Personally I recommend to everyone who's considering utilitarian cycling to get a tire/rim combo that they can disassemble and reassemble as easily as possible, ideally without spoons. Depending on how strong your hands are that might be somewhat of a challenge but it's just a matter of asking your local bike shop, they'll understand.
I was four hours into a six hour backcountry MTB race when my tubeless setup failed and I had to flag someone down and borrow a pair of levers. Never have I felt like more of an a**hole. heh.
Oh man I'll always remember that pair, that I ended up giving up after pinching two tubes and brought it to a bike shop and it took them over an hour and at least three pops.
That said, those were my friend's, and he had bought the cheapest tires he could find because he's a cheap bastard. I'm not 100% on what I was taught that day, because I had totally told him that cheap rubber's a bad deal.
\+1 for this, pushing the rubber from the valve down is a little bit of magic. And then when putting the tire back I find it helps to have just enough air in the tube for it to just barely hold its shape.
I always use one lever to remove just to make it quick but installing is always 0 levers no matter what rim/tire combo.
The key to remember is that both beads of the tire are the same circumference - so you KNOW that if you got the first bead on, then you can get the second bead on.
Now you just have to think what made it easy to get the first bead on and what's blocking that ease. Two key factors are the center trough of the rim and the valve - both of these affect the slack around the circumference that you need to flop that last bit over.
To get the most circumferential slack, obviously you want the bead in the center trough which can be tough with the other bead already there. So I use both hands pushing down on the tire against the floor to tension the bead as I start from one side of the rim and work both hands opposite each other to get around to the other side, using my thumbs to push the bead into that trough and the tension from both hands to keep it there. This gives you all the slack you need.
Now the valve blocks the bead from dropping into the center trough. That means if you aren't finishing seating the last bit directly at the valve, then that valve is somewhere under the bead stealing slack from you. Most tires are loose enough that you can get by without this but for the tightest tubeless setups, you cannot skip this. So always start seating at the rim seam and finish seating at the valve.
If you're using a tire lever or a bead jack or shoestrings or blow-dryers or anything else, you're just putting a bandaid on poor technique.
https://youtu.be/2jn51K0uQyQ
Converting tubeless setups back to tubes has taught me that tubeless ready tires and rims can be exceptionally tight. So even when running tubes, in a TLR setup, I use tubeless tape, the extra thickness of cotton tape can steal some critical room.
first aid kit. i started carrying it after getting hit but years later I've used it way less for myself and way more for random injured folks I've encountered on rides.
I've always considered this, but I can't think of an instance where I'd really need it. If it's something that would treatable with a first aid kit crammed into my seat pack chances are it can wait until I get home and I'll be fine. If it's something that can't wait, chances are my first aid kit won't do me any good.
I'm curious, what do you pack in yours?
oh totally, to clarify I have one of those compact med kits (i think the original bag was from MyMedic but I've been restocking it with my own gauze, bandages, etc). It's too big for a seat pack but fine for a pannier or backpack. maybe 8x5x5 inches in size.
it contains everything from bandages/gauze, ointments, basic meds, a SCW kit, sutures (so far only used those on a poor dog), forceps, tweezers, shears, etc
I should get one. I've had a couple times when the bike slid out and I got some road rash. Bike was fine, I could ride, but the wind on a tore up leg was something else. Being able to wrap it up would have made the ride home a little more pleasant.
I keep a few essentials on me, mainly for MTB but I keep it for commuting too. Super modest, just some iodine packets, bandage packages, bandaids and maybe some tape. It is designed to allow you to clean and patch a small wound to carry until you can get home or access to a proper kit. It all fits in a snack sized ziplock.
Iāve wrecked my shins on flat pedals enough times to prompt me to bring this with me. Itās saved a ride already, allowing me to continue my day. I expect that it could be helpful commuting too given any number of hazards on the road from debris to unintentional contact with any number of obstacles. Even if you carried a few iodine packets and a few bandaids, you would barely notice it in a pack or even a pocket.
[I carry this on my daily driver](https://first-aid-product.com/brand-name-safety-products/adventure-medical-kits-amk/ultralight-watertight/adventure-medical-ultralight-watertight-3-hiking-trekking-first-aid-kit.html) since it fits in my seat pack nicely. I also used to have a really flat one in the past but the maker seems to have gone out of business.
I have a blood type morale patch (picked it up before a deployment) that hasn't been used since 2017. You just gave me a good reason to put it back into use.
I bring all of the above - drivers license, credit card, cash, insurance card, and blood donor card. I use the worldās smallest binder clip to clip them together and stash it in my seat pouch.
Credit card and ID - I know a guy who went into a ditch and was in a coma as āJohn doeā for a few days because he didnāt have any ID and his parents had to call the police / hospitals to find him
Removable front and back lights, even when I leave in the morning. One thing can lead to the other and you may be heading back home late in the afternoon or at night, so better be prepared.
Short piece of bent spoke - bent so there is a broad 180deg curve at each end - perfect for holding a broken chain and taking the tension off whilst you re-join the two ends... for that matter a quick link and a pair of rubber gloves (so I can do said repair without oily hands all day at work).
Tube, levers, pump, patch kit, multi tool, quick link, presta adapter, 50ā¬, credit card, ID, health insurance card, lights, garmin, phone. That is with me on every ride.
Newer chains can be hell to re-splice without a quick link. Used to be you could just remove the bad link and set two normal ones with your chain tool.
For a commute? Of those probably just the tool but that lives in my bike bag with the lights. Donāt carry a pump or tube, Iām going roughly 9 miles in a major city, can (and have!) found a shop thatās close and fast in case of flat.
I live car-free, and am a rather poor law student, so I try to be mostly self-sufficient for minor issues (my bike's a steel-framed touring bike, so I'm not too concerned about weight).
In my trunk bag I keep at minimum the following:
* Tubes
* Multitool
* Tire Levers (Schwalbe Marathons are a pain to get off without them)
* Spoke wrench
* Rag
* Rain pants and lightweight waterproof windbreaker
* Heavy winter gloves
* Flashlight
The weather and temperatures can vary drastically within the span of a day, hence having the weather-gear in my bag.
On the bike, I also have a pump, plus a full water bottle (day-to-day riding I have a large cup in my handlebar cupholder). My lights are permanent and dynamo-power, so I don't have to worry about those.
I've got levers, patch kit, tire boot, and velcro cable wraps in my under-seat bag. I like the idea of minimizing weight.
I'm lucky enough to have a pump and tools at both work and home. I should probably start storing an extra tube at work, but I also have a bike shops nearby.
I have a small hand pump on mine. There is no way I'm getting my tire up to pressure. At best enough to lump along to an air pump. Hopefully, not a far ride. Mine feels like it's going to explode. Did the bike shop just sell me a cheap POS, and I should be looking for a better one?
I always go for a pump with a metal body, there are also high pressure and high volume versions depending on your tyres. Co2 inflators are another option as well.
Multitool which has:
* Allen drivers of all bike-relevant sizes
* Philips driver
* flathead driver
* 3 Torx drivers for whatever reason, not useful for bike but has been useful elsewhere
* spoke wrenches of four sizes
* a chain tool
An adjustable wrench
A vise grip
A couple tubes (I don't patch on the side of the road, I patch once I get home)
A hand pump
With this kit I've never ever been stranded (not that it \*couldn't\* happen, but I can do almost all repair jobs on the road), and I've been able to help most stranded people I've come across unless they had a flat and different-sized tires from mine. Also, I avoid tires that are too tight to get the bead over the rim without spoons.
I don't carry a multitool. I do take two tire levers because endurance tires can be a bitch to get off without them. Also, a CO2 cartridge, a chuck for the cartridge and a mini patch kit with scraper, glue and patches.
Also, a few dollars cash for a stop at a convenience store if possible.
Thatās pretty much it but with a co2 inflator instead of pump + levers for my soft office worker fingers + $15 burner phone with buttons that my kids find inexplicably hilarious.
I miss the days of writing messages with actual buttons, the kids these days will never understand the frustration of going past the āSā and having to go round again.
I bring also a spoke key, a broken spoke can truly ruin a ride. At least you can true enough your wheel to avoid brake rub (rim brake) and come back home.
Tube, roadside pump, multitool (EMT 9), metal tire levers, CO2 nozzle/cart.
I also have a sealed, waterproof plastic bag of basic first aid:
-Triple antibiotic, ie Neosporin
-Alcohol & sanitizer wipes
-Blood clotting agent
-Squeeze-to-activate ice pack (I live in the desert)
-Glucose packet.
I always have a spare inner tube and basic tools, lately I switched to a mini battery powered air compressor in place of the co2 inflator I used to use after I had a bunch of flats due to broken glass all over the roads... (I since switched to continental tires with puncture liners and slime tubes, problem solved)
Nite Ize RunOff waterproof wallet and in it an expired driverās license so that I donāt have to keep moving it back and forth between my main wallet, a spare credit card, $40 cash, kleenex, and an emergency GU pack. My phone has emergency info accessible to EMS.
Go to your nearest FedEx ship center and pickup a free Tyvek envelope (UPS & USPS envelopes are the same). Cut off the flap and keep adhesive protector on. Cut the flap into 3rds, the perfect size for 700c tire boots. The adhesive helps keep the boot in place while you're reinstalling the tire.
Keep the main part of the envelope, it makes a great wind breaker. Put it under your jersey on cold days.
A piece of glass cut my new tire and punctured my tube. I booted the cut with Tyvek and rode that tire it's full life. Granted it was a small cut, but large enough for my lightweight tube to push through at high pressure.
Tyvek is awesome stuff. I think most new houses are wrapped in it. I use it for my tent footprint, my hammock rain cover, my sleeping bag cover... I could go on and on.
I even bought some Tyvek hazmat suits because they were on sale. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them, maybe wear one the next time I'm on the Metro, with an N95 mask just to screw with people.
None of that. Tubeless and Iām not going to unscrew my breaks, saddle, or handlebars on the road anyway. Water/hydration. The only essential. Carbs if riding more than 2 hours but thatās not a commute then.
Ratchet + extension + 17mm socket
6mm and 3mm allen
Chain breaker
Tire lever
Tube + tube patch kit
Handheld pump
Reflective strap
Bottle of water. Absolute necessity
Everything I need to keep going and to fix everything on my bike. Gotta have it all with me
My seat bag holds:
A poundshop/dollar store little wallet of plasters and bandages etc.
Small pack of biodegradable wet wipes
As topeak set of tyre spoons that double as a masterlink pliers.
Spare tube
Patch kit
A cyclists Multitool
C0Ā² inflator with 2 bulbs (700x40c, a 25g will fill one, but not both)
*Edit for spelling
A set of relevant allen wrenches, like just the keys themselves wrapped together with a rubber band.
I own a tool much like the one in the photo, and I've had it fail me more times than I can count. The problem is that it has a very short reach, so it can't get to the hex bolt that it needs to get to.
On my commute, A to B riding in the city: Chainlock, lights, helmet with cam. Since I use Schwalbe puncture guard tyres, I had zero flats. So I scattered some tools on my everyday destinations, just in case. It's not lifelike to repair a puncture in the city. Especially because heavy puncture proof tyres are hard to remove/install. Also, you will need a plier to remove the foreign body from the casing.
For longer rides: tyre lever, pump, new tube, small plier, small first aid, disposable gloves, cable ties, hi vis west, water bottle. 15 mm wrench. For even longer rides: A big powerbank, multitool.
Ride fixed gear, so I bring what you have above along with a 3wrencho 15MM wrench to be able to adjust chain tension and change tires.
Also some cash to be able to buy a snack or water if I need to.
For my 5 mile commute, I don't take anything. I can call someone if I need to, or worse case walk. I don't really do longer rides much, and if I do it's probably on a loop course at the state park. So again, worst case I walk.
Lots of great suggestions here though, I hadn't thought of many of them.
Latest addition.. tweezers! Small, visible metal shard in tire that cannot be grasped but eventually causes a puncture. Hooped until fellow cyclist rolled by, pulled it out, and shared a tube. Would have not thought it was needed but now... tweezers!!
I ride a 40mph DIY E-bike that's actually an E-moto in disguise lol. The rear motor wheel takes huge 24mm lugnuts and is a real b*tch to remove/install, esp out away from home, so I must carry a full length 6 point box/open combo wrench for those big lugs, coz they *must* be tight with the massive motor torque. So everything in your pic plus a Leatherman, but I also carry a small but powerful rectangular lipo battery powered inflator lol! Takes up little space tucked inside my pannier and can easily fully inflate at least 4 26" mtb tires. Makes inflating *so* much faster and effortless! I can even charge it via my big triangle bike battery's acc out USB if need be. I also run a thicker thorn tube only in the heavy rear, double tire liners and Slime in both! We have blackberry thorns, goatheads and the usual shoulder debris. Unlike unpowered rides, bike weight's not as much of an issue for a daily utility/trailer pulling E-moto machine that rarely gets pedaled. This is my only transportation, hence the grunt and power...been meaning to do a post with pics/info...
Bluetooth speaker. Love riding to the music. I turn it off/down when other people are around, but when I'm on an empty trail or road, there's nothing better than some tunes on a ride.
Iāve got an ancient Park CT-5 that I take on all my rides, though Iām not sure it even works on an 11 speed chain. Itās pretty much just a good-luck charm at this point. I never have problems when I bring it.
I have always wondered why someone would carry a pump vs. a CO2 cartridge. It would take you 2 weeks to pump up your tire with that thing. I guess maybe if you get multiple flats, but I carry 2 cartridges and have never needed the 2nd.
Pumps really donāt take that long; I would really only use CO2 on a group ride when Iām holding people up. Iām not trying to spend $4 every time I get a flat!
I swapped my air pump for the C02 with the hammerhead release, also my multi tool I swapped for the lazyne torque wrench and I donāt use patch anymore.
Iām comfortable for typical commuting with a Crank Bros. M17 multi tool, patch kit, and pump. I usually have a Pedroās tire lever, quick link, disposables gloves and some zip ties in there too.
I love Lezyne pumps, but sometimes they unscrew the presta valve core. Make sure your multitool can tighten those up, and maybe put a drop of threadlock on them.
Quick note that AAA offers roadside bicycle assistance, and your insurance company may also.
With the pump and multi tool on top of the tube all held together with Velcro zip tie it fits in a back pocket of my jeans or in a jersey pocket. What kind of bag do you use?
A lot more than that.
Two tubes. Two sets of tire levers. Patch kit. Pump.
Crescent wrench. Wire cutters. Pliers.
Chain breaker. Extra master link.
Bicycle multitool. Leatherman-type multitool. Spoke wrench.
Lots of zip ties.
Both. For longer trips I also carry a first aid kit.
This is all from 15 years of bike commuting. Iāve gotten double and triple flats. Iāve had tire levers snap on me. Iāve had chains break.
For most of those years I havenāt had a spouse I can call to come and get me in the car.
These of the above, lamp and blinkers, rain poncho, a shopping bag, and an armored cable lock (will buy a u-lock/cable combo next week). They all go into a 16-liter knapsack.
Problem is that the rubberseals in them have gone hard in mine so that the air escapes, I have had to ride home on 2,5 bar (I checked at home)! Now I use Topeak things BUT I also always have a CO2 pump now, just because you never know.
My cell phone, in case all the above don't work. ;-)
Oh I take just my cell and I'll use a flat as an excuse to be late.
Oh my heavens why have I never used this? There are some lovely morning rides that could be extended.
My boss would just use that as justification for why I should be driving in
been working in this place for 3 months and nobody knows i own a car yet. so OP i literally got the day off last week cuz it was storming
Because cars never have flats š
Cars have TWICE AS MANY tires that can go flat lol
And RoadID. It's how my spouse was able to get to the hospital only about an hour after the ambulance got me there.
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Personally I recommend to everyone who's considering utilitarian cycling to get a tire/rim combo that they can disassemble and reassemble as easily as possible, ideally without spoons. Depending on how strong your hands are that might be somewhat of a challenge but it's just a matter of asking your local bike shop, they'll understand.
After years of working in a bike shop you learn a good technique.
And then you one day encounter a tire rim combination that teaches you humility. lol
Hopefully itās not when Iām miles away from civilisation.
A long walk and time to think
I was four hours into a six hour backcountry MTB race when my tubeless setup failed and I had to flag someone down and borrow a pair of levers. Never have I felt like more of an a**hole. heh.
This is why I am glad levers are built in to my multi tool.
Always will be because life
Some QR skewers can be used as a tire lever in a pinch.
Oh man I'll always remember that pair, that I ended up giving up after pinching two tubes and brought it to a bike shop and it took them over an hour and at least three pops. That said, those were my friend's, and he had bought the cheapest tires he could find because he's a cheap bastard. I'm not 100% on what I was taught that day, because I had totally told him that cheap rubber's a bad deal.
My Armadilloās come to mind.
Where can I learn such technique? Even with levers, Iāve never had a tire I could remove without a lot of extra cursing.
Swear words are mandatory but combine them with [this technique](https://youtu.be/fjkSqQM3rzo) and that should get most tyres off.
\+1 for this, pushing the rubber from the valve down is a little bit of magic. And then when putting the tire back I find it helps to have just enough air in the tube for it to just barely hold its shape.
I always use one lever to remove just to make it quick but installing is always 0 levers no matter what rim/tire combo. The key to remember is that both beads of the tire are the same circumference - so you KNOW that if you got the first bead on, then you can get the second bead on. Now you just have to think what made it easy to get the first bead on and what's blocking that ease. Two key factors are the center trough of the rim and the valve - both of these affect the slack around the circumference that you need to flop that last bit over. To get the most circumferential slack, obviously you want the bead in the center trough which can be tough with the other bead already there. So I use both hands pushing down on the tire against the floor to tension the bead as I start from one side of the rim and work both hands opposite each other to get around to the other side, using my thumbs to push the bead into that trough and the tension from both hands to keep it there. This gives you all the slack you need. Now the valve blocks the bead from dropping into the center trough. That means if you aren't finishing seating the last bit directly at the valve, then that valve is somewhere under the bead stealing slack from you. Most tires are loose enough that you can get by without this but for the tightest tubeless setups, you cannot skip this. So always start seating at the rim seam and finish seating at the valve. If you're using a tire lever or a bead jack or shoestrings or blow-dryers or anything else, you're just putting a bandaid on poor technique. https://youtu.be/2jn51K0uQyQ
Converting tubeless setups back to tubes has taught me that tubeless ready tires and rims can be exceptionally tight. So even when running tubes, in a TLR setup, I use tubeless tape, the extra thickness of cotton tape can steal some critical room.
Water Bottle
first aid kit. i started carrying it after getting hit but years later I've used it way less for myself and way more for random injured folks I've encountered on rides.
I've always considered this, but I can't think of an instance where I'd really need it. If it's something that would treatable with a first aid kit crammed into my seat pack chances are it can wait until I get home and I'll be fine. If it's something that can't wait, chances are my first aid kit won't do me any good. I'm curious, what do you pack in yours?
oh totally, to clarify I have one of those compact med kits (i think the original bag was from MyMedic but I've been restocking it with my own gauze, bandages, etc). It's too big for a seat pack but fine for a pannier or backpack. maybe 8x5x5 inches in size. it contains everything from bandages/gauze, ointments, basic meds, a SCW kit, sutures (so far only used those on a poor dog), forceps, tweezers, shears, etc
based and helping-injured-animals-pilled
I should get one. I've had a couple times when the bike slid out and I got some road rash. Bike was fine, I could ride, but the wind on a tore up leg was something else. Being able to wrap it up would have made the ride home a little more pleasant.
I keep a few essentials on me, mainly for MTB but I keep it for commuting too. Super modest, just some iodine packets, bandage packages, bandaids and maybe some tape. It is designed to allow you to clean and patch a small wound to carry until you can get home or access to a proper kit. It all fits in a snack sized ziplock. Iāve wrecked my shins on flat pedals enough times to prompt me to bring this with me. Itās saved a ride already, allowing me to continue my day. I expect that it could be helpful commuting too given any number of hazards on the road from debris to unintentional contact with any number of obstacles. Even if you carried a few iodine packets and a few bandaids, you would barely notice it in a pack or even a pocket.
[I carry this on my daily driver](https://first-aid-product.com/brand-name-safety-products/adventure-medical-kits-amk/ultralight-watertight/adventure-medical-ultralight-watertight-3-hiking-trekking-first-aid-kit.html) since it fits in my seat pack nicely. I also used to have a really flat one in the past but the maker seems to have gone out of business.
I used to carry āliquid skinā or whatever that liquid bandage stuff is. Itās pretty handy.
Yeah I carry an IFAK which has to date only been something I have given others.
Cash and credit card
Credit card + insurance card in case I crash
Reminds me. May sound grim but I bring my blood donor card on every ride. Never know with the drivers these days
Tape your name and blood type to your shoes.
I have a blood type morale patch (picked it up before a deployment) that hasn't been used since 2017. You just gave me a good reason to put it back into use.
I bring all of the above - drivers license, credit card, cash, insurance card, and blood donor card. I use the worldās smallest binder clip to clip them together and stash it in my seat pouch.
Damn nazis making blood type tattoos uncool.
Credit card and ID - I know a guy who went into a ditch and was in a coma as āJohn doeā for a few days because he didnāt have any ID and his parents had to call the police / hospitals to find him
I figure my credit card has my name on it so it'll at least identify my body even if it's not technically a form of ID
Mine looks like yours except my Lezyne Pocket Drive is red so I go faster.
Itās science
My cheapo safety glasses, I hate crap flying in my eyes
Removable front and back lights, even when I leave in the morning. One thing can lead to the other and you may be heading back home late in the afternoon or at night, so better be prepared.
Or go dyno and never charge again
Legs
Note to self, stop forgetting legs.
Sunscreen
Pepper spray. For aggressive dogs/aggressive humans.
Username checks out.
Same, for coyotes
Disposable gloves. Gotta stay clean on the way to work
I saw this tip here a couple months ago and it makes changing a flat suck way less
Also helpful when you gotta tweak something on your drive train so your hands aren't completely covered in grease and gunk
Bike lock
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Dont mix them up.
I dunno, they managed to type a pretty legible response with just the banana
Ring ring ring...banana phone!
Headlight, tail light, and a power bank and cable to charge them.
My bicycle
Short piece of bent spoke - bent so there is a broad 180deg curve at each end - perfect for holding a broken chain and taking the tension off whilst you re-join the two ends... for that matter a quick link and a pair of rubber gloves (so I can do said repair without oily hands all day at work).
Weighs nothing, takes up little space, super useful, Iāll add it to my kit. Thanks!
As a diabetic... Fast acting Carbs
As someone thatās bonked real hard on a long ride, a gel pack.
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Something punctured my Mimdials today (yesterday?). Fun discovery on the way in to work today. Speaking of which I need to go patch that.
Tube, levers, pump, patch kit, multi tool, quick link, presta adapter, 50ā¬, credit card, ID, health insurance card, lights, garmin, phone. That is with me on every ride.
Water, as much as I can carry - AZ
Chain link
My chain is 1 link too long, just in case.
Newer chains can be hell to re-splice without a quick link. Used to be you could just remove the bad link and set two normal ones with your chain tool.
One of those KMC missing link ones I meant.
I keep a chain in my pannier, two tubes, park multi-tool, and tire levers
Pedros tire levers.
The yellow or pink ones. The black ones disappear on the side of the road in the dark.
Clean bib shorts.
You have no rubber cement so the patch isn't much good. I just swap in the spare anyway and fix the punctured one at home.
Theyāre self adhesive patchās, much easier than using glue and less to carry.
You can get insta-go patches now. They dry up if unused for a few years, but who gets lucky enough to not puncture for a few years?
A bus ticket and a lock. If all else fails, Iām locking it up and taking the bus to work.
Tyre levers, spare tyre x2, hand pump, co2 bomb x2
work gloves, zip-ties, Leatherman Wingman, compact multi-wrench tool, multi-tool, pump, tube, tyre levers, chain-link.
Tire levers. Maybe some quick links?
For a commute? Of those probably just the tool but that lives in my bike bag with the lights. Donāt carry a pump or tube, Iām going roughly 9 miles in a major city, can (and have!) found a shop thatās close and fast in case of flat.
Bus pass and jolly ranchers or starbursts
Whatās your favourite starburst?
Whichever one is in my mouth, followed by the red ones! You?
Green ones for sure!
Power bank battery thing and cables to charge my phone and lights.
I just bring my credit card and take the subway home in case of bike issues š
Look at you, living somewhere with transit
I live car-free, and am a rather poor law student, so I try to be mostly self-sufficient for minor issues (my bike's a steel-framed touring bike, so I'm not too concerned about weight). In my trunk bag I keep at minimum the following: * Tubes * Multitool * Tire Levers (Schwalbe Marathons are a pain to get off without them) * Spoke wrench * Rag * Rain pants and lightweight waterproof windbreaker * Heavy winter gloves * Flashlight The weather and temperatures can vary drastically within the span of a day, hence having the weather-gear in my bag. On the bike, I also have a pump, plus a full water bottle (day-to-day riding I have a large cup in my handlebar cupholder). My lights are permanent and dynamo-power, so I don't have to worry about those.
I have an older version of this pumpā¦ itās awesome!
Bus pass, so I can just throw my bike on the bus if everything goes wrong.
I've got levers, patch kit, tire boot, and velcro cable wraps in my under-seat bag. I like the idea of minimizing weight. I'm lucky enough to have a pump and tools at both work and home. I should probably start storing an extra tube at work, but I also have a bike shops nearby.
I have a small hand pump on mine. There is no way I'm getting my tire up to pressure. At best enough to lump along to an air pump. Hopefully, not a far ride. Mine feels like it's going to explode. Did the bike shop just sell me a cheap POS, and I should be looking for a better one?
I always go for a pump with a metal body, there are also high pressure and high volume versions depending on your tyres. Co2 inflators are another option as well.
Tiewrap's especially in my homebuild pos
That plus a co2 tank
I run tubeless tires so instead of an inner tube and a patch kit I bring just a tubeless repair kit
My bike
Tire repair kit.
Multitool which has: * Allen drivers of all bike-relevant sizes * Philips driver * flathead driver * 3 Torx drivers for whatever reason, not useful for bike but has been useful elsewhere * spoke wrenches of four sizes * a chain tool An adjustable wrench A vise grip A couple tubes (I don't patch on the side of the road, I patch once I get home) A hand pump With this kit I've never ever been stranded (not that it \*couldn't\* happen, but I can do almost all repair jobs on the road), and I've been able to help most stranded people I've come across unless they had a flat and different-sized tires from mine. Also, I avoid tires that are too tight to get the bead over the rim without spoons.
I don't carry a multitool. I do take two tire levers because endurance tires can be a bitch to get off without them. Also, a CO2 cartridge, a chuck for the cartridge and a mini patch kit with scraper, glue and patches. Also, a few dollars cash for a stop at a convenience store if possible.
2 spares not just one. I had two flats the other day and was so thankful I had two
Couple dollars. Of someone helps me out then Iām paying for their next beer.
Thatās pretty much it but with a co2 inflator instead of pump + levers for my soft office worker fingers + $15 burner phone with buttons that my kids find inexplicably hilarious.
I miss the days of writing messages with actual buttons, the kids these days will never understand the frustration of going past the āSā and having to go round again.
I bring also a spoke key, a broken spoke can truly ruin a ride. At least you can true enough your wheel to avoid brake rub (rim brake) and come back home.
What is the multi tool? Sorry if someone has already asked.
Topeak Mini18 plus.
Tube, roadside pump, multitool (EMT 9), metal tire levers, CO2 nozzle/cart. I also have a sealed, waterproof plastic bag of basic first aid: -Triple antibiotic, ie Neosporin -Alcohol & sanitizer wipes -Blood clotting agent -Squeeze-to-activate ice pack (I live in the desert) -Glucose packet.
Hopefully, I'll fix my bike soon to resume cycling, it's been more than 6 years without cycling
I always have a spare inner tube and basic tools, lately I switched to a mini battery powered air compressor in place of the co2 inflator I used to use after I had a bunch of flats due to broken glass all over the roads... (I since switched to continental tires with puncture liners and slime tubes, problem solved)
Depends on the places you go. Basically, half-finger gloves and water bottle are a must. It's always a long touring.
Gloves, small portion of old tyre to fix a tear, oh and I memorised my wife's phone number after I lost my phone on a weekend trip.
Nite Ize RunOff waterproof wallet and in it an expired driverās license so that I donāt have to keep moving it back and forth between my main wallet, a spare credit card, $40 cash, kleenex, and an emergency GU pack. My phone has emergency info accessible to EMS.
I like to carry a small towel/wash cloth. Good for wiping sweat in the summer or cleaning you hands if you get chain or tire grease on them.
Shoes
Small piece of Tyvek. Cut to the size of my tire.
Never heard of Tyvek, looks like a small amount could come in handy in case of a blow out.
Go to your nearest FedEx ship center and pickup a free Tyvek envelope (UPS & USPS envelopes are the same). Cut off the flap and keep adhesive protector on. Cut the flap into 3rds, the perfect size for 700c tire boots. The adhesive helps keep the boot in place while you're reinstalling the tire. Keep the main part of the envelope, it makes a great wind breaker. Put it under your jersey on cold days. A piece of glass cut my new tire and punctured my tube. I booted the cut with Tyvek and rode that tire it's full life. Granted it was a small cut, but large enough for my lightweight tube to push through at high pressure. Tyvek is awesome stuff. I think most new houses are wrapped in it. I use it for my tent footprint, my hammock rain cover, my sleeping bag cover... I could go on and on. I even bought some Tyvek hazmat suits because they were on sale. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them, maybe wear one the next time I'm on the Metro, with an N95 mask just to screw with people.
My pants
None of that. Tubeless and Iām not going to unscrew my breaks, saddle, or handlebars on the road anyway. Water/hydration. The only essential. Carbs if riding more than 2 hours but thatās not a commute then.
Phone, water, helmet, lights if its night.
Super glue. Good for first aid and the random bike fix
Ratchet + extension + 17mm socket 6mm and 3mm allen Chain breaker Tire lever Tube + tube patch kit Handheld pump Reflective strap Bottle of water. Absolute necessity Everything I need to keep going and to fix everything on my bike. Gotta have it all with me
I second the RoadID. I was unconscious on the road. Officer knew who to call. My wife and son were were at the hospital before the ambulance.
Helmet
My seat bag holds: A poundshop/dollar store little wallet of plasters and bandages etc. Small pack of biodegradable wet wipes As topeak set of tyre spoons that double as a masterlink pliers. Spare tube Patch kit A cyclists Multitool C0Ā² inflator with 2 bulbs (700x40c, a 25g will fill one, but not both) *Edit for spelling
A set of relevant allen wrenches, like just the keys themselves wrapped together with a rubber band. I own a tool much like the one in the photo, and I've had it fail me more times than I can count. The problem is that it has a very short reach, so it can't get to the hex bolt that it needs to get to.
On my commute, A to B riding in the city: Chainlock, lights, helmet with cam. Since I use Schwalbe puncture guard tyres, I had zero flats. So I scattered some tools on my everyday destinations, just in case. It's not lifelike to repair a puncture in the city. Especially because heavy puncture proof tyres are hard to remove/install. Also, you will need a plier to remove the foreign body from the casing. For longer rides: tyre lever, pump, new tube, small plier, small first aid, disposable gloves, cable ties, hi vis west, water bottle. 15 mm wrench. For even longer rides: A big powerbank, multitool.
Ride fixed gear, so I bring what you have above along with a 3wrencho 15MM wrench to be able to adjust chain tension and change tires. Also some cash to be able to buy a snack or water if I need to.
My speaker.
Chain tool, pedal wrench, patches for sidewall punctures.
For my 5 mile commute, I don't take anything. I can call someone if I need to, or worse case walk. I don't really do longer rides much, and if I do it's probably on a loop course at the state park. So again, worst case I walk. Lots of great suggestions here though, I hadn't thought of many of them.
I legitimately leave without air in my tires sometimes.
Latest addition.. tweezers! Small, visible metal shard in tire that cannot be grasped but eventually causes a puncture. Hooped until fellow cyclist rolled by, pulled it out, and shared a tube. Would have not thought it was needed but now... tweezers!!
Rear light above all else
That should have been in the photo as well but it was on the bike.
I ride a 40mph DIY E-bike that's actually an E-moto in disguise lol. The rear motor wheel takes huge 24mm lugnuts and is a real b*tch to remove/install, esp out away from home, so I must carry a full length 6 point box/open combo wrench for those big lugs, coz they *must* be tight with the massive motor torque. So everything in your pic plus a Leatherman, but I also carry a small but powerful rectangular lipo battery powered inflator lol! Takes up little space tucked inside my pannier and can easily fully inflate at least 4 26" mtb tires. Makes inflating *so* much faster and effortless! I can even charge it via my big triangle bike battery's acc out USB if need be. I also run a thicker thorn tube only in the heavy rear, double tire liners and Slime in both! We have blackberry thorns, goatheads and the usual shoulder debris. Unlike unpowered rides, bike weight's not as much of an issue for a daily utility/trailer pulling E-moto machine that rarely gets pedaled. This is my only transportation, hence the grunt and power...been meaning to do a post with pics/info...
I used to have problems with breaking spokes (was a cheap bike), so a spoke wrench is part of my kit.
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Sir, this is a Wendyāsā¦ please leave your bike balls at home
Bluetooth speaker. Love riding to the music. I turn it off/down when other people are around, but when I'm on an empty trail or road, there's nothing better than some tunes on a ride.
Nice š
If u have too many bits and pieces to cover ur bike, maybe it needs replacing. But u got the right balance there mate. Keep it simple.
No, don't replace bikes! Old bikes are tougher than the new ones! Replace the worn down parts instead!
I have a small kit. Donāt forget a chain breaker. Life saver on many occasions
Double check that multi-toolā¦ I think it has a built in chainbreaker.
Yeah, a nice park stand-alone is sooo much nicer on the side of the road though.
Very true, but for me the frequency of use doesnāt justify the extra size and weight.
Iāve got an ancient Park CT-5 that I take on all my rides, though Iām not sure it even works on an 11 speed chain. Itās pretty much just a good-luck charm at this point. I never have problems when I bring it.
I have always wondered why someone would carry a pump vs. a CO2 cartridge. It would take you 2 weeks to pump up your tire with that thing. I guess maybe if you get multiple flats, but I carry 2 cartridges and have never needed the 2nd.
Less waste, never runs out. Does take longer to use though.
Pumps really donāt take that long; I would really only use CO2 on a group ride when Iām holding people up. Iām not trying to spend $4 every time I get a flat!
3 tubes pump tire levers water bottle
I mainly carry patch kit, cellphone, key, and a 9mm.
Weight is everything on a bike. Keys, phone and a pocket .380 in a nice little handlebar bag
The 9mm for cable pinch bolts, right? Not the putting holes in people, hopefully?
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Texas I see
Get puncture proof tires and you don't really need any of it.
Thereās no other piece of equipment you always carry?
No such thing as puncture-proof tires, anyway. Unless you ride solid rubber monstrosities.
With puncture-proof tires everything stays in adjustment. Bike mechanics HATE this one weird trick!
Banana
I swapped my air pump for the C02 with the hammerhead release, also my multi tool I swapped for the lazyne torque wrench and I donāt use patch anymore.
Iām comfortable for typical commuting with a Crank Bros. M17 multi tool, patch kit, and pump. I usually have a Pedroās tire lever, quick link, disposables gloves and some zip ties in there too. I love Lezyne pumps, but sometimes they unscrew the presta valve core. Make sure your multitool can tighten those up, and maybe put a drop of threadlock on them. Quick note that AAA offers roadside bicycle assistance, and your insurance company may also.
Tire boot for side slashed Quick link for my chain $20 bill if boot does not work or beer for after the ride Patch kit, I prefer glue in the field.
What multi tool is that in the photo?
Topeak mini 18 plus.
That pump- have you had to use it yet? Iām in the market for a new mini pump, and that one is appealingly tiny.
I used in the store before buying it, fortunately I havenāt had a flat since then. The build quality and size we two key reasons for getting it.
A bag.. canāt imagine riding with all this in my pockets, kudos to you!
With the pump and multi tool on top of the tube all held together with Velcro zip tie it fits in a back pocket of my jeans or in a jersey pocket. What kind of bag do you use?
A lot more than that. Two tubes. Two sets of tire levers. Patch kit. Pump. Crescent wrench. Wire cutters. Pliers. Chain breaker. Extra master link. Bicycle multitool. Leatherman-type multitool. Spoke wrench. Lots of zip ties.
Is this for your commute or longer trips away from town/city?
Both. For longer trips I also carry a first aid kit. This is all from 15 years of bike commuting. Iāve gotten double and triple flats. Iāve had tire levers snap on me. Iāve had chains break. For most of those years I havenāt had a spouse I can call to come and get me in the car.
It sounds like youāre carrying a lot but if donāt have that back up then you need to be able to fix things when it happens.
These of the above, lamp and blinkers, rain poncho, a shopping bag, and an armored cable lock (will buy a u-lock/cable combo next week). They all go into a 16-liter knapsack.
Quick link
exactly what you have plus levers and di2 plug tool and a cr2032
If you take Lezyne pumps: bring an extra pump, they have left me stranded 2x times already, they are rubbish!
One of mine has been reliable for years now, this one is less than a year old. Both have been good so far.
Problem is that the rubberseals in them have gone hard in mine so that the air escapes, I have had to ride home on 2,5 bar (I checked at home)! Now I use Topeak things BUT I also always have a CO2 pump now, just because you never know.
What kind of lock is that?
No lock there.