tools/spares for short day trips
 

What tools and spare parts should I carry when on a short day trip type ride? :confused:

Here is what I carry for rides.

A tube, a patch kit, a mutli-tool that has 4,5,6mm allen keys, phillips, and flat head screw drivers. $30, cab fare to somewhere useful, bus/metro tickets, a powerBAR emergency ration in case I don't have enough food with me and i am far from a store.

The only think that I could think to add to that would be a chain and spoke tools.

Tire repair tools and parts (tube, patch kit, Crank Bros Speed Lever, boot material, pump)

Multi-tool with chain tool (Crank Bros 17)

Cell phone; ID w/medical details; cash

Food & water

And think about whether you'll need to lock up your bike during the course of the day.

My spare tube is wrapped in an old sock that doubles as a rag/glove, wrapped in turn in a couple of plastic grocery store bags. Inside are a few zip ties, some wire twist-ties, and a very small roll of gaffer tape. This is my "MacGuyver kit."

All this (except the water and pump) goes into a medium sized wedge bag under the saddle. On monday morning I just drop the whole wedge into my rack trunk for the commute.

RichC

Has anyone used the liquid band-aid during a ride? Does it "seal" okay in places like elbows or knees?

I carry a selection of Allen keys, a spoke key, tyre levers, a small leatherman with pliers, pump, tube and patch kit, tyre boot, spare 5mm bolt, zip ties, gaffer tape,
sometimes I carry a cool-tool for the chaintool.
I also have a small first aid kit for cuts and grazes.

I vary the tool mix , according to how far/remote I am going.

MichaelW: What do you use the zip ties for?

What can't you use zip-ties for? One of the best applications is to tie up your rear der. to keep it from flopping about after you've had to convert your bike to a singlespeed due to a crash.

Road bike: Spare tube, one tire lever and CO2.

Mountain Bike: Spare tube, Park mini-tool kit and a mini pump or CO2.

Tandem: Pretty much just the same stuff as my mountain bike.

I'm pretty good about taking care of maitenance at home so I don't plan on having to do much while on the road, expecially day trips. Mountain biking is quite a bit more likely to produce mechanical failures such as a broken chain.

Spoke Wrench: use the CO2 to inflate tires?

I carry a Park Mini tool, a Leatherman Squirt, spare tire, spare tube, 2 tire irons, Quick Stik, a VAR, 5 glueless patches, 1 tire boot, small first aid kit for minor stuff, ID with medical info, extra bats for computer and tail light, phone card, $21.50 cash. The above stuff stays in my seat bag whether I'm commuting or doing a day ride along with a mini pump attached to a water cage and a presta to schrader converter attached to a presta valve, plus 1 to 3 water bottles.

Then on short day rides-under 75 miles, I add a Camelback Rogue which is where I store my food along with 2 to 3 24oz water bottles attached to frame.

On long day rides-over 75 miles, I add a handlebar bag to store more food and more water plus attach a frame pump for back up. I use to take both pumps all the time, but with Specialize Turbo Armadillos tires being used and no flats in almost 3 years and over 12,000 miles the frame pump was retired for most things; besides it's a classic late 70's yellow Silca with the Campy head and now I try not to use it.

I have no use for a cell phone since some areas are so remote they won't work anyway. I also do not see a need for a chain since I never broke a chain on a road bike therefore it would be take up needed space and weight; besides you can reattach a chain without even replacing the broken link and still be able to get home. And I think CO's are unnecessary and create waste. I will be looking into the liquid bandaid here soon to see if can work and/or fit into a seat bag.

With zip-ties, gaffer tape and a piece of wire you can get yourself home even with major breakages.
Got a sheared bolt in your luggage rack, snapped bag attatchment, snapped saddle rail, broken handlebars (use a wooden splint). Most decent repair books have some in-extremis repair advice.

froze: How did you decide which Camelback to buy?

Definately carry a chain tool. It saved me from walking 8 miles once off road. I saved a roadie from a very long remote walk. He snapped his chain in the middle of nowhere. I stopped and fixed it for him.

Water, a race tool (allen wrenches, screwdriver, spoke wrench, tire lever combo), pump, spare tube (I have given several of these away), a couple spare chain links, tape.

All in my Camelbak. I don't even know it is there.

In the which CamelBak thing. Decide what type of riding you are going to do and make sure that all of the things that you need to carry will fit. The MULE works great for me.