Carrying mobile and keys

[Fab Foodie]

As above, I hate carrying around big bunches of keys so I have my keyring set up so that I can easily remove my front door key, cafe lock key, and strangely a bottle opener, to reduce bulk.

This^^^^
And the bottle opener IS essential equipment.

 

[RickyB]

I have a small wedge bag that clips onto the back of my saddle. When I bought it three years ago, it came with tyre levers, a puncture repair kit, and a complicated multi-tool. It cost £4.99 from Lidl. I still use the saddle bag and the tool.
You really don't have to spend a fortune on these minor bits and bobs. Save your money for your bike.

Oh ok that's brilliant, expected big prices for a minute. Cheers

 

[Fab Foodie]

Save your money for your bike.

...beer.
There, must have been a typo ....

 

[HovR]

Wow I don't have any of that! How much would the tube levers, multi tool, chain repair and pump set me back do you think?

Think I got my chain tool from Asda for ~£4, it even came with some quick links too. I just use the tire levers from a Halfords puncture repair kit (I believe they're glass-nylon reinforced, or atleast they used to be, so half decent) which you can get from between £2 to £4 depending on the size of the kit.

I buy the "LifeLine" branded tubes off Wiggle.co.uk, which are around £5 for a pack of two, or otherwise tubes are around a fiver each in town. I believe Halfords sell the Topeak Pocket-Rocket pump for around £18 to £20 in store, but I spent a bit extra and got the Topeak Road Morph, which I find much easier to get up to full pressure with.

Multi-tools start at around a tenner, but it's not quite so important to have if there will be other riders around (and it's worth considering, would you know how to use it if you did have a mechanical issue?).

The most important stuff to have is the stuff required to fix a puncture, as that is the mechanical you're most likely to have. And be sure you know how to use it! Obviously prices will vary depending on whether you're shopping at a chain store, LBS, online etc - but the basics don't have to be too wildly expensive.

To be honest, you don't even need a saddle bag to begin with. Phone in one pocket, small lock in the middle pocket with keys, and innertube and tire levers in the final pocket. Pump goes on the frame with the included mount!

 

[RickyB]

Thanks, I take it tubes come in all different sizes, does it say on the tyre what size mine will be? (Yes I am a complete novice ha ha) and how do I know what pressure my tyres should be?

 

[slowmotion]

...beer.
There, must have been a typo ....

A quite outrageous slur on my character! I shall instruct my lawyers in the morning, arrange a police raid, and have already informed the BBC. Could you start an angry thread on CycleChat to condemn me?

 

[HovR]

Yep, tubes come in lots of different sizes. Looking at the bike in your profile picture, the tubes will either be 700c x 23 or 700c x 25. The 700c being the wheel size and the 23 or 25 being the thickness of the tire in mm. You can double check this by looking on the side of the tire, it should tell you the dimensions.

The box for the tubes will say something like 700c x 18-25, as the tube can be used for that range of tire thicknesses. And you want presta valve (although I'm not sure they make any other valve types in that size!).

The pressure max pressure should also be written on the sidewall of your tire, although you don't necessarily want the max pressure as it could be a harsh ride depending on your weight. 100psi is normally a good place to start (again, assuming I guessed your tire size correctly!).

 

[RickyB]

Yep, tubes come in lots of different sizes. Looking at the bike in your profile picture, the tubes will either be 700c x 23 or 700c x 25. The 700c being the wheel size and the 23 or 25 being the thickness of the tire in mm. You can double check this by looking on the side of the tire, it should tell you the dimensions.

The box for the tubes will say something like 700c x 18-25, as the tube can be used for that range of tire thicknesses. And you want presta valve (although I'm not sure they make any other valve types in that size!).

That's excellent, thanks for the, much needed, help

 

[HovR]

And the bottle opener IS essential equipment.

Agreed, it's also the latest in bottle opener technology! No extra grams here.

That's excellent, thanks for the, much needed, help

No problem!

 

[Saluki]

Ok haha I don't plan on riding upside down, just worry about it flying out but I guess it won't. Will probably look into and buy a saddle bag. I only want/need my phone is because it has my Srava app on it.

I've never lost a phone, or anything else from my jersey pockets. I stick my front door key in the little pouch/pocket thing that's in my saddle bag. Never lost that either.
You are overthinking things

 

[slowmotion]

Break free. Dump the phone.

 

[vickster]

Slightly off topic. Why do people need to carry bunches of keys? Isn't the front door key the only one that needs carrying? Why lug around the shed key that you needed twenty years ago, or all the rest of the security crap that accumulates? On the bike, I need front door, cafe lock and sometimes a D-lock. The rest is ballast.

My front doors have 3 locks

 

[G3CWI]

Ok haha I don't plan on riding upside down, just worry about it flying out but I guess it won't

It might. It depends on how aero you get. I lost an iPhone from my jersey pocket on a time trial. I now have a topeak tri-bag.

 

[Berties]

I keep my phone in a Aqua PAC around my neck all year on rides , totally waterproof , you won't loose it and you can keep a key and money in it as well

 

[Mo1959]

My front doors have 3 locks

HMP where?