Beginner's Audax kit - What would you take?

[badgerjockey]

So, I've got the bike, now I want to work up to my first century and complete a couple of audaxes this year.

Trouble is, what do I need in the way of kit?

I am guessing some sort of a bag, either racked or saddle is necessary - what do people use?

Off the top of my head, this is what I'd put in it:

-flapjacks
-skittles
-multi-tool
-spare tube(s)
-waterproof shell
-pump or air cartridges
-map
-emergency tenner

anything else?

Cheers!

 

[Svendo]

Pen/pencil to write answers to information controls.
Tyre levers, it's always twice as difficult in the wild as in the kitchen/shed.
If long distance consider puncture repair kit (solution and patches or self adhesive patches).
Pump, CO2 cartridges optional extra.
Mobile Phone.
Consider a cash card.

 

[vernon]

That's more or less it.

 

[Banjo]

Unless your using GPS some sort of route card holder is usefull. Some people just elastic band them to their arm. I prefer to have it ontop of the stem on a homemade holder.,

 

[zacklaws]

-skittles

Skittles! Your supposed to be out for a flaming bike ride, not carrying a compendium of games with you and stopping by the road side now and again for a game of skittles, whatever next.

But what would come in useful as I have found on Audaxes, is a waterproof map holder, and also a lamminator for laminating route cards, providing you get them at home before you ride. It always seems to rain on Audaxes.

 

[Baggy]

Think the above posts have it covered, although I also take Ibuprofen, wet wipes and workshop gloves.

 

[ACS]

Chain power links
Cable ties
Toe straps (emergency strapping; handy for lashing things down)
Spare brake / gear cable
tyre boots

Sun tan lotion if taking part in a Scottish event

 

[badgerjockey]

Brilliant, thanks for all this.

And what bag do you all pack it into??

H

 

[rusty bearing]

Have used a Camelback before but now I've got a nice shiny Tortec rack and use a top bag on that. Got a good deal so I couldn't resist.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Camping Stove/ gas / empty tin can for boiling water and ground coffee
Lights
Spare socks incase it rains (I hate wet feet)
Bonk food
Doss bag (extream distances only) though I did fail a audax once as I was so tired and fell asleep on a bench on the way home. I was cold and had'nt taken my doss bag.

 

[ACS]

I use a Carradice Barley hung off a Brooks B17 supported by a Bagman Support - Sport

The support stops the bag swinging around.

 

[yello]

You've got most of it but, yes, tyre levers are an essential.

Levels, multi-tool, tube(s) and patch kit should go in a small saddle pack - nothing fancy, several makes to choose from and all do the same job. If you look at one of the brand names (Topeak, etc) then you can't go far wrong. You could just pop into your LBS and buy whatever they've got. You could save a couple of quid buying on-line but I'd not bother at that price (£10-£15).

I personally use the medium sized Ortleib saddle bag but that's because I tend to carry more stuff for longer audaxes - you don't need something that big and expensive for a 100km.

For the other non-tool items, when I started audax I just fixed one of those 'bum bag' things to my bars. Plenty big enough for brevet card, phone, cash, phone card, camera, munchie bars, pen, etc. In fact, I used the same bag for several years. I didn't buy a 'proper' bar bag until a couple of years ago... which I wouldn't actually use for a 100 these days, I just carry everything else in my jersey pockets!

Without wishing to sound blasé or gung-ho, you don't really need a lot of stuff for a 100km audax. Little more than you'd take with you all the time (certainly tools & tubes-wise). The biggest factor is weather - do you need an extra layer/waterproof etc? In good and stable weather, you can pretty much stick stuff in your shirt pockets and go.

 

[vorsprung]

If you are doing a 100km or 200km ride then take the usual stuff with you for fixing a flat and tightening up the bolts
300km the same but most times of year you need to be able to read the map in the dark, lights on the bike, spare batteries etc become an issue
400km and up the clothing needed is the extra, as you are going round the clock and the weather may change you need something for all seasons

 

[PpPete]

One advantage of a bar bag is that they often have a transparent top - supposedly for maps, but in reality, whilst too small for maps, they are often right size for a route sheet. I've been using a cheap & cheerful one that I got off ebay for a £5 - and subsequently modified with a R&K bracket. It has worked very well for my first couple of seasons audax (100 km and 200 km ) so long as I resist the temptation to overfill it.

 

[User169]

I'd carry an ID card with an emergency contact number and any medication requirements.