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

Been thinking about what I bring with me on a big ride. I take spare tube, patches, pump, a mini-tool, tyre levers and some mini zip-ties.
What else do I need on big day out e.g. Bowderdale Round?
What do you guys carry?
My stuff is stored in a functional yet elegant Asda bag. Does anyone use a special bag/case for their kit/tools?

Have a multi tool, pump and spare tube in the camelbak, think there’s a couple of tyre levers floating around in there too. Normally keep a bit of gaffa tape wrapped around the pump.

Tube, multi-tool, first aid kit, phone, zip ties, spare tube, patches, spare brake pads, spare spokes blu tacked inside handlebars, spare chain links in various sizes, at least one extra layer of waterproof clothing.

Check bike is going to last the distance before setting off.

I’ve got a bad feeling about this thread…

Tools and spares wise:
Multitool, Chain Tool, Mini Pump, Levers, Patch Kit, KMC Missing Links, Levers, Cable Ties, Spare Tube, Brake Pads.

I’ve actually got a photo of all my stuff laid out nicely and annotated on Flickr but I’ll be opening myself up to all sorts of abuse if I post that 😀

Depends how far Im going, if its a big day out i.e. a full loop of glentress black where it gets pretty remote then I take the following:

innertubes x 3
pump
multitool
tire levers
patches
split links x 2
brake pads x 2
spare clothes
foil blanket
jacket
ration pack
stove
kettle
compass
o.s. map
phone with gps

The same – I also take a gold-link for my chain. In carrier bags shoved in the side pockets of my Camelbak. I have toyed with carrying a folding XC tyre – but haven’t succumbed to this yet.

I take the same when road cycling, but use a little saddle pack on those occasions. Whilst I would never want a saddle pak and water bottles jumping around on my MTB, it’s great riding without the encumberance of a backpack.

“if its a big day out i.e. a full loop of glentress black where it gets pretty remote then I take the following:”

Just for a minute I thought you were serious until I got to ration pack!

Depends how far Im going, if its a big day out i.e. a full loop of glentress black where it gets pretty remote then I take the following

Really? For a trail centre? I can understand if you’re heading into the wilds miles from civilisation, but not a trail centre! It’s not that long, it’s 20 miles FFS! A stove? Kettle? Are you serious!? 3 tubes!?

I carry: CO2 pump, a tube if I see one as I’m walking out the door, a small multi tool, phone, £10.

If I’m going for a really long ride away from civilisation and the weather looks iffy I may take a gilet!

Spare spokes? Why bother, a broken spoke is never going to be completely terminal, and if it is, sticking a couple of new spokes in probably won’t solve it. Do you also carry cassette tools!?

Brake pads? Do people really honestly stop at the side of the trail in the sort of wet, cold, filthy conditions that would destroy pads and replace them!?

I can understand first aid kits and what not, but not a whole bikes worth of spares! A rear mech and hanger makes more sense than spokes IMO!

For the Welsh Ride Thing (3 days)

1 x tube
Glueless Patches
Micro Pump
Mutlitool
3 x power links
Zip ties
Tyre boot
About 1m of Gaffer tape rolled round a plastic straw

What else do you need?

Not including all the other stuff for sleeping, cooking etc.

Local; 2 litre camelbak

Pump
Tube
Mulitool
Repair kit/tyre boot
Spare chain link
A few zipties

Longer rides;

Small waterproof jacket
An extra tube.
Snacks.

As light as possible at all times, cant be ar$ed with carrying too much gear…

Road ride – co2, tyre levers, tube, multi tool

MTB ride – 1 tube, tyre boot (Piece of milk carton), tubelss repair strings and poking tool, multi tool, pump, pliers, zip ties, powerlinks, bit of chain, bit of wire, tape, few bolts

Brake pads? Do people really honestly stop at the side of the trail in the sort of wet, cold, filthy conditions that would destroy pads and replace them!?

Why not? They’re tiny and they clip in and out in about 30 seconds. Better than riding the rest of the way with no brake surely?

puncture kit, bit of a chain, crap chain tool/crap spoke key combo, basic multitool, pump, levers, tunnocks caramel wafers

Why not? They’re tiny and they clip in and out in about 30 seconds. Better than riding the rest of the way with no brake surely?

Fair enough, I’ve just never had pads get that worn out! I did once wear through the backing of some pads and was using the piston to stop, was still stopping, wouldn’t have wanted to faff at the trail side changing pads personally! Each to their own.

davidtaylforth 😆

pump, multitool, chain tool, couple of powerlinks, spare tube, park patches, few zip ties.
Multi day rides would add a set of pads and another tube.
All fits in a saddle pack (Topeak aero thingy)

for a local ride i take
Multi-tool
Spare tube / repair kit
pump
oil
water
chocolate
phone
£10

Multi tool, 1 tube, tyre levers, puncture repair kit , small pair of pliers, phone.

First aid kit and Food if I take the Camelback.

Never bothered taking chain splitters or links out on a ride, never snapped a chain on a ride though…

When I go to the Lakes next year I’ll probably take maps, chain splitter, cables and pads on the rides as its a much longer distance to travel with a snapped chain etc whereas at Dalby and Gisburn your never huge distances from the car/accommodation.

this is always in my bag regardless.. I’ll add other things as required.

pump
spare tube
spare gear cable(never had to use it, but i’d rather it there just in case.)
repair kit
allen keys
2 metal dinner knives, better than tyre levers imo.
derailleur hanger
chain tool
wee shifting spanner(no idea why, might come in useful at some point)
screw driver(wouldn’t be the first time i’ve fixed somebodies wonky shifting for them.)

Local;
2 litre camelbak
Pump
Tube
Mulitool
Repair kit/tyre boot
Spare chain link
A few zipties

Longer rides;
Small waterproof jacket
An extra tube.
Snacks.

As light as possible at all times, cant be ar$ed with carrying too much gear^^ this

The bike is always in fabulous condition and will never fail mid-ride…

I take an Uzi 9mm.

Hexus II (although someone borrowed it and lost the chain tool tyre lever the other week 🙁 )
Inner tube
Puncture kit
Pump
Power link + a bit of spare chain
Gravy bones (for the dog)
Water (for me and the dog)

Phone if I remember it.

Make sure you can undo your power links – regular use keeps them free.

If I have driven to the trail I leave a bit more stuff in there so at least the day isn’t ruined and I just need to get back to the car and head off again.

Local, nothing. Maybe a bottle of water if it’s going to be hot. If I’m driving somewhere to ride then I’ll take my bag with multi tool, spare tubes, pump, patches etc as I’d be pissed off if I had to cut my ride short and didn’t have the right stuff to fix it. Locally I can just walk home and it doesn’t bother me.

Hexus II (although someone borrowed it and lost the chain tool tyre lever the other week

Funny you should say that – I have 3 Hexus IIs, all of which have lost the chain tool tyre lever – I still carry it, would just need to find someone else with a 4mm allen key in the event of a broken chain! Makes me feel like I’ve got a chain tool at least!

storing stuff in the handlebars….. GENIUS!!!!

i must play with this idea

Quite a lot, commute is tube pump multitool patches, but proper rides is
2 tubes
puncture repair kit
UST “plug” kit
chain tool
chain links
powerlink
pump
tyre levers
multitool with spare gear hanger[/url]
proper gear hanger for my long distance bike
brake pads (tho possibly not the correct ones for the bike I’m on)
zip ties
caffeine power gel
ibuprofen
little bottle of lube
small square of cloth
space blanket (had to have 1 for keilder never took it out)
showerproof jacket
emergency £5
clothes/food to suit ride/weather.
Could do with a basic short ride toolkit in my ‘bak and the above setup in my wingnut but CBA.

puncture kit, a tube, multitool, pump, shockpump too, but that’s a waste of space so I don’t know why i bother.

Chain link, and spare chain link.
Pump
Tubeless repair kit (never needed it….get that one in quick)
TopPeak mini wrench + mini chain splitter
Couple of plasti-ties
leatherdaddyman (used it a few times on other folks bikes)

Gels, cash, alpen bars (coconut),

If I’m doing a longer sportive ride then I get my cousin to follow me round closely in his Renault Espace. This enables me to take just about everything, including a spare bike! Obviously it doesnt work for mtb rides, but is ideal for road races

what’s the reason for powerlinks? assuming you need a chaintool to remove the damaged section anyway..

if you only damage an outer link pop the power link on doing as little splitting/joining as poss

ah ok. i suppose actually now i think it means you only have to take links off with the tool, i quite often end up squeezing one on too tight..

Damn, though you were going to say you had broken a hexus II and had a spare tyre lever 🙁

You could always convert your seat post into a floor pump like a few you can get (but probably not great seat posts. I’m sure you could build a mechanism to fit into a Thomson 😀

what’s the reason for powerlinks? assuming you need a chaintool to remove the damaged section anyway..

Normally it is the outer link that gets mangled which the powerlink replaces along with the pin and some chains just do not like being broken and re-joined as when breaking it you shear off the mushroom on the pin which provides a lot of the links strength.

folding chain tool,
multi tool with 4,5,6 mm allen keys and both screw driver types…
spoke key
tyre lever
park patch repair kit
set of brake pads
2 zip ties
cool little micro pump i bought from charliethebikemonger..

and it all fits in a teeny little deuter saddle bag..

for longer rides where i have a backpack i take a tube as well.. 🙂

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…

-water
1-x tube
-pump
-quick patches
-multi-tool
-a map if in the hills. if the shit hits the fan i want to be able to give co-ordinates of where i/we are.
-first aid kit inc. heat blanket and disinfectant
-clothing depending on weather

whistle and camera are attached to my pack.

Multi-tool
pump
inner tubes 2
Tyre boot (old washing up bottle)
puncture repair kit
power links(8 and 9 speed)
Cable ties
duck tape
cling film(graze dressing)
sanitary towels(wound dressing)
first aid kit(including tick twister)
Sushi fish (spare lube)
universal gear hanger
brake cable
gear cable
m4/m5 bolts
spare crank bolt
spare rotor bolts
spare chain ring bolt
spare brake pads(v-brake)
spare old brake pads (for my own bike)
Midge repellent
sun cream
Sweeties(jelly babies or haribos)
cereal bars
Tow rope
group shelter
survival bag
spare warm gloves
buff
waterproof jacket and/or trousers
whistle
mobile phone