I've got a bit of a thing for carrying loads of stuff around on longer rides. "Longer rides" is a pretty moveable feast. It can mean:
- Erm, longer rides. Like maybe over 100km or when I'm on my own or going somewhere where there isn't a Tesco's every five miles;
- Rides where I feel responsible for someone, or a group of people;
- If I'm riding with people I don't know, or don't trust to be able to fix their own bike;
Anyway, I carry my Sticky Pod and cram it with stuff. It'll fit in my back pocket still. Although sometimes I stick it in a frame bag, if I'm doing a longer thing. Anyway. Here's what's in it. I don't always carry everything, but this is more or less the full kit.
A multitool. This one's a Merida one, with a chain splitter and some just-about-functional spoke keys. It's quite flat so it fits in the Sticky Pod nicely. Sometimes I swap it out for a Tern Tool, which has a pedal spanner so it's handy if you need one.
An inner tube. I run tubeless on my bike that I do long rides on. This one's a lightweight 700C tube; if I'm on 650 wheels i tend to put a bigger tube in there, still a 700c one that works in a pinch in a 650 but will also patch up someone else's 700c bike.
Tyre levers. The Tern tool has tyre levers built in which'll do if you're desperate but these Park Tool ones are much better for roadside repairs.
Spare lube. it says Muc-Off C3 on the tube but I've filled it back up a few times with whatever's in the shed. Although actually I might have filled it back up with Muc-Off cause I have about a gallon of that. I can't remember.
A mini pump. Most mini pumps are pretty average to be honest. This SKS Spaero isn't: it has a proper screw-on hose and you can get 100psi in a tyre.
A CO2 inflator. I don't always carry both but sometimes it's handy to have one quick change in your kit if you need it. Especially if it's horrible out.
A survival blanket. Again, not all the time. But on a really long one, or in a big group, it can be a handy thing to have. I haven't used it yet but I take that as a good thing.
Antiseptic wipes and plasters. I've used these a bunch of times though. Last time when I was riding back from Exeter and made a mess of a junction.
Puncture repair kit. The contents of a Rema Tip Top touring kit decanted into one of the pockets. Except for the little rubber tube for repairing your Woods valve. Anyone ever used that?
Tyre boot and instant patches. A tyre boot is handy, though less so now fivers are made out of plastic and you can just use one of them. The instant patches I didn't even know were in there, to be honest. As you can see from the puncture kit above, I'd need to have a pretty bad day before I needed them.
Quick link. It never hurts to have a spare one of these. I've needed it more than once. For other people's bikes generally.
Tubeless repair kit. This one's a Maxalami kit with the tool Dremeled down a bit to make it smaller. So far I haven't needed it. Although I have used someone else's when I didn't have one of my own.
Needle and dental floss. Amazing what you can fix with a needle and dental floss. Floss is super strong, and it's waxed so it's easy to pull through stuff. I've fixed a shoe with it, and a rip in someone's tyre sidewall. You could probably give yourself stitches. I wouldn't recommend that, I guess.
Spare cable. A gear cable will do as a brake cable in a pinch if you carry a washer that'll stop it pulling through the lever. So you really only need one. Unless you're really unlucky.
And that's it! Except for a fiver for a coffee. Or to use as a tyre boot. What's in your kit?
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Agreed. I only starting carrying a mylar survival blanket recently. They cost buttons for a handful online.
The survival blanket is a good idea. With the increasing demands on the ambulance service if you're not having a heart attack or suffered a head injury you'll be a long way down the list for pick up in the event you have an "off" and can't cycle to help.
I had been meaning to ask if the new plastic 5 and 10 pound notes work as well as the old linen ones as very emergency tyre boots?
So it's just me with Jubilee clips then?
i doubt it. actually there's usually a couple of zip ties in there i just remembered. I used them and didn't replace them
I’ve also used a hexus ii to repair a chain. It definitely works.
No paramedic kit, but similar apart from...
roll of electrical adhesive tap
folding tyre
Hollowtech II spinny thing
Brooks saddle cover
gear and brake cable
cable lock
spare derailleur hanger (oh, and make sure you have a hex key long enough to remove your rear mech and the right hex key to remove the hanger from the frame).
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I did have an emergency mech hanger in there, which was cool - it replaces the quick release nut so it'll fit on any bike with a quick release (albeit with a more limited gear range)
I don't know where it's gone though, and it wouldn't work on the Tripster anyway cause it has a 12mm thru axle. i should get a spare hanger really.
And, just because...
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Its odd, that I've never even considered carrying medical stuff (plasters, survival blanket, etc). Mind you, the bulk of my riding is commuting. Wonder if I ought to, just in case...
I've never understood why chain breakers are fitted onto multitools. In order to use the chain breaker fitted onto the multitool you have to use an Allen key (usually) to wind it. But the Allen key is also on the multitool, and not on some sort of extendable wire. So you have to carry another Allen key to use the chain breaker on your multitool... Am I missing a trick here?
(That said, I know I've got a spare master link / quick link in my tool roll even though I don't carry a chain breaker...).
My Topeak Multitool has an Allen Key Head built into one of the removable tyre levers, which is to be used for the chain breaker.
I've never had to use it though so don't know if it's strong enough.
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Ah: I am missing a trick! Clearly a case of RTFM - I actually had one of those years ago (but lost the tyre levers in any case and bought a separate pair), but I'd never noticed the Allen head built into them... (embarrassed).
Can confirm that it does work.
the merida tool above has a captive chain breaker that doesn't require a separate allen key. the tern tool has an allen key head attached to one of its tyre levers that you use to drive it.
Twine for stubborn chain link removal even though I carry master links for 8,9,10, 11 speed chains and a chain tool.
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Ooo. that's a nice idea
I think I bought my sticky pod on your recommendation Dave, and the contents of mine are very similar too.
Having had bad luck with spokes of late, I'm about to add one of these emergency spoke things.
And some advice: Check your minipump once in a while. I had to use mine in anger for the first time in years the other day and it can barely have managed 40psi, which made for a very cautious roll back to a LBS for a borrow of their track pump.
Whilst not a cleanliness freak, I always carry a pair of disposable gloves and a sealed hand wipe.
+1 for gloves - nice black ones give a more professional look! (Also, don't chuck them in a hedge when you're done - take them back home and dispose of properly!)
Ibuprofen and antihistamine tablets - lifesavers on multiple occasions...
I have gloves in my Carradice, probably I should have a pair in the sticky pod too. I've carried ibuprofen in the past too, although at the moment i'm trying not to use it after being sick in a hedge one too many times
at least 11 punctures and a crash all covered.
Must organise me saddle bag!
Im 2 punctures and a broken chain only