You may know the lucky seven items you should always have with you on a bike ride: spare tube, tire levers, patch kit, pump/CO2, ID card, multi-tool and cell phone.
But there are lots of other strange and wonderful things that people carry along with them that to make their bike rides safer, more comfortable or more convenient.
Below are lists submitted by experienced cyclists of "everything else" that they carry with them while they ride. For organization's sake, we've sorted them into three broad categories -- bike tools, gadgets and gizmos, and personal care items. Take a look at what's below. You'll enjoy seeing what people carry in their pack and what you might consider taking with you too next time you ride.
Bike Tools
- Zip ties - for binding broken spokes, patching together broken chains, etc.
- Duct tape - for patching cuts in tires
- Adjustable wrench
- Needle-nose pliars
- Spoke wrench
- Lube
- Knife
- Chain tool - "It has saved my butt more times than I can count."
Personal Care Items
- Kleenex/toilet paper
- Aspirin
- Reading glasses - "You need these if you are over fifty. Try to fix a chain if you can’t see!"
- Large hankie - for mopping sweat, wiping hands, binding up wounds, etc.
- Energy food - Kashi Bar, Clif bar, gel shots, etc.
- Coffee card
- Bottle opener
- First aid kit/band-aids
- Sunscreen
- Tampon - "sometimes Mother Nature catches me off guard"
- Disposable poncho
- Asthma inhaler
- Injector for bee stings
Gadgets and Gizmos
- iPod
- Digital Camera
- Handheld GPS device
- Garage door opener
- USB thumb drive - "for carrying work documents back and forth"
- Spare batteries - for headlights and tail lights
