet