Must haves?
#1
7Shifty
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Must haves?
Do you guys have any must haves when you're commuting? I know the basics but is there some that you bring that's a game changer?
#2
Senior Member
The only must-have game changer is stashing a spare set of clothes at work, permanently. I always need it eventually.
Everything extra that I have on my bike, or carry with me, or equiped on the bike, is there for a pretty good reason but certainly not a game changer. Convenience, comfort. I ride the other bike 1/3 of the time, with none of it.
Everything extra that I have on my bike, or carry with me, or equiped on the bike, is there for a pretty good reason but certainly not a game changer. Convenience, comfort. I ride the other bike 1/3 of the time, with none of it.
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#3
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I'm retired now, but I found a bike rain cape to be a must-have. I had tried various rain gear before the cape, and I would always sweat so much when wearing it that I got just as wet with as without. But a cape lets you stay cool and (more or less) dry at the same time. I never found rain pants that weren't too hot, so I would get wet below the knees when it poured, but otherwise the rain cape was the bee's knees, as my grand daddy used to say.
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#4
Hack
- A bike.
- Method to fix a flat / inflate / be willing to walk if you have problem
- Way to carry what you need (pocket/pannier/backpack/saddlebag/trailer.
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I'm retired now, but I found a bike rain cape to be a must-have. I had tried various rain gear before the cape, and I would always sweat so much when wearing it that I got just as wet with as without. But a cape lets you stay cool and (more or less) dry at the same time. I never found rain pants that weren't too hot, so I would get wet below the knees when it poured, but otherwise the rain cape was the bee's knees, as my grand daddy used to say.
#7
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In no particular order: A glasses-mounted mirror. An AirZound airhorn. And a change of clothes (and shoes) either kept at work or carried with. Lights. Fenders, especially a long one in the front with a pliable flap near the ground. Studded Snow tires in the winter, and a rain cape (see above).
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A “Plan B” for getting to work
This Plan B will be different for almost everyone, but you WILL find your bike unridable some morning...
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#9
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The only must haves are a bicycle. There are no must have accessories. Everything else needs to be selected based upon the persons personal preferences, their needs and their riding style.
#10
Junior Member
spare tube and c02 to inflate are my only must haves! Nothing worse than being beeped at by your work buddies as you walk a flat the rest of the way to work...
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#11
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I'm retired now, but I found a bike rain cape to be a must-have. I had tried various rain gear before the cape, and I would always sweat so much when wearing it that I got just as wet with as without. But a cape lets you stay cool and (more or less) dry at the same time. I never found rain pants that weren't too hot, so I would get wet below the knees when it poured, but otherwise the rain cape was the bee's knees, as my grand daddy used to say.
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A destination, hopefully pleasant. 
Everything else is situational, even stuff for repairs. My commute is 4 miles, so my worst case scenario is walking 2 miles. I wear rain gear if it's actually raining when I leave for work, otherwise I usually risk it, depending on the forecast. I might also ride in my flip flops and carry my shoes in a plastic bag.

Everything else is situational, even stuff for repairs. My commute is 4 miles, so my worst case scenario is walking 2 miles. I wear rain gear if it's actually raining when I leave for work, otherwise I usually risk it, depending on the forecast. I might also ride in my flip flops and carry my shoes in a plastic bag.
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#15
Senior Member
A pair of disposable latex gloves. They only weigh a few grams and don't take up much space, but it sure makes a difference when changing a rear flat.
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#16
Senior Member
If it's Summer and I know it's going to rain, instead of my SPD shoes, I'll wear my SPD sandals. That way, I don't have to dry my shoes for the ride next morning... If it's Spring or Fall, I'll use my shoe covers which does help quite a lot. For just a small drizzle or wet roads, I'll wear shoe caps so my shoes doesn't get wet (or barely).
#17
Senior Member
The only must-have game changer is stashing a spare set of clothes at work, permanently. I always need it eventually.
Everything extra that I have on my bike, or carry with me, or equiped on the bike, is there for a pretty good reason but certainly not a game changer. Convenience, comfort. I ride the other bike 1/3 of the time, with none of it.
Everything extra that I have on my bike, or carry with me, or equiped on the bike, is there for a pretty good reason but certainly not a game changer. Convenience, comfort. I ride the other bike 1/3 of the time, with none of it.

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For me the must-haves are:
In the winter I also mount fenders, but I remove them as the weather becomes more reliable.
I also use the bike for trips to the store, which can happen after dark. In those cases the front and rear light become mandatory, and my bottle blinky (side light) is the optional accessory that I much prefer having, for safety's sake. I do carry a multi-tool that I never need.
A lock would be on my list, but I leave mine at work.
I am a fair weather commuter. If it's raining I take the car to the light rail station. If it's clear, I take the bike.
- A bike
- A rack & pannier
- A spare tube, and a pump, because even though it's only four and a quarter miles, that's farther than I would care to walk at the end of the day.
- A helmet.
- A tail light.
- A headlight. I never commute (to or from work) after dark but its flasher mode makes me more visible.
- A bike computer because I like to keep track of mileage.
- Gloves
- Change of clothes.
In the winter I also mount fenders, but I remove them as the weather becomes more reliable.
I also use the bike for trips to the store, which can happen after dark. In those cases the front and rear light become mandatory, and my bottle blinky (side light) is the optional accessory that I much prefer having, for safety's sake. I do carry a multi-tool that I never need.
A lock would be on my list, but I leave mine at work.
I am a fair weather commuter. If it's raining I take the car to the light rail station. If it's clear, I take the bike.
#19
Senior Member
I have been thankful that I found even 1 latex glove in my bag on more than one occasion. I also always keep a handkerchief with me to for dust or keep sun off my neck. I have used the handkerchief to wipe my hands (when I couldn't find a latex glove) and also to bandage another rider that had a bad fall.
#20
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Must haves?
Indeed, @rumrunn6. In particular apropos of the title of this present thread, I have previously posted,
From a different perspective on "must haves," I have also posted to this thread, "Bicycling or not, what items do you take with you that you never leave home without?
Don't a lot of these things go without saying for the vast majority of people? Clothing (a jacket is clothing, too), footwear, keys, money, ID, cell phone etc.
It's probably more interesting to ask what non-standard things do people always have with them…It could also be interesting to ask which typically standard things do people usually NOT carry?.
It's probably more interesting to ask what non-standard things do people always have with them…It could also be interesting to ask which typically standard things do people usually NOT carry?.
...I have a flat mesh black bag, about 8 x 6 x 3 inches I call my “clutch bag” with some of my non-standard items I take everywhere, including bike rides:

- Nailclipper, I hate hangnails
- Callus cushions and tape for a callus over my fourth right metatarsal bone; occasionally hurts walking or pedaling
- Extra pair of eyeglasses with lens wipes and lens cleaner because I am so nearsighted. I was in a couple of bike crashes, and glasses got bent.
- Mints for dry mouth
- Hairbrush especially for helmet hair. I wear gel, and HH easily brushes out
Washington Post
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Let's make a list of the important things you need before walking out the door: Wallet: Check. Cellphone: Check. Keys: Check. Lip balm?
You slap your back pocket. Nope. Rummage through your bag. Nada. Search the bedside table. Negative.
This is a problem. A huge, paralyzing problem. You are a lip balm addict, after all. And you are not alone.
Countless Facebook groups are dedicated to the "crackstick" in all its varieties: ChapStick, Blistex, Burt's Bees, Carmex. Any lip lubricant that comes in a tube or a tub.
There are online quizzes that measure how addicted you are to ChapStick. (Question: When you are wearing only a bathing suit, do you have ChapStick on you at all times?) And there is a self-help Web site, Lip Balm Anonymous (Lip Balm Anonymous), dedicated to helping lip balm addicts.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Let's make a list of the important things you need before walking out the door: Wallet: Check. Cellphone: Check. Keys: Check. Lip balm?
You slap your back pocket. Nope. Rummage through your bag. Nada. Search the bedside table. Negative.
This is a problem. A huge, paralyzing problem. You are a lip balm addict, after all. And you are not alone.
Countless Facebook groups are dedicated to the "crackstick" in all its varieties: ChapStick, Blistex, Burt's Bees, Carmex. Any lip lubricant that comes in a tube or a tub.
There are online quizzes that measure how addicted you are to ChapStick. (Question: When you are wearing only a bathing suit, do you have ChapStick on you at all times?) And there is a self-help Web site, Lip Balm Anonymous (Lip Balm Anonymous), dedicated to helping lip balm addicts.

Last edited by Jim from Boston; 05-25-19 at 07:46 AM.
#21
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Game Changer?
Game changer to me means something that gives a distinct advantage over the "old way" of doing something. A competitive advantage in sports. An efficiency leap in accomplishing some task.
So, I'd say that, apart from the wealth of common sense given in the thread above, the game changing item(s) have been (for me):
- a bicycle cover that keeps the rubber/shifter hoods/saddle/tires out of the sunlight and sheds light rain. XPORT is the branding. Works wonders.
- prepositioning a stout chain and lock at work, so that I only must carry the key
- keeping a full sized floor pump in my office at work, for inevitable tire repairs before the ride home
- carrying the Pedro's tire bead jack in my panniers for those impossible to mount Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, in the rare event that I have to remove one and remount it. This was necessitated recently when I had a spoke broken at work and needed to replace a spoke nipple. The Schwalbe tire needed to come off first. Ugh.
So, I'd say that, apart from the wealth of common sense given in the thread above, the game changing item(s) have been (for me):
- a bicycle cover that keeps the rubber/shifter hoods/saddle/tires out of the sunlight and sheds light rain. XPORT is the branding. Works wonders.
- prepositioning a stout chain and lock at work, so that I only must carry the key
- keeping a full sized floor pump in my office at work, for inevitable tire repairs before the ride home
- carrying the Pedro's tire bead jack in my panniers for those impossible to mount Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, in the rare event that I have to remove one and remount it. This was necessitated recently when I had a spoke broken at work and needed to replace a spoke nipple. The Schwalbe tire needed to come off first. Ugh.
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#22
Senior Member
Yep, skin-out change of clothes. I keep socks, belt and shoes even, in a file cabinet at my desk. It's rare nowadays but still happens that I forget something and when I do it could be anything.
#23
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I always ride with a bandana. It's like a mini towel, and you should always know where your towel (or bandana) is.
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