What’s in your pouch?

[vvill]

I almost always have on me a spare tube, 2 levers and a pump. The pump isn’t in the bag. My bikes all have at least one rear light permanently attached and I usually keep a very small front light (e.g. the BikeArlington ones) with me too just in case.
Generally I travel with my driver’s licence, a credit card and my cell phone too, tho I will only put those in the under-seat bag if I’m on a recreational ride (as opposed to a commute).

If I’m going for a longer ride I’ll add a multi-tool, patch kit and cash (usually in a zip-lock bag with my phone/cards). I should probably add a spare chain link but I’ve never used one before and only vaguely remember seeing a chain tool used once during a ride.

I usually try to have something that might work as a boot now as well (a dollar bill) since I blew out a tire not that long ago (americancyclo helped me out with a folded receipt as a boot).

[KLizotte]

New road bike has a super tiny frame which means little real estate to attach anything. My under the saddle pack is small due to rack getting in the way; in it I carry:

Tube
Lever
Patch kit
CO2 cartridge & inflater

That takes up every molecule of space unfortunately.

In jersey pockets I usually carry phone, keys, driver’s license, health insurance card, metro card, $10-$20 bill, kleenex, and mini pump. I’ve started carrying my business cards too since they can be used in case of an accident (as a witness or participant).

If I’m using panniers or my big basket on my commuter hybrid, I include multitool, disposable rubber gloves, bandaids, single serve Neosporin, baby wipes, and a disposable shower cap I got from a hotel (works great on the helmet when unexpected rain hits). This group of stuff I keep in a ziplock bag so I can move it from bike to bike easily.

[off2ride]

I don’t use the saddle bag but I do carry (on my beater steed)

Telescopic pump
Swiss Army Knife w/ the built in light (trick huh)
Spare Tube
Tire Levers
Flashlight (comes in handy when doing road side repairs in the winter months)
Spare Wind Vest

[DaveK]

I love that this topic on the index page is immediately below “Commuter Shorts”.

[Bilsko]

I’ve been using the Sci-Con pouches for a few years now and am a fan. They have a nice attachment mechanism so no straps to mess with – it just locks in to the saddle with a quarter twist and stays secure.
Looks like this: [ATTACH=CONFIG]1232[/ATTACH]

Its one of their smaller pouches, so not a lot of room inside:
2 levers integrated into the bag itself (they have a version with a multitool integrated but I didn’t go for that one)
1 Gorilla Multitool
1 tube
1 CO2
1 CO2–>Presta adapter
1 Basic patch kit
Looks like this:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1233[/ATTACH]

[brendan]

Everything important has been covered, but I’ll add:

1) It’s wise to have both a tube and a patch kit, sometimes you end up needing both. And the tire boot too!
2) Double check that you got the right valve type on the tube in addition to the right wheel size and tire width…I biked about 8 months without realizing that my backup tube was a schraeder, not a presta…oops.
3) A micro-sized hiking headlamp, just in case my front light dies or breaks. It can get really dark out there…
4) Not in the bike kit per se, but: I keep a cotton bandanna tied to the handlebars, primarily to clean salt/sweat off of my sunglasses and, occasionally, my phone.

Brendan

[5555624]

@brendan 23022 wrote:

2) Double check that you got the right valve type on the tube in addition to the right wheel size and tire width…I biked about 8 months without realizing that my backup tube was a schraeder, not a presta…oops.

Well, you can always carry a pump that accomodates both or more than one pump….

@brendan 23022 wrote:

3) A micro-sized hiking headlamp, just in case my front light dies or breaks. It can get really dark out there…

It’s also handy when fixing a flat in the dark.

[vvill]

@5555624 23027 wrote:

Well, you can always carry a pump that accomodates both or more than one pump….

I think he meant you can’t fit a schraeder tube into a presta drilled rim. Unless you carry a drill with you.

[GuyContinental]

@brendan 23022 wrote:

2) Double check that you got the right valve type on the tube in addition to the right wheel size and tire width…I biked about 8 months without realizing that my backup tube was a schraeder, not a presta…oops.

The other variation of this are 48mm vs 60mm presta stems- I was carrying 48s for a year after I bought a set of semi-deep dish wheels. When I eventually got a flat I was fortunate that a friend on the ride had a 60mm.

BTW this sort of thread is great! I was pretty content with my kit but due the best and brightest of BikeArlington I’ll add (somehow):
-Zip ties
-Benadryl
-Presta adaptor
-Cleat screw

I’ll still skip:
The boot (I’ve always made do with a Mylar wrapper of some kind- it’d be enough to limp to the nearest shop)
Med kit- there just isn’t room for anything approximating a decent kit. If I’m badly hurt there is no way that I’ll have enough, if it’s just road rash, I’ll bleed (I have excellent clotting skills)

[chuckb]

Not much to add to this, except that I go minimalist: tube, 2 tire levers, 2 CO2 cartridges and that tiny Genuine Innovations CO2 inflator.

One thing not mentioned so far: I have a small pair of folding magnifying glasses to help out my eyes “of a certain age”. Seriously, I can’t do fine repair work at all without them.

[Riley Casey]

So many good suggestions on ‘should haves’ and ‘gotta haves’, way more than I can contribute to. On the bike app front though I can recommend this wholeheartedly. Just be sure to open it after you download it as it downloads the images only after the app installs on your phone. Could be a nasty surprise when you find you need to download a few dozen high quality images on a low speed phone connection to fix that out of whack derailleur by the road side.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bike-repair/id382006079?mt=8

@rcannon100 22893 wrote:

… You can also download a bike repair app but I am not sure how good they are.

[brendan]

@chuckb 23118 wrote:

One thing not mentioned so far: I have a small pair of folding magnifying glasses to help out my eyes “of a certain age”. Seriously, I can’t do fine repair work at all without them.

Oh yeah, good point. I noticed my first problems with presbyopia last year…while working on the bike.

Brendan

[streetsmarts]

Reviving this old thread. What a great thread!

Q1: What do you carry in your saddle bag (I don’t do the jersey pouch) or pannier or backpack?
Me: Spare tube
Patch kit
Duct tape wrapped around pencil
Hand wipes
Pen (for marking where the puncture is on a flat tube)
Spare rear & front lights
Phone charger, cable
Medical type gloves for dealing with dirty chains

Q2 re pumps: I have not used a C02 Canister, and am not a fan because a. haven’t tried to use it yet (!) and b. they’re disposable. Still, i have one because a non-biker friend gave me one!!

Also, I have not fixed a flat on the road. I’m a noob still!

So talk to me about fixing flats on the road and what pump is best and not over $50!

I have a Lezyne Pressure Drive. Now part of it is missing. I see there are replacement seal kits. I think there are rubber seals/gaskets on 2 ends. I have one on one end, but not on the other. Why would they make something where the thing falls off when jumbled around in a bag! Maybe I should’ve mounted to the frame.

I know this sounds very basic, but hey, I’m still learning!

And yes, I will try to use both of my pumps soon, but most of my trips are local in DC and so I can catch a bus or metro if i get a flat!! and fortunately, after fixing several flats for others at Bike House, I do know how to patch or replace a tube!

[hozn]

This is always a good read. I like the idea of zip ties from above (I’d consider that on the MTB, anyway).

I am always trying to keep these as small as possible.

Road bike.
In the saddle bag (Lezyne Micro Caddy, Small – http://www.lezyne.com/product-orgnzrs-caddys-mcrocaddysm.php#.WtjBwtPwbUI):
– 1 tube
– 1 Pedros tire lever (https://pedros.com/products/tools/wheel-and-tire/tire-levers/), since one is all you need.
– 1 CO2+inflator
– 1 11sp quick link
– multi-tool with chain tool (https://www.crankbrothers.com/products/m19 – the only decent thing Crank Bros makes, IMO!)
– tubeless repair plugs (https://www.genuineinnovations.com/au/products/tools-accessories/tubeless-repair-kit.php)
– Park adhesive patches, just in case things get crazy.
– Maybe 1 nitrile glove; I can’t remember if I still have that in there.

In jersey pocket: pump. I’m using this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019V1PW5G/ref=twister_B01MQ4R3DT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 — It looks a lot like a Lezyne mini pump, and while I don’t like it when companies just copy the aesthetics of some other brand’s well-known product, my experience has been that these are better-made pumps than the Lezynes. Finish is certainly a lot nicer/higher-quality, functionality works great, and at half the price I’m a lot less sad when I lose one out of my pocket on a ride in the woods.

Commuter/gravel bike.
In the saddle bag (Silca Premio seat roll — fancy! — https://silca.cc/products/57c424fc56d9341100298881)
– 1 tube (bigger, for bigger tires)
– the other Pedros tire lever from the set.
– same Crank Bros tool as above
– same tubeless plug kit as above
– 1 nitrile glove
– Park adhesive patches again

In jersey pocket: my pump.

I just sold my MTB [with the seat roll]; I’m not sure what I’m gonna do for my replacement MTB that arrives Monday, but I think I’m going to see if I can avoid the saddle bag — maybe using one of these: https://www.76projects.com/shop/thepiggy — but they’re a bit pricey w/ current exchange rate (even at the current 20% off discount).

[streetsmarts]

Hozn, thanks! that was great and comprehensive.

Now that I can change a chain and use a chain tool and quick link (Thanks Judd Lumberjack and friends at The Bike House Coop for walking me through changing Judd’s recently) – I might carry those.
I did have a chain break mid-ride (I think it was during the Cider Ride) – and had to go to a shop.
Now I know – not that hard!

[Author]

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