Weight of bike getting me down

[GoldDust]

I have a problemo

I have a nice hybrid bike which I use both on gravel paths and the road. It's nice but I also have too much stuff I feel like it's all weighing me down.

My list
■ Pump
■ u lock
■ repair kit
■ 2 inner tubes
■ chain links and chain tool
■ gloves
■ purse
■ keys
■ first aid kit
■ multi tool
■ gaffer tape
■ cycle glasses
■ cable lock
■ helmet
■ Basket
■ Backpack
■ phone
■ Rain jacket
■ waterproof cover for basket
■ Spare light batteries
■ lights/computer etc
■ Underwear when I take cycle shorts off
■ Inhaler
■ Ladies things ( time of month )


I'm sure there is stuff I've missed. Just feel like I am carrying the whole world around. Whenever I see other cyclists they seem to be just them and a bike!! What am I doing wrong??? Any tips for a lighter ride would be so appreciated.

 

[jonny jeez]

How far are you riding when you carry this list if kit?

Some hints to trim down. (unless you are commuting...your post doesn't make this clear)

Lock your house keys in the garage\shed and only carry your garage key...single.

Ditch the purse, take a card and a ten pound note.

Ditch the repair kit and pump, just take a spare tube, a strip of sticky patches and a co2 inflator

Do you need to lock the bike, if jot drop the dlock

Check the weather and carry nothing that you wont need for weather protection

 

[Ganymede]

Are you commuting, or otherwise "utility" cycling? Or just going out for a ride? Since you're carrying undies I assume there is a destination! (fellow female here).

I carry quite a lot around - I use my bike to visit my aged Ma and tend to have stuff to deliver to her strapped onto the rack rather than carried on my back. I think the more you can put on the bike the better - stuff on your back feels more immediately heavy to me (especially if I've been to the farm shop and what is actually on my back is a bag of potatoes!).

If you are just out for a ride I am sure you can reduce this load.

Also, some of what you're carrying seems excessive to me - gaffer tape, spare light batteries (though this depends on your distance), basket AND backpack? Think back to previous rides and how much you actually need the things you take. I also have a separate set of bike keys which mean I don't have to carry house keys - they have one back door key on so I can get back indoors.

Are you spinning or grinding? ie are you using your lower gears enough?

To be honest, if you are commuting and need to take a lot of stuff with you, you are kinda stuck with it. Remember a lot of the people you see out are just trying to clock up miles at high speed and have pared themselves down to as little as possible for that very purpose. Then you encounter someone who's touring and you think how on earth can they get moving with those panniers!

 

[mickle]

Get puncture proof tyres and self sealing tubes. Then discard the tubes, patches and pump. Lose the chain and chain tool. And the gaffer tape. Get some security skewers for wheels and seat and you can ditch the cable lock. Having binned that little lot you can probably lose the backpack.

Choose lightweight underwear?

 

[FrankCrank]

...that's an incredible payload. I have a mobile phone and my house keys, but am rarely more than an hour from home on a typical jaunt.

I'm assuming you are a female of the species, but even so you ought to be able to throw caution to the wind and discard most of these superfluous things......

 

[Andrew_P]

Crikey that looks more like a Zombie Apocalypse survival list than a going out for a bike ride!

 

[Andrew_P]

On a more help note I have cycled with only a tubes, multi tool, pump or CO2 and a phone for loads of miles and always got home.

 

[summerdays]

That looks quite normal for me except I'd have gloves and spare gloves, layers to put on, tissues, lip salve, etc and I'm very good at etc!!

Then every now and again I just go out for a short ride without anything and enjoy it, till I'm back to my normal self trying to be prepared!

 

[TissoT]

The only Item missing off your list is the "kitchen sink"
Trimming it down a little would help you , Try riding with 10 items that are really essential

 

[numbnuts]

That's not much I carry all this

1 P*ncture repair kit
1 allan keys
1 set of tyre levers + 2 spare
3 inner tubes
Folding tyre
Tyre patches
1 small head torch in winter
marigold gloves
Small length of chain (3 inches)
1 small chain tool
Spare spokes
Kevlar spoke
hypercracker
Spare nuts, bolts, powerlinks
Wire cutters
Pliers
Adjustable 100mm & 150mm spanners
2 small screw drivers
Small sockets to fit screw driver handle
First aid kit with triangular bandage paracetamol, co-codamol, gaviscon tablets
Batteries for rear light and computer
Small tyre pump (not mini)
1 Co2 pump
Zip ties
spare keys for house, bike locks
Phone
Pen and paper
10 sheets of kitchen roll
Very small bottle of hand cleaner
Insulation tape
£5 in small change
Small roll of gaffer tape
Brake and gear cables
Spare bite valve for camalbac
Small roll string
Spare gloves

 

[samsbike]

Just tubes, pump and tool for me.

 

[mjr]

It depends. If I can't be late, then I carry a lot of that (never helmet or backpack and even I think two tubes and a repair kit is a bit much and I'm riding along a glass strewn section of the A10, although I do have armoured tyres) but if I don't mind walking home if the bike's really broken, I trim it down to locks and keys plus whatever's needed for the destination (usually wallet and papers or computer). Next step up would add a minimal toolkit, sticky patches and micro pump (which is a nuisance to use but better than being unable to reinflate).

I'd keep the medium kit in your everyday bike bag (to put in basket or on the rack) and save the full kit for longer rides or when you absolutely don't want a mechanical to delay you much.

 

[Yazzoo]

If i'm on my road bike I have a seat post bag containing a spare tube and tyre levers - can't be arsed with trying to patch up punctures at the side of the road, just stick it in your pocket and deal with it at home. I also have a spare back door key that lives in the bag so I never forget/get locked out etc. I don't tend to lock this one anywhere so don't have a lock on it, if theres a cafe stop theres generally a lot of us and bikes in view at all times. Bike has USB rechargeable lights fitted that i'm generally good at remembering to charge, also have a cheap battery rear light clipped on bag for emergencies or extra dark/foggy times. Mini pump fixed to frame.

I carry my phone in my jersey pocket, usually with a £20note or bank card tucked in it for emergencies (cake). I also have a little rain jacket that packs down small that i'll put in another jersey pocket if the weather looks questionable and a tissue in the last pocket. If it's a particularly long ride or i know its awful terrain I'll occasionally stick a second tube in my pocket - touch wood never had two go at once but just to be sure!

If you're using your bike for commuting or shopping you may need some things that you have extra over me, compared to some I see I thought I travelled heavy!

 

[xxDarkRiderxx]

Hmm, You seem to be carrying a lot of stuff, but a lot depends on what type of riding you are doing. i.e. Commuting leisure etc and how far . I am also an asthmatic and ex cancer bone marrow patient.

Leisure Cycle/ Club Cycle (Check the weather so I know what I will probably need in terms of clothes)

• Pump
• Repair Kit
• 1 Inner Tube
• Gloves (dependent on weather)
• House Key (I have a big bunch but just remove the house key when cycling)
• £20 Pound note (covers the extortionate price of coffee or cab to nearest station)
• Cycle glasses (sometimes)
• Helmet

Commuting. (As above and including the following)

• D-Lock
• Underwear & work clothes
• Lights
• Phone
• Wallet

I think some of the medical stuff you are carrying if you don't mind me saying might be overkill. If you have a slightly serious accident then I am sure some kind person will phone the ambulance for you. Yep you need to carry women's stuff. I used to carry an inhaler but realized that if I am getting tight chested or having an attack on a ride then I am not managing my asthma correctly. Maybe using it before you ride is better.

Never had a chain failure in 35 years of cycling, very rare I would have thought.

Hope this helps.

 

[annedonnelly]

Presumably you're wearing some of these things? If you need the glasses wear them - if not leave them at home.

If you're commuting can you leave some of the stuff at work? Undies, etc and just take in a new stock once a week or something. I have a whole change of clothes at work in case I get very wet.

Sounds like you're one of those people who likes to be well prepared. I don't even own a first aid kit - just a box of plasters and a tube of Germolene ;-)