bellinibean

I was thinking I would create a thread that details what everyone carried on their rides. Whether it be short distance, mid range, or centuries, what gear do you carry when the unexpected occurs? I know I have a ton of ideas about what I want to carry, but I also don't want to be a rolling bike store either. In my bike patrol days, we always carried, at a minimum, 100oz water backpack (Camelbak, Osprey, etc) and as far as tools go it was a hand pump, chain, multi-tool, tire tools, and tubes.

So, what do you carry?

(if this is stickied elsewhere or spoken over a million times, feel free to delete. )

009jim

I only ride to work and back which is 8 miles each way. I carry just a cable lock, spare tube, pump, chain lube and levers. I don't even carry water although a couple of times I could have used a mouthful.

bellinibean

Jim, a good cable lock is definitely in order now that I'm not on a police bike... Suprisingly, no one ever touched the department bikes.

aggst1

I carry a multi tool, a spare tube, a patch kit (the self adhesive type just to get me home), tire levers and a hand pump. I also always carry a water bottle, two if I m doing longer distance. I carry my phone mounted on the handlebars and use it as a GPS. I am also planning to buy a couple of latex gloves when I get to the store and keep them in my saddle bag. I had to fix my chain last week and I got my hands messy, so in cases like that it would come in handy.

bellinibean

Anyone ever known or personally do carry their firearm when they bike? I know in Washington we can carry concealed with a permit. Seems like a bicyclist could be a target of opportunity in certain situations. Especially women.

badger1

Short of touring, what's required? Tube/tire lever/CO2 cartridge, and water bottle(s) -- 1 for commute, 2 (water; electro drink) for longer rides. For rides 60+ miles, I add a second tube and CO2 cartridge.
That's it. Chain/chain tool etc.? Nope ... I replace my chain twice a year, so little chance of it breaking.

badger1

This I just don't get, at all. But then, I don't live in the U.S.; the notion that people walk -- or cycle -- around with "firearms" is, to me, beyond comprehension.
By the way, if your original post was a troll to try to start a 'guns on bikes' thread by indirection, stop -- please. If not, apologies -- but again, I just don't 'get it.'

bellinibean

Easy man, I'm not trolling at all. It was a legitimate question. Over the last couple months there have been more than a couple attempted and actual attacks on peds and cyclists. I'm in law enforcement so guns are a daily ritual for me. I didn't intend nor do I plan to turn this into a guns thread. I was simply asking a valid question.

badger1

Fair enough! As I said, apologies if not (trolling). Still don't get it, though, but then ... as I said, I'm not in the U.S.; I know conditions are somewhat different south of the border.

xoxoxoxoLive

(Laugh) Me a couple years ago. Now I only carry tire levers, multi-tool, spare tube with frame pump.

Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ebhssHBaq8

Frogbutt

On short trips just my cable lock, phone, and H2O bottle. On longer trips I'll add my frame pump, spare tube, patch kit, tire tool, and at least one extra water bottle. I also often have my camera with me.

The Chemist

I have a 30 mile round trip commute. On it, I carry a full tool kit (screwdriver, multitool, leatherman, tire levers, and patch kit), a pump (both schraeder and presta heads - the schraeder for my Air Zound, the presta for my tires), spare tube, and rain gear. I also have one or two water bottles - one for the cooler months of the year, two for when it starts getting hot, as it will within a month. And I have a handlebar mounted GPS, as well as a headlight (or two for during the winter months when it's dark on the commute home) and a taillight.

USMCRet

+1

bellinibean

That's great! I had a buddy that rolled like that. Always prepared.

Thanks for your service!

GVLaker09

I've only been biking a max of 20 miles (usually shorter) so far this year with the cold temperatures, so I currently carry one water bottle, my cell phone, a frame-mounted hand pump, spare tube, levers, patch kit and multi tool. I also wear a RoadID if that counts as carrying, but it's attached to my LiveStrong bracelet and actually never comes off.

The hand pump seems kind of worthless. I've only used it once so far and after pumping until it seemed like I couldn't get one more molecule of air in the tire, it only registered at 40psi on my air gauge. I can't imagine I had it hooked up incorrectly, but maybe. It's just a cheapy from Bell. I'm thinking about switching it out for a CO2 cartridge. Also, when it warms up a few degrees I've got some 40-60 mile routes planned, so I'll probably add a second water bottle.

Warbuff

here in the city I just carry
-rain gear
-patch kit
-multi tool/levers

What I need to get
-spare tubes
-pump

Bike Gremlin

I always carry lights.

For rides longer than 3 km - I always also carry what's needed to fix a flat tyre (levers, patches, glue, spare tube, pump, couple of wrenches on the old MTB).

For really long rides, weekend tours, I make sure to carry multitool that has chain tool, spoke wrench, philips and regular screwdriver ends, torx and allen keys.

Water and food as planned/needed. Depending on temperature, plan of the ride etc.

Locking cables and chain - if planing to park bicycle anywhere.



I find carrying a concealed gun on a bicycle very awkward, impractical. I do sweat a lot. It either makes you sweat, makes you uncomfortable, or takes too long to pull out and aim. You just can't have it all - so one more reason not to carry.

jsdavis

Depends how far I'm riding. I have several offices that I work out of. One of them is 4 miles from home, I usually don't carry anything aside from lunch and some clothes in a backpack. I can walk home in an hour pushing my bike if I have to - been there done that.

Further offices are up to 8 miles. I'll carry a pump, tube, tire levers, and multitool.

For portable pumps, the better ones have a hose attached, like Topeak Minimorph, because it saves you from having to pushing against yourself and less chance of ripping the valve off.

Justiffa

Stashed on the bike is a mini pump, spare tube, rain jacket & water bottle. at the back pockets of my jersey is my ultra-mini purse containing my medical tag & spare cash, my handphone, and if its going to be a looooong ride then maybe a chewy bar or something, oh and my pepper spray

bwilli88 

3 liter Camelback in custom backpack along with galaxy nexus for Strava and podcasts, cable lock, microfiber cloths, toilet paper, plastic bags for rain protection. 32oz bottle on bike.

bellinibean

was wondering about the hand pump worthiness with high psi tires. I know in my MTB days, they were great. A far as the pump being a Bell, I'm sure the valving and construction isn't the best, but eventually get to the point where you can't push anymore. I'd be curious to get a hands on review of a high end hand pump such as a Lezyne.

DougG

As a cyclist of the senior variety, I just want to comment that the older I get, the fewer things I think I can do without even for a local ride. I'm going to intentionally use a smaller rack bag on my bike this year to force myself into more sensible (i.e., lighter) packing.

giantcfr1

Around town, a lock.

Into the mountains, CO2, levers, tube, one allen key, 1000 yen, one small water bottle.

FatherAlabaster

The crappy thing about needing a u-lock and cable almost everywhere I go is that I have to carry it in a bag, so I might as well bring my phone, my Leatherman, a little Park multitool, maybe an extra bandanna if it's hot. Gloves in case it gets cold during the touchy months. Truth is, I'd like to ride with none of that stuff, so if I'm going out around the city for fun sometimes I won't have anything besides my clothes and helmet. There are 67 gazillion bike shops here, and if I run into trouble I can walk to one and get what I need. One of the perks of a sometimes annoying city.

bellinibean

I'm hoping to avoid carrying a U-Lock and cable wherever I go, but I don't see that happening. What part of brooklyn are you from? I lived in Bayridge from 2000 til 2004.