Recommendations, please, about the "essentials" to "take-with" on a bike ride -- either alone or with a group.

Question

I'm thinking: A fully-charged cell phone. A spare chain. About $20 bucks in cash. A photo ID. A medical insurance card. Several emergency contact names/telephone numbers. Spare batteries for headlight/taillight. Some type of "compact tire inflator"--although my tires have a "Slime" flat tire prevention "system." And, a pocket-knife-type set of bicycle tools. (Is this too much? Should I take more?) I hope to soon participate in some group-rides, and I don't want to appear to be "stupid" or "foolish" or "unprepared."

Well, with 10 answers so far, it looks like my question is just about "wrapped up." EVERY answer was very good, and is VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. (Including the tidbit of humor from "ONLYME MR G"). [It seems you can count on him to mix advice with humor for any questions he responds to.]
Geez. . . it would be difficult for me to choose the best answer. So, what I take on my rides probably will be the result of culling the best recommendations from each answer.
(P.S. My original idea of taking an ENTIRE bike chain WAS ill-conceived.
At first, I could not picture myself doing chain-repair while on-the-road. But, hey, sometimes you do what you gotta do. MANY THANKS to everyone!

Answer 1

On road:
- ID (including medical data)
- water or other electrolyte drink (1 bottle per hour of ride length)
- snacks (gels, granola bars, crackers ... something to give you an energy lift)
- multitool, including at least three common hex sizes
- a couple of CO2 catridges and an inflator
- a spare tube
- some cash ($15, plus about a dollar in coins)
- a credit card

Off road:
all of above, plus ...
- chain tool (including extra links)
- a second spare tube
- multitool should also include a small knife (or bring one separately), a Phillips and flat-head screwdriver, as well as hex wrenches
- more water and snacks (might mean investing in backpack hydration system, like a camelbak for instance ... but gives you room to stash all the tools, etc)
- a full portable tire pump (stash it inthe pack, or strap it to the frame)

I leave the cell phone to others on group rides ... and usually am far enough out in the boonies on off-road rides that there isn't a signal. A spare chain is WAAAYYY overkill! Having contact numbers written down isn't such a bad idea - I often carry a credit-card sized plastic insert with the local contacts with me at all times.

I only do the headlight/taillight thing if I KNOW I'm riding between dusk and dawn. I use rechargeable systems, mostly for night riding off-road. If you're serious about night riding, you need a front headlight rated at about 7 watts minimum for road, 10 watts minimum for off-road.

Answer 2

BigEz has it, and will get my vote for best answer, I'm just going to toss in a couple things.

1. Its even more important to have this stuff when you're alone, with no group backup. Of course fast groups will generally leave you for dead, so there will be no one around to think you look foolish.

2. I wouldn't bother with a chain. If you're maintaining your bike properly, chains are pretty bulletproof. I don't think I've ever had chain failure on the road (I'm 54 and ride a LOT, and have for a LONG time). That's a failure I'm resigned to phoning in if it ever happens. If you're really worried about the chain, bring a little chain tool and a couple spare links or rivets. The whole chain CAN'T fail.

3. Slime = bad. Its not going to stop a real flat, and generally just clogs up your inflator stem. Been there, done that, decided it wasn't such a hot idea.

4. Think about caloric needs. Bonk gets noobs more often than mechanical failures. Most groups have a 'fuel stop' at some point on the ride. Take advantage of it, even if you're not hungry yet. A couple power bars and/or gels in a jersey pocket can save you from a slow ugly last few miles if it comes to that.

Answer 3

Mobile phone, ten pounds/dollars. Whistle and compas. Ordenance survey (Useful if you have to phone in your location if you can give a grid ref).

Right, thats the extreme emergency items. For ordinary rides though I would take a multi tool, a chain tool, two SRAM power links and a spare link of chain. A spare inner tube and tyre levers. A puncture repair kit. Bycycle pump. A hydration pack full of Go, an energy bar and jelly babies are useful as well. A shower proof fold up jacket is not a bad idea.

Now the head light question. Spare batteries for your leds are fine, but I would look at a halogen rechargable system NiMh would be viable. Look at Electron or Cat Eye systems.

Anyway, thats what I would take.

Silverbullet - It depends upon the type of riding that you do in relation to chain failure. Roadies do not tend to put their bikes into extreme conditions. However, if you are doing a lot of off road, especially in muddy conditions, you may find that the chain can wear quite quickly. I have had a chain die on me and have been on club rides where the same happens to other riders. Also, chains that jump off and get caught beteen the cogs and the frame can become damaged. Being able to replace a link can save a lot of wear on your drive train. I agree that you do not need to take a spare chain, but some links and a chain tool are useful.

Answer 4

It depends how long you plan to go for and how far away you're going to be from civilization. Honestly, unless you are going for very long rides and anticipate that it will be hard to get help should you need it, you probably don't everything you've listed.
I've biked long distances for many years, and I've found that I've been fully prepared for any kind of bike emergency with a pocket tool, tire levers, a patch kit (or spare tube, but usually a patch will suffice), small pump, and a chain breaker tool (although unless you're cranking up high mountains, the need for a chain breaker tool is rare, and you definitely don't need to carry an entire spare chain with you). Unless you're doing a lot of night riding, a headlight and taillight aren't necessary (and definitely not spare batteries).
As for non-bike related items, I usually carry an ID, my debit card, and a cell phone.
All of the above you should be able to fit into your under-seat bag (with your small pump attached to your bike). If you're bringing more than can fit in that, then you're overdoing it.

Answer 5

I ride between 100 and 200 miles a week. Sometimes alone, sometimes with a group. Here's what I take:

2 water bottles
A Credit Card
A cell phone (or make sure theres one in the group)
A spare tube
A little tube patch kit
Tire levers
A Co2 pump with 2 cartridges
A small set of allen wrenches that fold up

It all fits in my saddle bag (except my water bottles of course)

That's pretty much what everyone I ride with carries.

If you're riding alone you may want ID

As for headlight, taillight batteries, unless you're riding in the dark i wouldn't worry about it. I don't have lights or reflectors, but i only ride when its light outside.

Answer 6

What the heck kind of ride you going on - cross country or 30 miles?

My normal 30 mile circuit in the park I take H2O.

If I was doing 50-100 miles on the road in one day: a tube, frame pump, tire levers, phone, $50 and H2O - maybe a multi hex (allen) tool.

Answer 7

generally i carry two tubes, a small patch kit, a piece of duct tape folded over on itself to use as a tire boot in case it gets rubbed through. i carry a chain tool, in case chain comes apart, a spoke wrench in case i brake a spoke, allen wrenches and my cell phone. i figure they can figure out who i am with the phone if i am unable to respond, so i dont carry my license or anything. all of this fits in a small seat pack. i use compact pump. i had problems with those co2 fillers. if you dont use them in a long time and go to, you will find them empty even if they have never been used. i sometimes go years between flats, and when i finally needed it, my cartidge of co2 was dry. that's when i started carrying a pump instead. i gotta say, we've handled every emergency that has come up with that kit.

Answer 8

It depends on how far your going. If your planning for an all day trip take everything you listed except the chain. the odds of you chain breaking are slim, but also take like a camelpack, granola bars, and coins for a pay phone just in case. if its a short ride like 2 hours, just take the necessities; coins, cash, cellphone, water.

Answer 9

A cycle ride with Alex looks like a trip with David Hempleman-Adams.!!



Go with BigEz008.


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Answer 10

well you got almost every thing; you need 2 spare tubes (even if you have slime), water, food (snacks sandwiches), sunglasses, a helmet, a bike pump, and that is it. I take with me some spry lube just in case