Neil_B

No, I don't mean the American Express card. What cycling gear do you use constantly? What has been your most used, and hence best, investment?

Here are mine, from the ground up:



I don't ride clipless, for reasons I won't go into now, and I envy the additional power the stiff sole of a cycling shoe transfers to the pedal. So I use the Sette Rival II shoe. I wore them on both my trips from Pittsburgh to DC, and found them great for pedaling and for walking around. They accept SPD cleats if you want to use them with clipless. The only drawback they have is that they are a little difficult to get on and off - the stiff sole prevents them from just pulling on easily. But for 35 bucks I'll suffer.



Wool socks are a great investment. They are wonderful in any weather, and doubly so in the cold and wet. I got mine for about ten bucks at Performance, but many companies make them.



I always use gloves when riding. In cold weather, I love these Descente lobster gloves. They have a rubberized cover that pulls out to cover the outer three fingers on each hand. IIRC, they were about 40 bucks, and they've held up well through a year's use.



Whether its riding through Big Savage Tunnel, commuting at night, getting back at dusk from a grocery run, or just wanting to be more visible on an overcast day, a helmet light is a great addition to your skid lid. Mine is a Planet Bike model that has differing settings, including a blinker. It was about 25 bucks.

So, what gear are you attached to?

Tom Stormcrowe

Walmart has some very nice Merino Wool socks for $7.99 a pair in the Sporting Goods section.

Herbie53

The usual stuff on the bike -- tiny multi tool, mini pump, tube, tire lever or two.

Also always carry a cell phone (recently very handy to call home for directions when I missed a turn in somewhere in Southern MD) and $20 -- just never know when you might need 20 bucks.

StephenH

Pump, patch kit, wrenches to change out whatever, spare tube.
Water or Gatorade in the daytime. Headlight at night.
Rear blinky stays on the bike. Planet Bike Superflash.
Flashlight at night.
I also have "riding shoes". Actually, what matters to me is the sole thickness. I've got a couple of pairs of shoes for which seat height is adjusted, and other shoes mess with that.
Camera a lot of times.

CliftonGK1

Cell phone. I always have my phone. I can call if I need a bailout, it's a PDA and has my contact and emergency info on the main screen, and I've got a camera and internet capability so I can upload ride pix before I even leave the rest/break stops.

Mazama

Cell Phone
ICE card
Shoes
Socks
Reflective ankle bracelet
Shorts (biking)
Shorts
T-Shirt
Sweat Gutr
Helmet

zoste

In addition to what's already been mentioned (helmet, gloves, pump, patch kit, Fenix flashlights) I'm kind of partial to my Garmin 705:

jesspal

Enough water for double of what i'm expecting to use.

knzn

Was wondering how they size compared to your other shoes. Large? Small? Wide? etc.
Thanks

DieselDan

The cell phone.

No matter what distance the ride is, I always have my cell phone. Be it a 3 day tour or a quick ride to Piggly Wiggly, the phone comes with me.

Neil_B

I wear a 47, which is about a 13. I'm a 12 EEEE, and have no problem with the shoes, even when wearing two layers of socks.

My only complaint is that they are hard to pull on. I'd prefer something that used straps alone to tighten and secure the shoe. Also, I'd look a bit less "Fred" when riding with them.

pipes

My SOG multi tool non bicycle /bicycle multi tool /flash light /emergency asprins and nitro Iam a heart patient / cell ph /$20.00/ Clif bar Iam diabetic so if I start to bonk i got it more on long rides .also my Case pocket knife I been carrying for 40+ yrs

knzn

So, if I understand, your Sette's are one size larger than your regular size?

Neil_B

Yes, but that's to handle my wide, wide feet. If I were narrower-footed, I'd get a smaller size. My Specialized MTB shoes and the road shoes I bought last year are also 47s, for the same reason.

The larger size comes in handy when I've ridden sixty miles and had to walk around camp, town, etc, since my feet swell during the day. Also, in winter I wear two pairs of socks, and I put the extra room to good use.

knzn

Ok, thanks!

vXhanz

My cell phone was a real life saver for me last year when I fell, hurt my wrist and couldn't ride anymore. Thank God I was close enough to the main road that my wife was able to find me.

Essential items for me:

Cell phone
Bike... can't bike without a bike
Helmet
Patch kit
Spare Tube
Pump
Water Bottles
Camel Bak
Front and rear light
Bibs
Padded gloves
Shirt
Clipless shoes
Glasses

evblazer

Well up until last night I was going to say my dual rear dinottes. At the end of a 200k when 4 of us were going the last street some lady angrily passed us then was at the gas station and told us we shouldn't ride at night because she couldn't see us and almost ran us over. Apparantly the 4 bikes and between them 4 reflective safety triangles, rear reflectors, 2x dinotte 140ls, 2x cateye 600s, 3x superflashes and a cherry bomb just weren't enough (2x dinotte non-blinking, cherry bomb blinking, reflective triangle, reflective tape were on the rear bike)

I guess it would have to be my cell phone to call for help when she runs us down next time.

Bikeforumuser0022

She must've been on her cell phone.

EasyEd

#1, is my helmet. I always wear one on two wheels, pedal power or motor power. Had my life saved by it a couple times. A real close second is my lights. I always have a rear blinky and a front light on as well. Steady at night, blinky in the daytime. I also have a reflective vest for good weather and a reflective jacket like the road construction guys wear, for cold weather. It's amazing how much sooner drivers see me with a high viz vest or jacket on, and blinky lights. Even in the day time. Much fewer close calls than riding without.

snowman40

MP3 player (I have ADHD )
spare tubes
small pump
multi-tool
camelback (for shorter rides just to hold the MP3 player)
cell phone
blackberry (if i'm on call, not that a help desk is much help with out a computer....)
wallet (should be obvious what is in there)
keys
most importantly my sunglasses
Trek Trunk to carry the items that don't go in the camelback.

petflunky

Heh
When we go riding as a family, I end up being the SAG wagon.

Helmet,
water
phone
car keys
wallet
a spare tube for each bike, since they are different sizes
a pump
various wrenches
water, in the camelbak
rag, for wiping off of hands after fixing the inevitable flat
tire prier-offers
allen wrenches

Whatever jackets, gloves, etc, get removed from the bicycling family. :0p