I like this "bag within a bag" concept. I've been switching off between my bag and a crate; having a smaller bag to go between them could make this much more effortless.

I've been saying "What's in the Box? What's in the Box?" a lot lately. Need to see Se7en again...

(Spoiler alert, this video clip tells you WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!!!)

Spare tube
Crank Brothers Speedier Lever
Pedro's Tire Lever
2 x 16g CO2 canisters
Specialized CPro2 CO2 trigger
Wad of nitrile gloves


I used to carry a small pump but I've never had much luck getting those to work, and the CO2 is more fun anyways so I just carry extra.

Also great to make seltzer/sparkling water and enjoy a drink by the river.

For my 28 mile round trip, or 22 if I'm being lazy and hop the El train in the morning for the first half....

In the trunk bag everyday:
-Levers
-Tube
-Needle nose pliers(useful for removing sharp debris from tires)
-Small pump
-Knife
-Couple relevant allen keys
-Spare battery for lights
-Few patches
-Inhaler
-Phone charger
-Wallet
-Couple spare dust caps
-Spare socks/underwear in case it rains or if I get super sweaty and want to feel a bit fresher
-Rain jacket
-cable lock

In the pannier:
-Food for the work day
-Work clothes (heavy work boots stay at work)
-Couple extra bungees

Sounds like a lot but it's not too bad. I give myself plenty of time to get to work so I don't worry about going as fast/light as possible.

It's the best idea I've ever had, if I may say so! I also use my commuter bike for overnight trips and recreational rides, so I don't always want the bulky trunk bag hanging off the rack. On an overnighter, when I get to a hotel, I can simply remove the quick-release Topeak bag and slip on the snap-in saddle bag, which has anything I might need for a typical repair and allows me to wander off into the woods or some other place where the trunk bag can get snagged or might slow me down. Long sentence, huh?

I have a bitty underseat bag with: spare tube, patch kit, 2 tire levers, and a pair of nitrile gloves. At least, I should have a pair of gloves... did I ever put those in...?

You also have a frame pump or something?

Think it would work to re-carbonate flat beer that's been all shaken up in my bag?

If you want to know what's in my bag, do a search (the Forum, not my shorts! )

A mini pump, CO2 inflator with a couple of cartridges, patch kit, spare tube, tire levers, a multi-tool, and a 15mm wrench(for my Electra). It all fits in a zippered document bag(found at Home Depot for $4), and the bag goes into one of my pannier bags.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

OK, someone else beat me to it. I don't even remember all of what's in mine, I was looking for something the other day and found several things I'd forgotten about it there that might come in handy some day. I know I still have my knee warmers, 2 balaclavas, a headband, windvest and some spare batteries in addition to the tools the rest of you have mentioned. As well as some snacks. And earplugs, some handcleaner and a small first aid kit.

Each bike has a frame pump and a saddlebag with a multitool, patch kit and tube and rain poncho. I carry a medium chain in the saddle bag of two bikes and under the bag on the rack support arms of the third. I know I have too much stuff in my bag. But off the top of my head I have my helmet lights which I wear in the winter months, my main headlight, another patch kit (why?) pair of emergency underwear and socks, plus a polo shirt. One pair heavier gloves, sometimes two in winter, Extra headband. AAA batteries for bike lights, button battery for bike computer. Pliers, extra bungies and velcro straps, another rain poncho, plastic kitchen trash bag for backpack in rain. Sandwich bag for phone in rain. Reflective vest for night riding. Wind-breaker in summer months. USB cables. lightweight bellaclava (even in summer...why?) two cardboad fed ex envelopes to bungie to roadbike as fenders if caught in rain. $20, half in singles for emergency bus fare or whatever. Glasses case for tak-a-look mirror, extra glasses strap, extra micro usb for helmet cam. Notepad with pen. I keep shoes and coats at the office, so I will take my work clothes sans shoes and jackets. In the fall and winter I always bring an extra sweatshirt and one extra atheletic pant layer than I start out with, just incase I have to stop and hoof it. In the winter the bag weighs 25-30 pounds loaded for work. In the summer it's 18-23 pounds. On the weekends for leisure rides, it's like 10-15lbs, or less. I ride for fitness, so I'm not a weight weenie. However if my commute became more than my 9 miles each way, I'd think about paring down a little.

I carry the means to fix a flat, and an allen wrench set. After decades of riding, and doing my own maintenance, I've got a pretty good idea of what's likely to break.

You remember from last year (I whined about this on another forum we frequent.) my troubles with the new and improved version II of my favorite tire, which couldn't seem to go 5 miles without flatting if there was rain even in the forecast, let alone on the ground. (This was terribly frustrating since the original version I of the tire was bombproof, IME. Thousands and thousands of flat-free miles in all weather.)

Yes. Until I was able to replace those tires, I carried a second tube and a patch kit on that one bike only. I used the second tube on enough occasions that I started carrying a third tube in the panniers when using that bike. (I'm not about to sit in the rain and try to patch a tube.)

I moved those tires to a dry-weather-only-bike until I wear them out. I now run Michelin Pro 4 Endurance on the wet weather bike, and I'm back to one tube, no patch kit.

Why do some people list lights in their bag? My lights are attached to the bike at all times. If I'm riding, the lights are in place and turned on. Not sure why you would carry them in the bag, except when you lock up the bike and throw accessories into the trunk bag to take inside with you.

That does seem weird. Maybe some people with rechargeable lights (as opposed to lights with rechargeable batteries) carry backup lights?

I don't know. All my lights are rechargeable, and I run 2 on the rear. Recharge about once a week, or more often if one dies before then. In winter I have to recharge just about after every commute day.

Right, but you'd get double the longevity if you ran them in serial rather than parallel.

That's exactly right in my case, I carry an Ultrafire as a backup light. But only sometimes and in my commuting bag not saddle bag. It's also there for when I happen to be riding a road bike without lights and it's getting dark early enough that I don't want to risk getting caught without. In the winter I might have a couple of 18690's as well.

This time of year I don't carry one though.

My dynamo powered lights have proven to be reliable enough that I don't feel the need for a backup. But I do like a blinky tail light, so I use that in addition to the steady tail light. Sometimes I carry a head lamp that I can strap on my head in case something goes wrong such as getting a flat in a dark place, but I have not used it ONCE yet.

-Filzer Mini Pump
-Filzer Multi-Tool
-Generic Multi-tool (for pliers and flashlight)
-Swiss Army Knife
-Crank Brothers Tire Lever (I love this one, works one-handed)
-Spare chain links
-Patch Kit
-Spare Tube
-Small container with various bits (spare change, transit token, grommets, valve caps, etc.)
-"Hump" Backpack rain cover
- Cable Lock (not shown as it is currently locking my bike)

Oh, right; my trusty blue Lezayne is always by my side. On the down tube.