Recreational & Family - minimum gear needed for newbies?

Okay, we're picking up our brand new Burley Piccolo today. Unfortunately, it's raining here and I want our first experience to be in good weather... so we'll have to wait to go out to ride. I was wondering what the minimum extra stuff we'll need is. Does it make sense to buy one of those little all-in-one tool kits? Also, I want to pick up a little pump. I saw a couple that use CO2 canisters - but they're at least twice the price of a standard pump. Is there any real advantage to the CO2 version? The only other thing I can think of would be lights. I'm thinking a standard white headlight for my bike and a flashing red light to mount on the back of the piccolo.

Our initial trips will probably be pretty short, maybe 5-10 miles. We already have a couple of locks, 2 U-locks and 2 6' cable locks. Also, we've both got helmets (of course).

Anything else we need?

For short rides you need helmet, gloves, a little water (depending on the temp) and a puncture repair kit.

For a repair kit you need to get the wheels off, so if it doesnt have a quick-release skewer you need a suitable wrench.
CO2 kits are for racers who need to get back on the road quickly. For leisure use a pump is better, they never run out.
It is easier to replace the inner tube by the roadside and do the repair at home. Take a spare inner tube for each size of wheel.

The multi-tool kits are OK if you know how to use them. If you have a couple of allen keys and a swiss army penkife you should be able to fix the most common.
You seem to have a lot of locks. For leisure use, all you need to do is immobilize the bikes with a cable. If you are leaving them unattended for a long time in a high risk environment, then you need to consider professional bike thieves and use a mix of cable and shackle locks.

Lights are only useful if you are riding in poor light, then they are esential. In daylight wear some bright coloured tops for visibility.

Our initial trips will probably be pretty short, maybe 5-10 miles. We already have a couple of locks, 2 U-locks and 2 6' cable locks. Also, we've both got helmets (of course).

Anything else we need?

Get out and ride! You have everything you need for a 10 mile ride. Take a snack or a few dollars so you can stop for a treat along the way. Kids love that. Take a cell phone so you can call someone to come get you if your bike breaks down, which is unlikely. I would no more take tools for a five mile bike ride than I would for a five mile car trip.

If you find you like it, in a short while ten miles will seem like nothing -- and the UPS guy will be bringing you packages from Nashbar once a week!

I do quite a few with our 6 YO daughter on the tagalong in the 10-20 mi range. If your capable of repairing a tire bring what you need for that patches, levers, pump. I have an adjustable wrench in the seat bag of the trailer cuz it doesn't have a quick release. Water, snacks (granola bars, starburst, apple) in a bag on the handle bars of the trailer where she can get at them without stopping. Around here, this time of year, an extra jacket and/or hoodie for her. Wallet, sometimes a cell phone. We have a couple favorite rides we do. One from the house to a playground 5 mi away and back. Another we drive to a nice local trailhead and run up to a quaint village or a bit further, stop at the ice cream parlor and then back, 16-30mi round trip. Many of our rides anywhere include stops at playgrounds we pass. I take a break she slides, swings etc. I have one that we pass a community pool and some hot day we're going to bring our suits. I also added a rack to the trailer so we could carry more "stuff". Also a bell or horn, kids just have to make noise, on the multiuse trail I let her ring to alert the pedestrians and slower traffic of our approach. It makes her feel important and keeps her more alert. She also has a mirror but I only think she looks at herself in it. I never bring a lock on these rides as we are never far enough away from the bike to worry. I'm also not too sure the average casual thief is ready to try a bike and a trailer bike.

For a 5-10 mile trip, you have most of what you need. A multi-tool is pretty handy and a pump, spare tube and patchkit is good to have. CO2 is often used by cyclist who don't want to spend time pumping or don't have space to carry a pump that can easily get up to the higher tyre pressures they ride at. Most minipumps are quite difficult to get past 100PSI. Most important however is knowing how to use the tools you have so you might want to take an intro course in basic bicycle repair and maintenance. One other thing you might want to consider carrying along is a first-aid kit.

The following are things I carry with me when roadbiking. Some of these may or may not be applicable to your situation.


One or two (depending on length of ride) 24oz. water bottles
SKS Airgun (http://www.sks-germany.com/en/stage.php?mod=detail&cid=1&id=4&zg=1&seite=2&start=3) - CO2 inflation system with spare cartridge


Spare spokes shoved into seatpost

Topeak Aero Wedge (small) (http://www.topeak.com/2004/products/bag_002.html) Saddlepack
packed with

Spare tube in its own little compartment

Park VP-1 (http://www.parktool.com/tools/VP_1.shtml) patchkit

Crank Brothers Speed Lever (http://www.crankbrothers.com/) extendable tyre levers

Presta-Schrader valve adapter
Spare links including spare removable ConneX-Link (http://www.connexchain.com/) for my chain

Small bottle of DuMonde Tech Lite

Topeak Alien minitool (http://www.topeak.com/2004/products/tool_004.html)

Special Mavic spoke tools because I have non-standard spokes

Kryptonite Gear Gripper (http://www.kryptonitelock.com/inetisscripts/abtinetis.exe/PublicArticleDetails@public?artid=3081&atf=products_item&pgrp=20) lightweight retractable cord lock


In my bike jersey pockets

mini-wallet with ID, credit card, debit card and small amount of cash

FA-112 First-Aid Kit (http://www.lsikits.com/Product.asp?ProductID=41&CategoryID=114)

Minolta DiMage X (http://konicaminolta.com/products/consumer/digital_camera/dimage/dimage-x/index.html) digital camera with spare battery

Speedplay Coffee Shop Caps (http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.merchandise&promoid=Coffee%20Shop%20Caps) cleat covers for my clipless pedal cleats on my shoes


If I don't need a second water bottle, I'll put some of the following things inside a bottle cage insert I got from one of the local club rides. If I do need the second bottle then I'll just redistribute these items amongst my jersey pockets.




A couple of plastic Ziploc bags to seal things against rain
Small bottle of sunscreen (SPF48)
Contact case
Rewetting drops for eyes
Rx insert (in microfiber sleeve for wiping off lens) for sunglasses in case I need to ditch my contacts
Clear lenses for sunglasses in case lighting conditions change
Arm warmers/leg warmers or lightweight Tyvek jacket (folded in on itself so it's very compact) depending on weather conditions
small mobile phone (Nokia 8260)
A couple of energy bars
compact map (if I don't know the area well) or route-map (organised ride)



Curiously enough, even with all this stuff crammed into my pockets, I still have quite a bit of room for other small things. If I think I'll really be far away from civilisation or riding where water stops aren't plentiful then I'll drag along a CamelBak Lobo and reapportion everything appropriately. I've however been able to get away with 100-120 miles without one so far.

But on really long unsupported road rides (>100mi) and on all mountain bike rides, I'll use a CamelBak MULE which will contain the following additions to the above list:

100 oz. hydration bladder
Topeak minipump (with patchkit in handle)
additional spare tubes
two spare 9V batteries for my shocks (K2 SmartShocks - MTB only)
mini-tripod for digital camera
replacement/spare derailleur hanger
spare seatpost clamp
a couple of zip-ties
small roll of electrical tape
small roll of toilet paper in plastic ziploc bag


And of course if I think I'll be riding into the night, I'll have the lights and blinkers along too.





And if I need extra room, I also will use a couple of Bento Boxes (http://www.tniusa.com/products/bento-box.html).

[QUOTE=MichaelW]
You seem to have a lot of locks. For leisure use, all you need to do is immobilize the bikes with a cable. If you are leaving them unattended for a long time in a high risk environment, then you need to consider professional bike thieves and use a mix of cable and shackle locks.
QUOTE]

I only listed all the locks because I wasn't sure which type(s) to use. I'm thinking one U-lock for the main bike and a cable to lock the trailer to the main bike. Does this make sense?

One other tip: when you start buying accessories (which you don't really need) buy one of everything you buy for yourself for your kid. That makes it a lot more fun for them. My kids' favorite accessories are: 1) speedometer; 2) bell; 3) water bottle. For longer trips they'd probably love panniers if I had them on.

"The following are things I carry with me when roadbiking. Some of these may or may not be applicable to your situation."

Wow Khuon you carry a lot of stuff, You have to remember they're carrying a 40 pound kid on a 40 pound bike too.

You'll find the most important things to carry are what keeps the child happy and enjoying the experience or they will get turned off and won't want to go or be whiney the whole time and we know how much we like that! If a bike problem turns out to be more than a flat tire or that duct tape and a leatherman can't fix it's time to go to "plan B" - walk to somewhere comfortable to call and wait for the cavalry.

Wow Khuon you carry a lot of stuff, You have to remember they're carrying a 40 pound kid on a 40 pound bike too.

I'm not saying that they should everything I carry. Also, all of that stuff just looks like a lot but it packs up pretty compact. Most of that stuff fits into a small saddlepack and my jersey pockets. It's not like I'm riding around with panniers and a fully loaded touring bike.

Carry a patch kit and pump!. There were a couple of things in the posts above that indicated some people think that's optional, and occasionally I talk with somebody who says, "I've been riding for about a year, and I just had my first flat...do I need a new bike?"
Well, OK, not that--but I did answer a question one time from a guy who wanted to know if bike tires could be patched.
I ride between 1000 and 3000 miles a summer, depending on how energetic I am, and I have at least 15 flats a year. On one 11-mile ride to work last year, I had six. We have big, hard thorns here, plus the dirtiest streets in the western U.S., plus sharp little rocks everywhere, but I think only Louisianans are immune (it's all silt down there). You WILL have flats and you WILL be stuck if you can't fix them.