That looks pretty cool, I like how it has the separate bead-seating part on the opposite end from the bead-removing part, and both are operated with fingers in the little contoured area. I might just have to pick one of those up, might even supplant my beloved Pedro's lever(s)

They've been working well for me with my beaded 28's.
Maybe not as affordable as Pedro's though. Will run you back a whole......$8!!! (at REI)

Some cheapo riders like me have taken to using LED flashlights as emergency headlights. In my case, I rarely ride in the dark, so I can't see investing in an expensive lighting system. My $5 special has nine very bright bulbs and a very effective reflector inside. The only problem is that it's not water resistant, so I usually carry it around in my bag until I need it.

When I was on 2nd shift, I carried a flashlight. It's not much fun changing a tube in the dark.

i have a
- mini pump attached to the frame (i'm too cheap for CO2)
- small canister of pepper spray (my hours are very early and through some sketchy areas)

In my saddle bag are the essentials for emergency repairs:
- blackburn multitool (has a chain tool and small serrated blade )
- 2 tubes packed in zip loc bags (i have i store my tubes with some talcum powder as it makes fitting the tube on the rim much easier. Plus, i found that the powder does a good job of taking the stickiness our of grease stains on my hands)
- tire levers
- small hex wrench for removing the wheel.
- a pack of tissues.
- some folded up garbage bags (to be used as raincoat/raincover for bag/pannier incase it rains)
- mental preparation to push my bike in the event of any issues that require major repairs.


In my pannier:
- work clothes
- change of underwear
- odds and ends

i usually leave my laptop at my workplace. (my workplace provide special lockers for us to lock our laptops overnight)


I don't carry patches because i'd rather change new tubes and patch the punctured tube at home.

>>>>- blackburn multitool (has a chain tool and small serrated blade )
- 2 tubes packed in zip loc bags<<<<<<

None of my business, but have you ever had to use the chain breaker on the multitool? The one on my Topeak Alien turned out to be useless when I needed it, so I now carry a separate Park CT-5 instead.

Also, there was some recent discussion on one of these forums about the problems with storing tubes in various ways. Rubberbands and plastic ziplock bags are two ways many riders say they ruined their tubes before ever using them. Be careful. I store mine in an old sock that's filled with talc and they seem to last a very long time.

Just sayin...

I once used the chain tool on my Nashbar Woody, it seemed to work fine. Don't know about the blackburn

hey thanks for that. I just keep mine in the box from the manufacturer. nice square thing fits well in the bottom of the rear rack trunk

At first I wanted to have anything that I might conceivably need, right there on the bike at all times. Any more, after thousands of commutes, I don't carry much in the commute bag except for daily wear and a few toiletries.

To be honest, strictly on commutes all I really need is a tube and air. But since the bike is used for longer rides also it needs tools, so they stay in a saddle bag, one for each bike. Just tube, air, patches and multitool.

At various points on my commute there is a Meijer, Walmart, Home Depot, Trek dealer, and non-chain LBS. The bike stores don't open until 10 am, but the Meijer and Walmart are 24-hour and HD opens at 6 AM. Before I had my kit sorted, I used each of them. The only unrecoverable incident was when a crank arm's shoulders rounded and fell off. The dealer had to order one and I picked it up two days later.

in my 20 years of cycling, I have only encountered one occasion that I had to use the chain tool, and for that one occasion, the chain tool from a Taiwanese no brand multi tool worked just fine, so I have always assumed that they worked. But you got a good point, I may want to check out the one on the Blackburn just in case.

I got what you mean about the rubber band and ziploc ruining the tubes. I have seen tubes that "fused" with the he ziploc surface, but I noticed that with the talc I have not encountered any issue so far.

Never have had a tube/ziplock interaction. I have had zipper tube interactions though - That is why I use the double ziplock. But it does sound prudent to throw some talc in there - thanks for the tip.


.

I keep an additional tail light in my bag to clip onto the back of my black winter jacket when riding at night.

I've been tempted to flag down ninja riders a few times and give it to them so they're at least partially visible.

Fair enough. I never see any other riders when it's dark anyway so I don't have that issue. But I always ride with 2 rear lights anyway regardless of the day or time or season.

Actually just took this pic the other day for Instagram, good timing.




Bag: Arundel Dual
Tube: Bontrager 700x28-32
CO2: Crank Brothers inflator and cartridge
Tool: Crank Brothers M5 multi tool
Lever: Portland Design Works 3Wrencho lever/15mm wrench

So whats the problem with keeping the tube with a rubber band? I've yet to have any issues?

I can't list all the things that are in my bag... and, I don't know exactly what I carry. It's really heavy though. Any time that I have needed something, I've been able to find it in there. I'm sure I have way more than I need. During the winter, I add a second pannier that is filled with clothing (rain gear, different thicknesses of layering.) Most of my commuting is done on an e-bike, thus, I don't concern myself with the weight of what I carry in my pannier(s).

This morning, I had a sidewall blowout while zooming down a hill in Mystic, Connecticut, an entire state away from home. Fortunately, in addition to all the tools I mentioned in an earlier post, I was carrying a few squares of cut-up FEDEX fiber envelope and a foot-length of gaffer's tape, wrapped around an old Chapstick tube.

I used the FEDEX fiber envelope as a tire boot, to hold the tube inside the sidewall split. Then I secured it with gaffer's tape, inside and out. Got me to the ferry terminal, about eleven miles away. Fortunately, my car was parked there.

Well done, [MENTION=137127]Papa Tom[/MENTION]!