10 Things To Take On Every Bike Ride

Whether you want to avoid mechanical disaster, keep warm or pay for a coffee, here are the ten things that we think you should take on every bike ride.

This list of items is by no means exhaustive, but, we think that it'll keep you out of trouble and get you out of trouble.

Is there anything that you'd add to this list? Let us know down in the comments.

10. Patches and a puncture repair kit
9. Energy bars, gels, homemade flapjack etc
8. Money
7. A multitool
6. A water bottle
5. Inner tubes
4. Tyre levers
3. A pump
2. Some form of ID/identification
1. Your mobile phone
Bonus: Raincape

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Music
Mikey Bruce, James Green - Crash & Burn

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Leave us a comment below!

[MrPoldekrosmol]

I had a broken mini-pump on my tour-cycling holiday in Scotland this year, besides all those items you need a LOT of luck. A guy, the local bikeshop owner I think it was from Blackburn (it was a sunday so the shop was closed), stopped to ask if he could help me while I was walking in the middle of nowhere with my fully packed bike, he pumped up my tire and GAVE me his pump. It still is my most prized souvenier I have from scotland, and EVERY time I see my pump on the side of my bike I remember how a complete stranger helped me out BIG TIME. It was the first day of my first touring holiday, and I was ready take a plane back home untill this man helped me.

[memimatumama]

1 water
2 inner tube
3 ID
4 a friend with all the rest

[sport]

Glasses. Some sort of eye protection between me and the dust, bugs, dirt, and wind that allows me to see while moving at 20 mph seems like a pretty important thing to always ride with. Clear lenses for a cloudy day, dark lenses for a bright one.

[matthewkluge]

I usually like to take a flare with me so the chopper can find me and take back to base .

[KylePolansky]

A friend used his phone to watch GCN's how to change a flat video on the side of the road after his first ever puncture. Now he can change a tire quicker than anyone else I know.

[helmutbreuer]

the mobile phone is realy important. on my last ride my wife called me, and told me that i forgot my water bottles, haha. have a nice weekend, guys.

[thisApexD]

- Spare
- Patches
- Multitool (with chain tool)
- Mini pump
- Paper tissue
- Quick link
- Chain pin
- Tire leavers
- Presta / Schrader adapter

All this I pack into 1 water bottle, same size and type as they have (opening is big enough). I just dont like saddle bag haha.

[adamperry]

I live in the USA and one thing I always bring is my AAA card because included with my membership is 2, free roadside bike rescues. I had the membership for years for my car before even reading the benefits and seeing that there was a bike benefit too!

[panzerveps]

I never go for a bike ride without my bike.

[hackerhacker]

0:22 patches & puncture repair kit
0:39 energy (extra)
0:58 money
1:45 multi tool
2:06 water bottle
2:32 inner tubes (not punctured)
2:58 humble tile leather
3:33 mini pump
4:08 identification (ID card)
4:35 smartphone

Extra
5:55 humble rain jacket

[Dhungerf]

I also have a "Chain Quick-Link" in my bag. I consider the Helmet, lights, camera as standard equipment as part of the bike.

[danlangevin]

As an occasional bike tour leader (and always in my own time), I've found it handy to have a super small Victorinox Rambler knife with scissors, bottle opener and screw drivers. I also keep a small keychain size flashlight. Light tech has come along way and there are keychain sized lights out there that take up practically no space/weight that could make all the difference in the world if you have to do any road-side work in the dark. I also have a mini-first aid kit that fits in a mini-altoids tin and includes a disinfectant/antiseptic wipe and band-aid, an asprin (heart attack), an ibuprofin (inflammation) an acetaminophen (fever reducer). The above-mentioned items all fit a small saddle bag along with pretty much everything you mentioned in your video. Oh, after reviewing other people's comments...I also have an extra contact lens in the shuffle.

[shenava]

I recently had a puncture and my mini pump failed. Stuck at the ride of the road I had to wait for assistance but the only pump they had was for a schraeder valve not the presta valve on my bike. So, I would say that one very small but potentially useful item is a presta-schraeder valve adapter....just incase.

[veedubklown]

Great video! I actually carry EVERYTHING you've listed in the video, in a camelback. It holds 2 liters of water, as well. My cycling is mostly commuting, so I carry a few extra things as well.
Bike lock
Spare key for my lock
Headlight and tail light, if they're not already on the bike I'm riding
Spare batteries for my lights
Clear glasses
Deodorant
Super glue
Chain lube
Caffeine pills
electrical tape
Toilet paper (Just enough to tightly roll into a small tube)
Spare bandana

All that kit and my camel back full, the whole bag weighs 12lbs. It also has the items listed in the video like multi-tool, pump, tire levers, spare tube and patch kits, blah blah blah. It's a bit weighty, but, I rode 50 miles across the arizona desert last weekend, and I wasn't worried about much.

[brisfocus]

top ten unwritten things the GCN boys take on their rides...
1) Dan - hair brush, gel and a mirror
2) Matt - laugh in a box (he doesn't own a hair brush - at all)
3) Lasty - the book Fifty Shades of Pale
4) Si - phone so he can chuckle away at himself in the GCN video's

[narutoqweavatar]

I disagree on the water and food. I think water is necessary on any ride longer then a few miles. Food on the other hand I feel you don't need for a ride shorter then 90 mins. That is just my opinion.

[waynemv]

I always carry a bike lock with me as I never know when I might want to add an unplanned stop where I'd need it.

[MadPandaSage]

A USB battery pack would great partner to any cell/mobile devices. It saved me a couple of times and I even used it to charge my USB lights. Tons of variety out there but they are usually small and lightweight. Prices vary of course.

[BrunoZub]

Video suggestion: Top 10 useless thing to bring in a ride!

[luissyquia]

garmin/head unit! if it's not on strava it didn't happen