What do consider ESSENTIALS to bring on a long ride?
#1
Thread Starter
Delusional Laserbrain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: South Orange, NJ
Bikes: 2008 Specialized Tricross, 1993 Giant Iguana rebuild w/ singlespeed drive train
What do consider ESSENTIALS to bring on a long ride?
My saddle bag has gotten heavy and is giving me problems. I have a Topeak Survival wedge with the fixer. Here is what I typically carry:

Unfortunately the bag is too heavy and broke the fixer and 2 subsequent purchased fixers while out on separate rides. I have since sewn a nylon strap around the bag and tied it underneath the saddle rails but it has me thinking about what i really need to bring.
1. I need a house keys to get back inside again.
2. (I guess) I need money/creditcard and ID to refuel & dehydrate and identify my mortal remains.
3. I need a waterbottle and a frame pump.
3. I need basic repair items. An extra tube and levers seem to be all I need to fix a flat. all of the other tools that came with the survival wedge have been unused. I guess a small allen set would be good to have but I haven't really needed it so far.
Do I really need a chain removal tool? I don't carry around a spare chain so what could I do on the road to the chain after I removed it? A patch kit is lighter than a tube, but sometimes it is so hard to find the leak to know where to patch it.
Anyway those are my thoughts. What do you guys like to bring on longer road trips? (50-100 miles )

Unfortunately the bag is too heavy and broke the fixer and 2 subsequent purchased fixers while out on separate rides. I have since sewn a nylon strap around the bag and tied it underneath the saddle rails but it has me thinking about what i really need to bring.
1. I need a house keys to get back inside again.
2. (I guess) I need money/creditcard and ID to refuel & dehydrate and identify my mortal remains.
3. I need a waterbottle and a frame pump.
3. I need basic repair items. An extra tube and levers seem to be all I need to fix a flat. all of the other tools that came with the survival wedge have been unused. I guess a small allen set would be good to have but I haven't really needed it so far.
Do I really need a chain removal tool? I don't carry around a spare chain so what could I do on the road to the chain after I removed it? A patch kit is lighter than a tube, but sometimes it is so hard to find the leak to know where to patch it.
Anyway those are my thoughts. What do you guys like to bring on longer road trips? (50-100 miles )
#2
Gimme back my gears!
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: San Jose
Bikes: Cannondale Caad9-5 2009, Scattante XLR TT 2009, Trek Y-Foil 77 1998
That bag itself is hideously over-engineered. You need a single multi-tool that include a tire lever and chain breaker along with the usual hex dimensions and screwdriver tips. They do not need to be separate components.
#4
You can get a multi tool with a chain tool on it. Extra weight would be minimal. A chain tool is good in the event that your chain breaks. It's rare, but could happen.

You can also get some glueless patches that are maybe the size of a postage stamp and weigh next to nothing. I'm like you- I prefer to just change the tube on the road and worry about patching at home. The patches are good to have just in case, though.

You can also get some glueless patches that are maybe the size of a postage stamp and weigh next to nothing. I'm like you- I prefer to just change the tube on the road and worry about patching at home. The patches are good to have just in case, though.
#5
Should Be More Popular




Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 46,188
Likes: 11,751
From: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
That's too much IMO.
Jettison everything except the tube, pump, tire levers, patch kit, water bottle(s) and keys.
And bring your cell phone. If too heavy in the bag put phone in middle back pocket.
And pitch your wallet, bring a few loose bills if you are stopping for drinks/snacks.
Jettison everything except the tube, pump, tire levers, patch kit, water bottle(s) and keys.
And bring your cell phone. If too heavy in the bag put phone in middle back pocket.
And pitch your wallet, bring a few loose bills if you are stopping for drinks/snacks.
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 2
The bare minimum I would carry for a long ride...
(1) Tire lever
(1) 12g CO2
(1) Patch kit
Cell phone
ID, credit card, health insurance card
House key
(1) 6oz Gel flask
(1) Water bottle
However I usually carry an extra tire lever, 16g CO2, and water bottle. I'll also carry a spare tube or two. That way I have enough water and tools to get my through a few flats. Two 16g CO2 can probably fill up three 700x23 tires, but probably at a lower psi.
I don't ever carry any tools though unless I go mountain biking. I'm a pretty good mechanic, so I keep my bike in good shape. If something more than a flat were to happen, I probably got unlucky.
Oh right I forgot to add... carrying bills is useful. You can use them to boot stuff or buy from places that don't take credit.
(1) Tire lever
(1) 12g CO2
(1) Patch kit
Cell phone
ID, credit card, health insurance card
House key
(1) 6oz Gel flask
(1) Water bottle
However I usually carry an extra tire lever, 16g CO2, and water bottle. I'll also carry a spare tube or two. That way I have enough water and tools to get my through a few flats. Two 16g CO2 can probably fill up three 700x23 tires, but probably at a lower psi.
I don't ever carry any tools though unless I go mountain biking. I'm a pretty good mechanic, so I keep my bike in good shape. If something more than a flat were to happen, I probably got unlucky.
Oh right I forgot to add... carrying bills is useful. You can use them to boot stuff or buy from places that don't take credit.
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix SL3, Lynskey Cooper CX
In my saddle bag: Multi-Tool; 1, maybe 2 tubes depending on how far from home or the shop I plan on going; 2 or 3 CO2 carts w/ inflator; Glueless patches; Maybe a frame pump, again depending on the trip; A lock if I'm riding solo.
On my person: Cell phone; Camera; Credit card, Driver's license and Cash in a clip; Munchies.
OP, your Toepack is way over-engineered as previously mentioned. Do yourself a favor and get a cheapo Velcro-strapped pack and ditch all those unnecessary tools for a good multi-tool.
On my person: Cell phone; Camera; Credit card, Driver's license and Cash in a clip; Munchies.
OP, your Toepack is way over-engineered as previously mentioned. Do yourself a favor and get a cheapo Velcro-strapped pack and ditch all those unnecessary tools for a good multi-tool.
#8
Gimme back my gears!
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: San Jose
Bikes: Cannondale Caad9-5 2009, Scattante XLR TT 2009, Trek Y-Foil 77 1998
1. I need a house keys to get back inside again.
2. (I guess) I need money/creditcard and ID to refuel & dehydrate and identify my mortal remains.
3. I need a waterbottle and a frame pump.
4. I need basic repair items. An extra tube and levers seem to be all I need to fix a flat. all of the other tools that came with the survival wedge have been unused. I guess a small allen set would be good to have but I haven't really needed it so far.
Do I really need a chain removal tool? I don't carry around a spare chain so what could I do on the road to the chain after I removed it?
A patch kit is lighter than a tube, but sometimes it is so hard to find the leak to know where to patch it.
What do you guys like to bring on longer road trips? (50-100 miles
I have really bad luck with flats. I carry a hydration pack without the bladder:
1 extra Sportsdrink
3 Tubes
1 Flat kit
2 Multi-tools (one, traditional bike and one that converts to a knife and pliers/wrench)
Saddle rack that hold two additional bottles and 4 c02 cartridges
1 Mini-pump on frame boss bracket
2, 200 lumen flashlights
2, GoPro cameras
1 Armadillo Tire (yes, the whole damn thing)
1 Compact vest
1 Mini speaker
1 Mp3 player
1 wallet
2 Keys
1 Cellphone
Various pills and drugs


#9
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
My long ride saddle bag holds:
2x inner tubes
Topeak Mini 20 Pro multitool
3x 12g CO2 cartridges + Innovations Air Chuck SL
Park glueless patch kit
Park emergency tire boot
Sram Powerlink (if chain breaks, remove offending piece and replace with link)
Schrader valve adapter (as a last resort to fill up tires at a gas station or with a generic pump)
House key (as in a single key, not the whole damn keychain)
2x latex gloves + chemwipe
All fits quite nicely in a small Topeak Wedge. I'm confident that will get me home through any mechanical short of a catastrophic wheel failure which would probably send me to the hospital.
2x inner tubes
Topeak Mini 20 Pro multitool
3x 12g CO2 cartridges + Innovations Air Chuck SL
Park glueless patch kit
Park emergency tire boot
Sram Powerlink (if chain breaks, remove offending piece and replace with link)
Schrader valve adapter (as a last resort to fill up tires at a gas station or with a generic pump)
House key (as in a single key, not the whole damn keychain)
2x latex gloves + chemwipe
All fits quite nicely in a small Topeak Wedge. I'm confident that will get me home through any mechanical short of a catastrophic wheel failure which would probably send me to the hospital.
#10
Gimme back my gears!
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: San Jose
Bikes: Cannondale Caad9-5 2009, Scattante XLR TT 2009, Trek Y-Foil 77 1998
Those aren't too recent of pics, but rest assured I do also carry those batteries and another Sony digicam.. those just give a rough idea about how much BS I take...ha ha ha
#11
Lost Again
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 3
From: Columbus, Oh!
Bikes: Soma Saga, 1991 Sirrus, Specialized Secteur Elite, Miele Umbria Elite.
I also carry:
-One of those $1 rain ponchos
-A few feet of double sided velcro strap wrapped around some tubing on the bike
-A half dozen medium and small zipties.
-A few bucks wrapped around my Drivers License and insurance card (and maybe a debit card).
-A pack of SKABS for patching flats.
-A small dose of a medicine, I may or may not need (a couple small pills)
-And a key.
All the extra stuff I mentioned take minimal space and weighs but a few ounces.
Last edited by gitarzan; 05-17-10 at 08:15 PM.
#13
Thread Starter
Delusional Laserbrain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: South Orange, NJ
Bikes: 2008 Specialized Tricross, 1993 Giant Iguana rebuild w/ singlespeed drive train
I have never actually seen a CO2 pump in action before.
How do you guys say they compare to an actual hand pump.
And where do you keep it? in the bag or on the frame?
Another thing is that I have two frame mounts and one of them has a water bottle and the other has a frame pump.
I have thought one of those mini pumps that attach to the water bottle cage so I can add another water bottle in the summer.
But I really like a handpump with a hose and gauge and not sure they make one small enough to fit on a combo cage.
How do you guys say they compare to an actual hand pump.
And where do you keep it? in the bag or on the frame?
Another thing is that I have two frame mounts and one of them has a water bottle and the other has a frame pump.
I have thought one of those mini pumps that attach to the water bottle cage so I can add another water bottle in the summer.
But I really like a handpump with a hose and gauge and not sure they make one small enough to fit on a combo cage.
#14
Fixed-gear roadie
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC
Bikes: 2008 Masi Speciale Fixed
What goes in my bag that I have on the bike at all times:
Spare tube
Patches and glue
CO2 inflator and spare cartridge
Tire levers
Multitool
For a long ride, I'd have that bag, plus:
Both bottles on the bike
Pack of Shot Bloks
Around 5 bucks, just in case
Cell Phone
ID
Spare tube
Patches and glue
CO2 inflator and spare cartridge
Tire levers
Multitool
For a long ride, I'd have that bag, plus:
Both bottles on the bike
Pack of Shot Bloks
Around 5 bucks, just in case
Cell Phone
ID
#15
ka maté ka maté ka ora
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,423
Likes: 4
From: wessex
Bikes: breezer venturi - red novo bosberg - red, pedal force cg1 - red, neuvation f-100 - da, devinci phantom - xt, miele piste - miche/campy, bianchi reparto corse sbx, concorde squadra tsx - da, miele team issue sl - ultegra
for 100-140 km:
1 multitool, 1 patchkit, 3 tire levers, 1 tube all in plastic bag, go in the middle pocket with my keys, money and phone.
outside pockets, 2 water bottles, 4 granola bars.
on the bike, two bottles, lezyne road drive.
1 multitool, 1 patchkit, 3 tire levers, 1 tube all in plastic bag, go in the middle pocket with my keys, money and phone.
outside pockets, 2 water bottles, 4 granola bars.
on the bike, two bottles, lezyne road drive.
#17
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Bikes: Aegis Aro Svelte, Scott R1, Scott Spark
No saddle bag - not a fan, all in jersey pockets:
Left pocket:
2 - 4 gels depending on length of ride
mini pump
Mid pocket - Zip lock with:
3 tire levers
1 tube
mini tool
Patches
4 band aids
6 ibuprofen
$20 or credit card
Emergency phone numbers
Right pocket:
Cell phone
Done
Left pocket:
2 - 4 gels depending on length of ride
mini pump
Mid pocket - Zip lock with:
3 tire levers
1 tube
mini tool
Patches
4 band aids
6 ibuprofen
$20 or credit card
Emergency phone numbers
Right pocket:
Cell phone
Done
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#18
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,104
Likes: 1
From: Athens, Ohio
Bikes: Custom Custom Custom
in saddle bag
2 tubes
2 co2
co2 pump
multi tool w/ chain tool
pocket:
Cell phone
jimi wallet with cash, id, cc
I don't carry keys since I've got a keypad garage door opener
2 tubes
2 co2
co2 pump
multi tool w/ chain tool
pocket:
Cell phone
jimi wallet with cash, id, cc
I don't carry keys since I've got a keypad garage door opener
#19
2 tubes
1 mutlitool (tiny one)
1 skabs patch kit
1 frame mounted pump
1 Wallet
1 Keys
1 Cell Phone
I bring my actual wallet so I don't have to constantly remove my ID, credit card, and insurance cards. I don't even notice it in my jersey pocket.
1 mutlitool (tiny one)
1 skabs patch kit
1 frame mounted pump
1 Wallet
1 Keys
1 Cell Phone
I bring my actual wallet so I don't have to constantly remove my ID, credit card, and insurance cards. I don't even notice it in my jersey pocket.
#20
Newly added to my saddle bag: patch kit...after flatting out twice 15 miles from home...though at least my bag had a cell phone in it to call for a ride home
.
-Spare tube
-Levers
-Multitool
-Phone
-Keys
-Patch Kit
-frame mounted pump
. -Spare tube
-Levers
-Multitool
-Phone
-Keys
-Patch Kit
-frame mounted pump
#23

+
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#24
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa OK
Gels, 2 $5 bills, cell phone, chapstick, visine, Inflator and 2 cartridges, 1 extra tube, my tiny multi tool, my house key (no key chain just it loose in my bag), and 1 bottle with water and 1 with gatorade.
#25
Steel is real, baby!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,532
Likes: 8
From: Boise, ID
Bikes: 1984 Pinarello, 1986 Bianchi Portofino, 1988 Bianchi Trofeo, 1989 Specialized Allez, 1989 Specialized Hard Rock, 2001 Litespeed Tuscany
I carry in my seat bag:
Co2 "pump" w/ cartridge in it
Spare Co2 cartridge
basic multi tool
Park super patches
2 tire levers
I carry in my jersey pocket:
Cell phone
Driver's license & debit card
Any food I deem necessary
Co2 "pump" w/ cartridge in it
Spare Co2 cartridge
basic multi tool
Park super patches
2 tire levers
I carry in my jersey pocket:
Cell phone
Driver's license & debit card
Any food I deem necessary







