Am I missing anything?

[BlackPanther]

I'd like to think that after almost 10 months of commuting to work, that I've acquired all the essentials. Helmet, gloves, neck warmer, decent jacket, waterproof trousers, twisty ties, and overshoes. Twin led lights front and rear with a tabard led vest, Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres (with slime tubes), spare inner tube and all the tools, pump, water bottle, dual panniers, lock, MP3 player (on quiet), D'arcs glasses. It takes quite a while to get ready, but I always get to work on time, dry, warm and surprised how quick the 45 minutes ride is over. It helps that I set off at 6.30, just in time for the Chris Moyles show!

I did think about a spare chain link, but I've done 4,000 miles without any break downs, (well one puncture before the Schwalbes) and I'm just about to replace the chain.

Does any one carry an essential piece of kit with them that I've overlooked?

 

[Trevrev]

Marathon plus tyres AND slime tubes !!!.........LOL. Paranoid of punctures are we?
You seem to have it all covered.

 

[biggs682]

i work on the basis of i am only 1.5 miles away so can alway push it home by the time i repair it so waterproofs only is all i carry

 

[potsy]

I'd like to think that after almost 10 months of commuting to work, that I've acquired all the essentials. Helmet, gloves, neck warmer, decent jacket, waterproof trousers, twisty ties, and overshoes. Twin led lights front and rear with a tabard led vest, Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres (with slime tubes), spare inner tube and all the tools, pump, water bottle, dual panniers, lock, MP3 player (on quiet), D'arcs glasses. It takes quite a while to get ready, but I always get to work on time, dry, warm and surprised how quick the 45 minutes ride is over. It helps that I set off at 6.30, just in time for the Chris Moyles show!

I did think about a spare chain link, but I've done 4,000 miles without any break downs, (well one puncture before the Schwalbes) and I'm just about to replace the chain.

Does any one carry an essential piece of kit with them that I've overlooked?

Some people would say you're missing a sense of taste and decency

(not me though,I'm a fan)

Sounds like you've got pretty much everything you could need,trouble is you only ever know for sure when something unexpected goes wrong.
I personally do carry a spare chain link and chain tool,similar time to you (45 mins) too far to walk that's for sure.

 

[numbnuts]

spare bike n+1

 

[Moodyman]

I did think about a spare chain link

In an ideal world this is a good idea, but not essentail as long as you've chain tool.

You can remove any dodgy links from your chain, and re-join the chain with a link or two short. This means that you'll be without some of the gears that use the bigger rings, but at least you'll be able to get home.

 

[magnatom]

Hi Viz. Absolutely essential......



(Magnatom lights the blue touchpaper, quickly mounts his bike and cycles off into the distance as fas as his ikle legs can muster.)

 

[Moodyman]

Latex gloves for roadside repairs. They weigh nowt and are invaluable if you've got to get your hands dirty.

They also keep your hands warm* in the cold weather.

* As opposed to bare hands

 

[BlackPanther]

Hi Viz. Absolutely essential......

Oh yes. A high viz with 16 flashing leds no less!
I also have the mother of all horns, a 115 db 'Thunder Horn' imported from Hong Kong. Pretty illegal (most are 85 db) but it's plenty loud enough for car drivers to hear. I also have a polite 'ding' bell for getting pedestrians attention. I did have to add an extra bar for all the bits and bobs! It looks like I've got 4 lights on front, but the one in the middle is a clip off torch so I can see to unlock the gate at work. Either side are running lights and the bottom one is on old suprbright 'head torch' for lighting up the road. 4 lights on front? That would just be silly! I'm also a bit of a reflective tape addict, but hey, better to be seen.

(Magnatom lights the blue touchpaper, quickly mounts his bike and cycles off into the distance as fas as his ikle legs can muster.)

 

[fossyant]

Hi Viz. Absolutely essential......



(Magnatom lights the blue touchpaper, quickly mounts his bike and cycles off into the distance as fas as his ikle legs can muster.)

Get those legs spinning........ hi viz. .... oh what a swear word.....

 

[Ivan Ardon]

I'd add a long (almost to the ground) mudflap to that front guard. It keeps the drivetrain surprisingly cleaner for much longer.

 

[taxing]

Er... a sense of adventure?

 

[henshaw11]

I must admit I've always carried a spare gear cable, sram link and chain tool (chain tool's the important one) - for offroad use as much as anything - but a breakdown on my commute could mean quite a long walk to a station, it's not like they're much weight.

Relevant allen keys ?
<Edit - oops, just spotted that you'd covered tools....>
I had a little incident earlier in the year - giving it some out of the saddle across a bridge nr the centre of town - and I pulled the rear wheel out of the dropout Went straight into the side of the bridge meshwork - wrecked the shoulder or my jersey (one of my favourites, didn't do much for the skin underneath either), two variously tweaked rims, one bust spoke and one very kinked disk rotor. Removed the disk rotor and carried on into work - without removing the rotor it would have been a mile or so carry back home.

 

[Norm]

Hi Viz. Absolutely essential......



(Magnatom lights the blue touchpaper, quickly mounts his bike and cycles off into the distance as fas as his ikle legs can muster.)

Unfortunately, as you are wearing hi viz, you can be seen from a long way off.

**Norm adjusts the sights to allow for the light breeze... **

 

[magnatom]

Unfortunately, as you are wearing hi viz, you can be seen from a long way off.

**Norm adjusts the sights to allow for the light breeze... **

Ah, but you've just proved that Hi-Viz works. Mmmm. Some nice circular logic there!