smorris 

I've just realized that I carry more gear with me on a bicycle ride around town or through the valley than I do on my 45 year old 2-stroke Vespa. And in my 50 year old MG, I don't take anything, not even the top or spare tire. Time to shave some weight and clean out to tool bag.

unixpro

I carry most of the stuff others have mentioned (spare tubes, patch, multitool, zip ties, etc.) and one more thing I havent' seen mentioned (admittedly, I just skimmed the other replies)...

A small first aid kit.

NealH

About $10 cash, a 16 gram CO2 cartridge, the CO2 applicator, plastic tire levers, a patch kit, an innertube, my old drivers license that's still carries the correct address and health data, and a mini pump for the dire emergency, and a clip-on mini flasher. I think this is about the minimum one should carry.

Cone Wrench

Style points must be deducted for non-matching water bottles.
Geez, man, make an effort.

Dchiefransom

I carry most of what you guys carry, including some band aids and medical tape to keep pressure on a wound. Both sizes of spare tubes go in a sock, so I have something to use the tape with. I also have a couple of small packets of a powder to put on bleeding wounds to coagulate them, since I'm on a blood thinner.
Since I'm in a club, I always have a ride sheet or two and a pen with me, plus I carry the accident report form from the LAB website.

Ranger63

Spoke wrench (in the past 15 years I've had 2 spokes go but the riders I ride with have amased over 15 spoke breakages in thepast 6 years alone) A bit o tweaking can get you home without having to wait for the S.O. to arrive out in the boonies to drive you.
phenolic clad alloy tire levers. After having phenolic resin jobs either flatten right out or out right break while trying to repair a flat , I opted for the alloy jobs with the phenolic coating. Not everyone runs with flexible bead tires and not everyone pre stretches new tires before installing.
Schraeder conversion for the air valve (mines screwed onto the presta on the front tire). Before I converted back (heavenly chorus here)to factual pumps, I too often found myself in need of factual pump and the only ones available were for schraeder style tubes.
Factual allen wrenches.
They cost a bit in weight but I can individualize for what bike I'm taking and know I have all the allen wrenches I'll need.
Long rides/touring/century...a chain tool and spare link.

oilman_15106

Nice work. You would be amazed at the riders who carry almost nothing and when in trouble you have to help them out. A young guy on a group ride(60 miles no less) said he had never changed a tube, had no repair kit, etc. His luck is going to run out sometime.

I would ad to the list of things to carry. A chain master link(KMC or Connex). I have broken a chain on a ride and have seen several others do the same. Also I almost always carry an ultralite wind/rain jacket.

Riverside_Guy

Twice this summer I got to help someone out with my frame pump because they had none... one I stopped for, the other asked when I was catching my breath. My inclination would be to stop and help a biker... some day I'll need the help!

Shifty

I use the smallest wedge made under my seat, mostly for the multi-tool, patch kit and spare tube.

Also in the wedge is a 3 inch piece of DUCT TAPE rolled up. This has gotten me home quite a few times, best and cheapest multi-tool available, works much better than a $20 bill inside a tire after a puncture.

DanteB

I have a small/med wedge under my seat with 2 tubes, 5 co2's and inflater, levers, patch kit, small multi-tool, duct tape and a $20 bill. I do carry one important tool in my jersey pocket, cell phone.

Retro Grouch 

On the other hand, using a $20.00 bill for a tire boot is a pretty good motivation to fix the tire properly after you get home.

Kazzy

Here's what I carry in my trunk bag on my touring bike:

DnvrFox

My duct tape always seems to sort of melt together into one big unrollable mess. Do you have an ari conditioned wedge?

Kevrob

What do I carry....?

OK, my usual rides are about 8-10 miles, round trip. I can usually stop at the halfway point to top off my water bottle or buy a snack. My hybrid sports a CatEye front light and a BP Superflash attached to the seatpost rack. I use a cable lock. I've also mounted an AirZound, a pump and a mirror. In a backpack on the rack I've got a Bell multitool, tire patch kit with extra levers, two tubes, an adjustable wrench, some needlenose pliers, extra zip ties, a neato-cheapo reversible screwdriver [switches from Phillips to flathead], and a small bottle of sunscreen. I usually take a backpack, the contents of which change daily. Typically, I'll bring a second water bottle (besides the one in the cage), a small radio [good for tuning in the local AM station if I think the weather's getting dodgy] one or more maps if I'm trying out a new route, a rain jacket if the forecast suggests I should, a roll of electrical tape [1k+ uses!] a ballcap (for wearing should I take my helmet off), a pair of reading glasses, some handwipes and either a small pack of tissue or some paper toweling. I always take my wallet, cell phone and can usually remember my little plastic case that holds a tube of Neosporin and some adhesive bandages.

When I'm using two water bottles, I like to load one with unsweetened tea. It can be cold or hot, depending on the weather.

Of late I've also been hauling a folder containing materials for working on my resume, and often a book or three. [A lot of my trips are to the library and back.] When I've been hoping to get a call back, I've added another bag to the seat rack, containing slacks, dress shirt and tie, in case I have to get to an interview ASAP. A stick of deodorant and a small bottle of mouthwash gets added in there, too.

I expect I'll be riding a little lighter, and less frequently, starting next week. I just got a gig that starts Thursday. It's a little too far for me to commute yet, but I could possibly ride to the bus stop, port the bike on the bus, and ride the last leg.....

What I should carry, but don't:

I don't use a cycle computer or any other kind of speedometer. I ought to bring a more complete first aid kit.

Would a flare gun be too much?

Kevin

DnvrFox

WOW!!

That's all I have to say is WOW!!


(Well, I will add - I don't even take one water bottle on a 10 mile ride!)

Kevrob

I'm not doing training rides. I'm biking for utility/commuting purposes. Any fitness improvement is a bonus. As someone who tips the scales at over 200 lbs and stands 5'8", I'm not concerned about having the lightest ride.

My most common use for my second bottle is dumping it over my head to keep cool. Having two full bottles came in handy recently, when I hit the deck and had to clean the pebbles out of some road rash.

Kevin

edp773

What else do you carry that I didn't list?

Hmm, a dozen ears of corn, a bag of apples, and even once a pineapple.

DnvrFox

If I listed everything my wife carried, it would top yours by a bit. She also has a baggie full of Rx's she might need along the way! And, she carries a spray bottle for heat reduction.

Incidentally, doesn't your multi tool have a phillips and a flat head on it?

Kevrob

Y'know, I think you are right about that.

Hurrah! I'll be 3 oz. lighter!

Kevin

DnvrFox

Every little bit counts!!

BTW, I am 5'11", and weigh in at about 217 lbs.

djnzlab1

HI,
I was watching that Emergency serivice show on TV and one thing the rescue people look for on a cell phone is the word (ICE),in case of emergency, I put that in front of my home phone number in Case I am Nocked off a bike and can't talk.
MAybe we all should add it to our phone list .
Doug

tsl

I believe this one even has a kitchen sink.



https://www.kevincyr.net/index.php?/project/camper-bike/

BillK

Sidewalk caulk? What...for a quick game of hopscotch?

Kevrob

I think that's chalk, which would come in handy when I'm finally creamed by an SUV, and whoever finds me needs to draw an outline.

@ DnvrFox:

I'm just under 239, myself.

Kevin

McQz

Do you do accident scene investigation? What's with the sidewalk chalk?