Deke

Not many riders in my part of the hinterland and do about 40 km a day without seeing another cycler. Any other lone wolves out there and what do you carry in your seatbag? Been going mostly minimal but then after reading the health threads started wondering.....any thoughts?

miss kenton

For the most part I ride alone, too. Some of the reports on here have prompted me to send for a Road ID bracelet. Well, actually I had a gift cert. won as a door prize, but I was thinking of getting one, anyway. I can't stand the thought of lying on my back injured in the woods somewhere and watching vultures hovering above. Of course, someone would have to stumble upon my crumpled form to read my Road ID, so....
I do carry a couple of extra tubes, some CO cartridges, cell phone, and of course, an extra tube of lipstick.

stapfam

The lipsticks handy-- Especially if you can't find a pen to leave a note of what went wrong

Just the normal wedge under the saddle with levers- puncture repair kit- Multi tool-and a tube. Then I would be carrying the phone and wallet in the jersey posckets.

But how about the extra warm jersey in case it gets cold- and the waterprrof has to be stowed somewhere- and the spare food. I don't bother as it is is going to get cold- I would be layered up and I can always unzip and if I can't carry enough food in the empty jersey pocket- there must be somewhere to buy pie.

Only thing I don't do is ride offroad alone- not many people up on the hills but on the road there will be a car along sometime.

DnvrFox

Sometime back we did a "ride alone" survey. We found that LOTS of folks ride alone!! However, I am sure that some areas are more "alone" than others, and it sounds as if you REALLY ride alone.

Cell phone, 2 tubes, frame pump, patch kit, water, boot, tire tools, wallet, multitool, and some other stuff.

XR2

Yeah me to for the most part. I take my niece's kid riding occasionally 'cause his parents are.........well riding stoned can't be good.

ctyler

I've been riding alone for the past six years. Had a great group of people I rode with when I lived in California, but since moving back to Wisconsin, there are not tha many people around who ride when I do.
I take my cell phone, Road ID, pump, tube. And that's about it.

RonH

Me too. I'm retired and not many people in my neighborhood ride in the middle of the day. Been mostly riding alone since 2000 (after corporate downsizing).
I carry my cell phone, RoadID (since 2004), multitool, patch kit (used mostly to help stranded weekend riders), spare tube, CO2, frame pump, money, 3 or 4 Hammer gels, and water.


I have a question. Why carry a wallet?

bruce19

Riding with a group is fun but I love riding alone. At least once a week I ride my 15 mi. TT as hard as I can. It's me against the clock.....me against me last week. It doesn't get any better than that for me. I usually take a spare tube, patch kit, a couple bucks and a cell phone, and maybe one GU and a bottle of water. I hardly ever use the water or GU but you never know. It's a strange thing but even at age 64 I have a need to test myself...to go faster...to do better....and, I love it.

Tony N.

I mostly ride alone also. Not many riders around where I live except the hammerfest local Tuesday/Sat/Sun riders. I take the usual items ie cell, tube, patch kit water, etc. Still thinking about the statement, "of course the EXTRA tube of lipstick." Very interesting miss kenton, very interesting. Not sure what interest me more, the "of course" or the "extra". :-) Been thinking about a road ID and am sure it could be a lifesaver. Just not sure which one to get.

trackhub

I ride alone probably 99.99% of the time. It is rare that I ride with anyone else. I simply prefer solitude. I carry wallet with ID, and a cell phone.

fietsbob

I'm alone when I go Home too..

doctor j

I ride alone during the week, with our group on Saturdays, and usually with a friend on Sunday afternoon. I carry the same stuff whether I'm alone or in a group... two tubes, glue-patch kit, tire boot, tire levers, multitool with chain breaker, Wipperman links, alcohol wipes, a few small bandages, tiny set of pliers, sports drink, frame pump. Also have front and rear lights as appropriate. There's probably some more junk in there that I forgot to mention. Oh yeah, dog spray on weekend rides. And food for rides > 30 miles.

sknhgy 

There are no other riders where I live. I like to ride with others but only get the chance a few times per year.
Must haves for a ride; spare tube, patch kit, pocket knife to probe for cause of flats, allen wrenches, pump.
Spare batteries for night time rides, bug spray in summer-in case I have a flat or breakdown.
Halt dog repellant.
Water
I rarely carry a cell phone. Just seems like extra weight.

xtrajack

Actually, don't we all ride alone??

dahut

Same here. I'm in Red Neck, USA, where bikes are mostly for kids. The only groupists around are a small cadre of white-collar type, sport riders. Im not in their clique.
Commuting like I do throws people for a loop - they don't know how to react to someone who would ride by choice and I only know of one other guy who does it regularly.
So I'm self sufficient.

I use a seat wedge in which I keep a CO2 filler, spare tubes, tire tools, multitool and a few other bits and bobs. I keep stout rear tires, in good shape, and regular front tires spinning. In my backpack I have my wallet, a folding lock back knife, a few energy snacks, a riding hat and a cellphone. However, since I'm out in the toolies for most of my riding, the cellphone is usually useless.
I wear the hat when I want to take off the helmet.

My cycling life is one of solitude, serenity and the rhythmic sound of my own breathing. Im convinced this IS the right way to cycle and honestly, I wouldnt even know how to ride in a group.

aRoudy1

Occasionally, I'll ride a couple of miles with one of my grandkids however, I prefer riding alone. I carry a cell phone but most of my rides are in areas with sketchy service so I'm not sure how much it would help. I'm 65 but have no critical health problems that would warrant carrying a Road ID Alert. I don't worry about anything happening, I just ride.

dahut

And lets face it, you know that if anything life threatening happens while riding, you'll likely die doing what you love. But, because you're in better condition than most people half your age, nothing is what will most likely occur.

Thats the welcome paradox: you're better off cycling, than not.

RonH

Never thought of it in relation to health problems. The RoadID is for when some a-hole either hits you or causes you to crash. When you're dead or unconscious it provides the police/EMT with a name, address, phone number so family can be contacted.

Wino Ryder

I ride with my son on occasion and with a friend I helped get into riding, but otherwise I ride by myself. I have no problem being a lone wolf. Have about 16000 miles doing it, so there's no problem. I wear an interactive Road ID too.

In the bike bag I carry my cell phone, tire tools, spare tube and patch kit, Co2 inflater.

vtc12ip

I ride alone. After moving to where I live now, it was six months before I saw another cyclist. I do like group rides but the local group ride is a hammerfest, well beyond my ability.

I carry a cell phone, CO2 inflater with spare cartridge, small pump (for when the CO2 fails), patch kit, multi tool, tire irons, tube, ID and some money. And lots of fluids. This summer has been very hot.

oldride

I do both, alone and in a group. I ride with my club 2-3 times per week and alone 2-3 times per week. I carry the normal stuff (including an expired DL) in my seat bag and sometimes a cell phone. Normal rides are 30-45 miles. When riding alone if I have a mechanical problem I fix it or I walk since there is no one to call for help.

BluesDawg

I only ride when I'm by myself or with somebody.

LAriverRat

I ride alone, lots of riders i could ride with however i just don't know where the heck i want to go until i check the weather and see how strong i feel. I don't mind blasting a hole into the wind (What, nobody to draft? who needs it just HTFU). I carry expired drivers license, med card, tube, patch kit, mini pump, allen wrenches, mini med kit, pen, paper, cell phone, cough drops, suckers, mustard, raisins, nuts, two insulated bottles for water and gatorade. All this i put in a small pouch that i strap to my seat and seat post so it hangs kinda like a flag, the water bottles are on the frame. During the week i don't see a lot of other riders.

cranky old dude

I ride alone almost always.

I used to carry a tube, pump, levers and a cell phone. The cell was in place of any other tool I should have had with me but didn't. I could just call home and the wife will come and fetch me.

Well now that she can't come fetch me anymore I carry a lot more with me. I need to be totally self sufficient on my rides now. If I have a mechanical failure I need to either fix it then and there or walk home. I have a tool roll that I've packed to handle almost every part of my bike. I still need to pick up some spare cables and I don't bother taking any crank tools along.

The roll easily fits in my knap sack when I'm commuting back and forth to work, and in my trunk bag when I'm on a recreational ride. I still need to pick up a couple of rear racks for my up-right bikes. I'm almost to the point where I'm all squared away, I think.

As far as I.D. is concerned...between my wallet and my cell phone they ought to be able to figure out who I am.

guybierhaus

I always ride alone with rare exceptions, like last Saturday with my sister's "companion". I ride in the Oley Valley, PA, an area very popular for bicyclists, so while I'm alone, I usually see at least 3 other bikers in an hours time. Occasionally I have a whole pack of young legs past me. I stopped trying to pick up speed and ride on their tail, just not gonna happen. Again with rare exceptions, I ride alone in organized rides as well; however I've been giving up on the organized rides as the Oley Valley roads are so much better, they are free, and I can usually muster up a better after ride meal then a dry sandwich or thin crust cheese pizza. Rides over 10 miles I'll take some water. Always have a wedge bag attached with the spare tube, levers and CO2 inflater. A pump is also strapped to seat tube. Although all my flats to date, and there have been few, I was close enough to house or car and I just walked bike. Changed tube later in the comfort of the family room.

Been thinking about an ID of some kind. I currently ride with nothing. Don't know who medics would call, no body is ever home.