Minimum kit list for a short(ish) Sunday social ride with mates

[Sharky]

You are going to be popular, p1ssing about at the roadside with patches on a short ride. Repair patches are for all day rides

If you think patching at the roadside is an ordeal .......

In the days of "tubs", I used to carry one or two spare tubs AND a repair kit, containing patches etc, razor blade, needle & thread and a thimble and I had to repair a tub by the roadside on more than one occasion.

 

[jonny jeez]

Three hours duration tops.

What's the least you would take, excluding items of clothing, what would you generally take it in? Want to reduce my former everything and the kitchen sink tendencies.

I'm thinking

Spare tubes x 2 to fit my tyres
Co2
Pump (on bike)
Tyre levers
Multitool
£20 note
debit card
mobile phone
All of above in small saddle pack
Etrex (on stem)

What essentials are missing?

I'm looking forward to running down the tyres on my single speed,,when I'll replace them with tannus.

Then, it's keys, phone and wallet .

 

[Smokin Joe]

Two rolls of handlebar tape in case those on the bike get grubby and a bottle of wash & wax in case you ride through a puddle.

One has to have standards.

 

[tyred]

I would leave behind one tube add a puncture kit and a quick link or chain tool, if you break the chain you're knackered unless you can fix it.. Personally I tend to take everything but the kitchen sink.

That's a lesson I learned recently, oddly enough on a 3 speed. The traditional circlip type joining link must have come undone and fell out. Why that decided to happen when the chain hadn't been split in several years is anyone's guess but I couldn't find the missing parts on the road despite looking for ages and the end result was having to hitch a lift from a passing car most of the way home, walking the rest and getting my own car to collect the bike.

 

[Drago]

If it doesn't fit inside the handlebars, it doesn't go.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Bicycles. One each, probably.

 

[Bollo]

A pack of pornographic playing cards. Very versatile.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I would leave the co2, take a decent mini track pump: not for the puncture you never get, but for others with a lesser pump - they will get punctures.
One of my bottles that goes with me on longer rides has a mini tool, some cable ties, some electrical tape, tyre levers, a chain tool with some spare links, a pair of latex gloves, some self adhesive patches, a pair of latex gloves.
I only need one bottle usually, if I need more I refill.
Everybody brings an inner suitable for his bike.
I would keep the card for emergencies, only take a tenner cash and some change.

 

[I like Skol]

View attachment 348837
I have always carried;
1-2 bottles on bike,
mini pump on bike,
topeak 18+ multi tool with chain tool,
3 park tool levers, (never know when one could break,)
2 tubes, 1 for mountain biking, if I puncture I'll buy new tube en route to keep my compliment up,
pack of self adhesive paches,
a few cable ties,
small cave lock,
two spare rubber straps for my light mounts,
little bag with 2 each of 9,10 & 11 speed quick links.Ready for all my bikes.
Keys.
All in a topeak aero wedge saddle bag with room to spare.

Not really a lot to look at to cover most eventualities.

Edit to add phone and money and card in pocket.

Two spare bands for your lights? That is massively excessive don't you think, surely one will do?

If you think patching at the roadside is an ordeal ........

Not really, but damp/wet conditions can cause adhesion issues and that 5 minutes waiting for the glue to dry will feel like an eternity when you have 4 or 5 impatient mates waiting to continue the ride. Much better to patch at leisure once home unless otherwise necessary.

 

[Salty seadog]

Two spare bands for your lights? That is massively excessive don't you think, surely one will do?

TBH they don't break often but I have two lights front and one rear. Hardly massively excessive at under 10g each. It's just good to know they are there. It's not like they are made of concrete and 10" square.
As you can see the whole ensemble would not weigh in at much if that's a concern.

 

[Welsh wheels]

Coming to think of it, one or two plasters and other first aid stuff might be a good idea. If you have an off but aren't seriously hurt to warrant a trip to hospital, you might still get road rash and lacerations. It would be better to be able to bandage and clean them then and there rather than cycle home 50 miles bleeding slightly. Preaching to myself here as well, I've never thought about the consequences of a minor off a long way from home.

 

[jefmcg]

A group of 50 people riding 80 miles will probably have at least one.

Yeah, but they won't get 100*, , which is why one tube each is plenty.

*ok, if they do get 100 then they probably have bigger things to worry about, like the approaching nuclear winter or hoards of ravenous zombies.

 

[vickster]

Waitrose card and a quid for something to go with the no longer free coffee and a bike

 

[Banjo]

Carry spare tubes in jersey pockets to leave room for phone and money / cards in the bag where more secure. Also the tubes wont injure you in a crash.

 

[ColinJ]

Also the tubes wont injure you in a crash.

Probably not, but if you have a tube with a long valve stem*** and it isn't folded so the stem is surrounded by layers of tube, I could see a potential 'kidney punctured by valve stem' outcome ... I have heard of cyclists being injured by various objects carried in jersey pockets.

When I say things like that, people normally suggest that it would be almost impossible for that to happen. Impossible, like riding over a nail and have it go sideways through a tyre and the inner tube, without the tyre going flat? whistle:

*** like the one in the photo kindly provided by Simon in the next post! Having that valve stem shoved into your lower back would not be much fun ...