[Closed] What tools, bits & bobs do you take on your ride?

Riding solo/with mates:

Multi-tool
Pump
Tyre levers
Tube
Power-links
Water*
Jacket*
Phone with GPS mapping

Add map & compass if I'm riding somewhere I don't know inside-out.

*only if I'm going to be out for a while - more than a couple of hours

Guiding:

Multi-tool
Pump
Tyre levers
Tube x2
Wee box of spares, inc. power-links, various bolts, tyre boot, etc.
Water
Jacket
1st aid kit
Map, compass, GPS
Survival blanket (not a useless foil one!) or group shelter
Stash of sugary sweets or gels or similar
Camera

Add head-torch & hat/gloves if going really remote.

Kingtut,

Check out the NBT2 for yourself...

http://www.m-gineering.nl/indexg.htm

Clearly it is not worth removing a cassette to replace spokes if you are 20 minutes walk from the carpark, but if you are out for hours or on tour, then it is a different matter.
I am not talking about an XC race.

Thanks PaulD, so the NBT2 is a lot like the hypercracker. No problems so far with the sushi fish.
I forgot about the gloves for dirty work.
I used to carry a small socket set mainly for loose cranks but so many bikes have 8mm bolts now. Could have done with a crank extractor and bottom bracket tool last week, but I can't carry everything.
And yes I have used everything there.

Ooo now then...

I carry probably far too much:
Mini tool
spoke key
chain tool
leatherman wave
HT2 plastic circle spanner thingy for tightening HT2 cranks.
small bottle chainlube
rag
zip ties
tubes x 2
park tyre boots
park super patches
spare brake pads
spare seat clamp (broken seat clamp QR can really ruin your day)
spare cleats and spare cleat plate (after i had a cleat pull out once)
couple of spokes and nipples (can be replaced easily if non-drive side.
few bits of chain and power links
pump
shock pump

I guess you need to decide what to take based on how long you are out for, where, how heavy/bulky is the spare, likelyhood and implications for failure (inconvenience or very long walk home?).

I know some guides that carry a spare XC tyre in the bottom of their pack in places like Idaho or BC. Also riders in BC have been known to carry spare rear mechs and brake rotors.

Common sense really isn't it?

😆 some of those lists got me thinking that maybe people would be better buying some slightly heavier but tougher parts and not having to carry so much weight in spares!

simon1975 - Member
A spare powerlink makes a repair much faster than trying to rejoin links.

I carry an old Shimano cleat and bolts too, as people in my club have a habit of losing them on rides...

ahh yes cleat bolts. I need some of them. I lost one the other week but actually back tracked and found it where I last unclipped - to the amazement of my friends.

I carry a spare bike in my bottomless bag. you just never know!

In my Camelbak
Tube(s) 2/3 for long, 1 for short
Puncture repair kit (inc pump)
Brake pads
Mini tool thingy and any extra allen keys not on it
Quick link
Mini Leatherman (long rides)
Sometimes Swiss Army Knife
Zip ties
Chain jollop
Water
Gels (Torq)
Sun tan cream (long summer rides)
Germolene - large tube of
Painkillers
Ranitidine
Lipsyl
Lipstick
Toilet roll (lots plus plastic bag for used)
Spare clothinq appropriate to time of year/weather
GPS and spare batteries
Phone
Some cash
Credit and Debit cards
House key
All in varying amounts according to where I'm going and what time of year it is and which bike I'm riding

This one so make me laugh - people spend loads on getting a light bike and then carry round kilos of useless junk!

Me -
tube
3 cable ties
m6 nut and bolt
m5 nut and bolt
3pr sram links
2 chain links (only cos the timing chain on the tandem is fixed length)
Pump
Patches and glue
Multitool

Add a gear hanger and spare pawls for multiday rides

I have never needed more than that. I do keep my bikes in good condition tho

edit

a full loop of glentress black where it gets pretty remote then I take the following:

TandemJeremy - Member
I have never needed more than that. I do keep my bikes in good condition tho

Lately I've been enjoying the minimal approach;

1 x 750ml water bottle
1 x £20 note
1 x mobile phone

Not wearing the Camelbak is really quite liberating!

*edit* Never more than about 5 miles from the car at most during a ride though

Bikepawl do you carry rear mechs? anyway ridden back SS stylee - the pads was user error fo shur

No I don't carry a rear mech, but if they had been properly maintained!!!!!!!
And yes I know cause I helped you SS them.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/fiber-fix-emergency-replacement-spoke-prod20155/

Solves the drive side spoke issue. Not used mine yet. Although i agree that if one spoke snaps, the rest are sure to follow.

Credit [b]and[/b] Debit cards

One card yes, but multiple ones?! Why?! Ridiculous! Surprised no one takes a laptop, better for emailing your position if you get lost 🙄

Why do people also take a multi tool, a Leatherman and a Swiss Army knife!? Insane.

Lately I've been enjoying the minimal approach;

1 x 750ml water bottle
1 x £20 note
1 x mobile phone

Not wearing the Camelbak is really quite liberating!

Me too, when out on the HT I can manage without the CB, but not the FS. Its great riding without a camelbak....

I only carry a rucksac for deep winter or really remote / high rides. Its so nice to ride without a rucksac and a few bits and bobs in a seat pouch and a pump and bottle on the frame does me fine for local rides

debit card in case I need lots more cash, ie, for a very long taxi ride
Credit card in case I end up at a hotel/b&b or train fare
Both also in case anyone breaks in while I am out - my cards won't be there
I take my car key for the same reason and keys to bike locks, spares are at work. Burglars have to get past the dog first then cut the locks off everything.
Leatherman has pliers
Multi tool has allen keys and screw drivers
Swiss Army Knife/mini Leatherman has scissors and tweezers
I don't need my laptop cos I can email off my phone LOL

[IMG] [/IMG]

Although, last night, I didn't take a thing!

Its been revised a little now too. I take a smaller bottle of lube and don't take the shock pump much.

one of these is handy when all else fails and you are waiting for "i'msorrymate" recovery service

[url] http://www.mapstop.co.uk/product9042_Pub-Stops-of-the-Peak-District---Tube-Maps.aspx [/url]

depends on the length of the ride but usually.....

1x multi tool (allenkey style)
1x multi tool (plyres type)
2x tyre levers
1x spare tube
1x pump

longer rides adds:

chain links and a spare gear cable + zip ties.

I thought it was just me...

Pump
Patch kit (tube and tyre)
Cable ties
first aid kit (used a plenty)
useless foil survival blanket
mini compass and mountain whistle
spare riding gloves
gerber spring multi tool
top peak multi tool
spare tube
tyre levers

spare glasses (prescription)- so I don't look a nob in the pub after with my cycling ones on!

depending on weather there may be a waterproof jacket in there too.

usual water in the camelback and a tasty snack....

no wonder i'm slow up hill!!!!

Two pages in and I'm not seeing the word Hipflask anywhere ;-(

Nor proper food / sandwiches... I'd swop your spare spokes cables and bloody shock pumps for these any day of the week.

Seriously though - I can hardly believe the list of unnecessary junk some of you boys are carting over the hills!

95% of the time all i need is 1 litre of water and a ceral bar, sometimes a gilet or a LS baselayer.

However I always take far more than I need.

😯 😕 😆

[color=blue]
Whatever is currently living in the Camelbak Chaos. Usually -

spare tube or two
mini pump
shock pump
alien 2 multitool
leatherman wave
'socketdriver' and a few sockets
glueless patches
zip ties
tape

And then the 'non-bike' stuff -

2L water (bladder)
flapjack/cereal bars/sweeties
phone/GPS
house keys
cash
debit card
whatever extra clothing is appropriate

slainte 🙂 rob[/color]

Well, its nice to see others using their initiative and riding well prepared.

All you naysayers will be sobbing when you're lost or broken at the far reaches of your local trail centre, with a 2+ mile walk back to the car.

But if you see me riding past (i'll be going slowly, my camelback is quite weighty!) be sure to flag me up, i'll offer you a hand. And a piece of my mind about about being prepared.

>All you naysayers will be sobbing<

I really doubt it mate - couple of decades heading out into the wilds have taught me that food, appropriate /spare clothing, some basic tools and spares and a good old map and compass are all I actually need. I could strike 14 items from Karinofnines first list and still feel properly equipped for remote riding.

All you naysayers will be sobbing when you're lost or broken at the far reaches of your local trail centre, with a 2+ mile walk back to the car.

I doubt it. what issue could you solve that I could not?

I bought the iCycle app. It's made pretty much all my other kit redundant.

Pump
Shock Pump
Multitool
Tyre Levers
Spare bolts and pads bag
Cable Ties
Powerlink Tool ('cause i'm rubbish with splitting them :oops:)

carry round kilos of useless junk!...

I do keep my bikes in good condition tho

I can fix anything conceivable with what I carry. I just don't carry a load of unneeded junk.

Tell me what I cannot fix that you can that would leave me walking where you would be riding?

TeeJ... why don't you just add the link to the previous thread that you discussed all this on and free up your day... you could do some baking?

Blimey, there's some huge packlists there.
Mine is...
1. Enough to fix a flat
2. Enough to rejoin a snapped chain
3. Banana and an energy bar.
4. Enough coins to get tram home in an emergency.

Camera goes in left pocket, GPS goes in right pocket, mobile phone goes in the secure zipped pocket.

On the CX bike, all that will go in a small saddle pack thing.

I'm with TJ on this! The obvious things that are going to go are rear mechs (as IMO it's very rare for the hanger alone to go), and yet no one carries one of those. And anyway, you can just SS your bike to get you home.

Spokes and cassette tools is just mental! Like I say, a broken spoke is not going to stop you riding the bike, if the wheel's sufficiently buckled that it won't go round in the frame/forks then a new spoke is unlikely to solve it!

All you naysayers will be sobbing when you're lost or broken at the far reaches of your local trail centre, with a 2+ mile walk back to the car.

Really? FFS, ridiculous! In the 30 minutes it takes you to sort through your pack I'll be back at the car! There's being prepared and there's insanity! I thought you may be joking when you said that was for a trail centre!

Baking you say TSY? Cakes? Scones? Pies?

I know it's a long list - and I don't take all of it everywhere, eg, if I ride in my local woods I don't take as much stuff, but if I mission off to do the SDW then I take more.

Thing is, I live alone and do a lot of riding alone so not only do I need to be able to cope with an emergency but I also need to FEEL that I could cope with an emergency. It's a confidence thing. I don't have anyone who I could ring for help so if the doo-doo hits the fan there's only me to deal with it. I find I can manage most situations with a fresh coat of lippy 😀

I don't take the toilet paper on a roll BTW, and I need it cos I'm a woman and we do wees differently to guys (but you knew that already) 😀 and blowing snot-rockets is all very well but it's really nice to actually blow your nose on some toilet roll.

I have found over the years when I do ride with people they start out laughing at my kit, but as sure as eggs is eggs before the day is out someone will sidle up to me sheepishly and ask to borrow/use something.

TJ having checked your list you don't carry much less than me, I've got stuff related to my setup, UST plug, an extra tube incase UST won't plug - as happened on last ride. Other than that...
Lube, IME even a perfect condition drivechain will start to suck after hours of mud/water/rain in very bad conditions.
Brake pads, I've shredded pads in one ride so spares are a good idea for long rides, contentious issue pad longevity tho admittedly.
Duck tape (I forgot to mention) for fixing all sorts but specifically tyre rips.

Yep, baking... make whatever you can with the ingredients in your kitchen? If you can knock up a Victoria Sponge send me down a slice... you missed my birthday but I'll forgive you if you use good buttercream 🙂

Still laughing at your kit...

Someone posted a video of an old guy that did / does tens of thousands of miles pa over remote tracks (on a Tourer) No phone, no gps, virtually bugger all from what I could see. The only items of note were a mahoosive man lunch / stove and a big flask stuffed in a saddle bag.

My brother in law was one of these guys that took the kitchen sink - you know - chain whip / the whole nine yards. Dubbed him Tool Donkey and the name stuck ;-)He's a Roadie now...

Washing up liquid, drilling equipment, porn

the ultimate outdoor lady's gadget?

http://shop.packyourbags.com/acatalog/Shewee_Ladies_Wee_Funnel.html

LOL @ Supertramp

I don't mind the squatting and bare-bottom-ness (behind a suitably discreet bush obviously)

I sometimes wonder if I'm a closet naturist. . .

A packet of

[b]Mr Messy Wet Wipes - for messy moments[/b]

in case I need a crap.

I wouldn't want to have to complete my ride with only one sock on 🙄

Karinofnine - The thing I don't get about the 'shewee' is what you do with it when you have used it? just shake the drips of and pop it in your sandwich bag? The whole hygiene thing seems to fall down at the point of use 😆