What should I take with me on a bike ride?
 

Hi everybody!

Me and a friend are going on a 55mile bike ride tomorrow and we wanted to know what we should take with us. We are taking some tools, patches, water, peanut butter sandwiches, and some trail mix with us. What else is necessary to take on a bike ride?

The route we chose is very hilly for the first half and then it is flat for the second half. This is a big step up from our past bike rides which are usually less than 30miles, so we don't really know what to take with us. Thanks!

talent and ability

Hopefully I have enough of that :D!

I'd take at least 1 extra tube each, and two water bottles each unless you have places to fill up. Some way to fix a broken chain would be good too.

I suppose you had your bicycles checked up by a mechanic, right? Tube(s), tire levers, pump, patch kit at least. Multi tool optional.

a pair (or two) of rubber gloves. would have been nice if i had one the other day so i could have kept my hands clean when i got a flat on the rear tire.

Don't mess with patch kits, take tubes. And water. Lots of it.

+1 on the tubes, I never patch mine, just chuck em and buy new ones.

Why? A patch kit isn't big or heavy, and you never know if your flats will be (Ntubes) + 1.

I usually carry a spare tube and a patch kit. I've blown both tires out at the same time on a ride. You also never know when you're going to accidentally pinch a tube putting it in or miss removing whatever made the flat in the first place from the tire causing a second flat. Patches might also get someone else off the side of the road and you will still have a tube left. If you ride in remote areas a backup plan is usually advisable.

helmet, bazooka, road id.

Cell phone.

Looks as though the suggestions posted thus far pretty much have you covered so this is just my $0.02 and may not be worth that much.

Unless you are just getting started, 55 miles should not take you all day. That said, carrying a meal (PB sandwiches) shouldn't be a big concern for a 4-hour ride. Food adds weight, but a better option might be individually packaged energy bars of some kind. It's likely that a light healthy snack an hour before the ride will provide sufficient energy for a ride of 55 miles. I also started filling one of my water bottles with gator-aid recently to start drinking about half way through a longer ride (30 miles or more). I have some routes with no water refill stops so I carry my camel-back and two bottles of water/gator-aid on those. One or two paper blue shop towels.

I agree with the idea of carrying a tube (or two) and a patch kit. Around here the roads have enough debris on the shoulders that a ride of that length can easily result in more than one flat. A first-aid kit might also be useful in the event of a tipover and need for a bandage or pain meds. good luck!

now; let me see, I need to write down some of the other suggestions :rolleyes:

I patch them later. Why throw them out ?

Cash or a credit card, on top of what everyone else said. Unless you live someplace really remote and/or try really hard it is challenging to go 55 miles without coming across a store that you might want to buy food, water, or gatorade at.

ooooooooooo, that's really good advice -- need to add that to my list. Oh wait! there are several of my routes where I can go up to 70 miles without seeing a store. (yep the Texas Panhandle is pretty sparse on population) Still, some cash or credit card is a good idea. :thumb:

You don't mention it, but the tool suggestions are good ones only if you(or your friend) know how to use them. If not, then the cell phone is a better option assuming there is someone you could call to pick you up... Of the cash/credit card option the cash is better since it can serve a dual purpose as a tire boot... I heard tube/patch kit, but one of you should have a pump (or CO2 with a couple of cartridges.

1. Energy Gels - Gu, Gu Chomps, Cliff Shots - won't melt when warm like peanut butter does and packs easier

2. Electrolyte drink and water

3. 2 tubes / 2 CO2 cartridges

4. Tire levers and a multi-tool

5. Cash and a bank card

6. Cell phone

7. ID just in case

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
http://i43.tinypic.com/332tses.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/1f8pck.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/2d1w85u.jpg

Rest of the thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...on-a-long-ride

Good Lord. For a 55 miler?

Jersey pockets: phone in ziploc bag, coupla Clif bars and/or gels, ID, credit card
Seat bag: same as any other ride - tube, patch kit, C02, multi-tool, surgical gloves, tire levers
On the bike: two water/sports drink bottles, frame pump

Even that feels like overkill, but it's what I bring. Occasionally I'll pack a sandwich if it's a particularly nice day and I've got a sweet stop in mind.

hydration pack (filled with water and ice)
wallet (to buy Mt. Dew at 7/11)
cell phone (with google maps)
bananas

That's all you really need...

I'm always amazed at the sheer volume of crap people haul around whenever these threads come up. :) I ride many thousands of miles each year with a fairly minimalist seat bag (Co2, levers, one tube, boots cut from an old tire, maybe a patch kit), and an inflator in my jersey pocket with another CO2. Cell phone, cash, credit card, ID in a baggie.

I'm currently riding some fairly deserted roads near Madrid, Spain, and I'm traveling solo. My "travel seat bag" has a whopping two tubes, 4 or 5 CO2 cartridges, boots, and a small multi-tool in addition to the stuff above.

If you look your bike and tires over before you ride, you don't have to go crazy. I keep waiting for somebody to post a picture of their BOB trailer with the spare bike on it, just in case. :D

yup. I took out my multi tool. so many allen keys that will never be used. I just put a couple of allen keys that cover most adjustments like brake, seat post etc. I think thats a 5 and 6 mm. a little screwdriver. I took out the chain tool. Stuff for flats and the allen keys and screw driver.

I ride a steel frame and then just include a BOB trailer with a welder on it. Only carry 1/2 a gallon of diesel to power it though because I am a weight weenie.