What’s in your pouch?

[Megabeth]

I have a friend that carries more “personal items” (e.g., chapstick, sunscreen, little mirror, etc.) than actual bike equipment in her little underseat seat pouch. I nearly lost an eyeball from rolling them so hard after seeing that. I advised that she might want to consider a spare tube, at the very least…which brings me to this question:

What do you carry at all times with you in your seat pouch (or backpack or pannier)? What do you recommend someone have at all times…and what’s “nice to have”?

As a side story, we had a friend have her seat pouch stolen in Clarendon (ironically we were mere steps away eating lunch). She shrugged and basically said that the only things in there that would be useful would be for a cyclist…and a cyclist wouldn’t do steal another cyclist’s pouch in the first place. So, the thief was the one that ended up getting screwed in that deal…

Topic

[GuyContinental]

I dunno- I keep $50 cash in mine (in case of emergency cab or round of drinks) but then again I never leave that bike unattended.

Other necessities?
Toolkit with chain tool
Quicklink
Tube
Inflator of some kind
Patch kit
Tire lever (1)
Ziplock (for phone in the rain)
ICE (in case of emergency) Card with blood type and contact info

That’s in a tiny, very carefully packed, saddle bag

[txgoonie]

I generally get the smallest pouch that I can find, which will fit my must haves:
– tube
– patch kit
– multi tool
– tire lever
– CO2 inflator and cartridge
– Couple dollars

I also generally carry a pump in my bag or jersey. My phone is fast becoming a must have. I feel weird if I don’t have it with me now. And while it’s not in my seat bag, I wear a Road I.D. and think you need to have some kind of identification on you at all times.

And at this time of year – a water bottle!

[ShawnoftheDread]

Extra tube, patch kit, multi-tool with tire lever, and lube. Pump goes in my regular bag. I haven’t needed them for myself since I’ve started carrying them, but used them trying to rescue a folding bike during Tour de Fat. Small sunscreen sounds like a good idea, though.

[DismalScientist]

Absolutely nothing.

In the pocket of my khakis:
Cell phone
Wallet
Smartrip card

[ShawnoftheDread]

Oh, and chain tool and quick link too.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Both my bikes have a spare tube, levers, CO2 pump w/2 cartridges, a mini-tool, and a valve adapter in a wedgie bag. When riding my commuter to work or around town, I almost always carry my pannier, which always carries a mini-pump, 10mm wrench (fits my skewers and fender bolts), Leatherman tool, extra batteries, zip ties, bungee straps, and yet another spare tube.

[RESTONTODC]

All the above plus bandages (small and big), Antiseptic wipes and medical tapes.

There is no need to call 911 when you get a road rash.

[jabberwocky]

Spare tube, patch kit, small multitool. I have a mini-morph pump attached to the bike. On long road rides, I also stuff my drivers license, credit card, house key and phone in there (since I have a strange aversion to jerseys with pockets).

[rcannon100]

Yeah, I have carried a first aid kit, but I am not sure what to put in it. Gauze, antiseptic, and tape makes sense.

One thing – I downloaded a red cross first aid app to my itouch. You can also download a bike repair app but I am not sure how good they are.

One thing not mentioned is a “boot” I believe it is called. This is basically a tire (not a tube) patch – say in case of a puncture. Doesnt weigh much.

+1 for a plastic bag. Doesnt weigh anything; and can save electronics if you get caught in a thunder boomer.

I also recommend a camera. A camera built into a phone is just fine. If you get into an accident, take lots of pictures. If you claim you rode a century out the W&OD, take lots of pictures – we demand proof (and wanna see the fun)!

[Mark Blacknell]

Benedryl.

[PotomacCyclist]

Spare tube, patch kit, bike multitool, chain link tool, tire levers, tire boot (thin and flat, smaller than a credit card), individual antiseptic wipe. I think that’s it.

I have a frame pump attached to the seat tube. CO2 cartridge and adapter for the tri bike (but not for the MTB).

I have a separate velcro bento box on the top tube, which I use for carb chews (GU Chomps, Clif Shots), ID and Kleenex packs in the winter.

Two water bottle cages on the tri bike, one on the MTB.

[KelOnWheels]

Spare tube
Tire levers
Patch kits – one w/ glue and one without
Multi-tool
Key for U-lock (when it’s not in use)

I stash my blinky tail light in there when I’m not riding too.

Frame pump is on the downtube next to the water bottle. Got one of those velcro cable ties holding it on so it doesnt fly off at inopportune moments.

I used to carry a decent-sized first aid kit from REI that velcroed very nicely to my top tube when I was chasing marathon trainees out on the trails – I need to make a little tiny one to carry for personal use. A ziplock with a couple of wet wipes would be nice to have as well – I didn’t have any with me the other day when my chain fell off and I had to ride around all greasy.

[5555624]

@Megabeth 22867 wrote:

What do you carry at all times with you in your seat pouch (or backpack or pannier)?

Since the bike I ride almost all the time always has the panniers on it, I carry more crap — er, stuff — than just about anyone here. I won’t go into a complete list — (a) because I don’t have the time and (b) because I’ll never hear the end of it — but some of the stuff is a patch kit, spare tubes, pumps, tire gauge, multi-tools, flashlight, knife, lock, hat, gloves, helmet cover, tape, New Skin, super glue, spare reflective vest, and a brake cable. (Yes, I am fully aware that several of those words are plural.)

Oh, I do not have jumper cables — yes, I have had someone ask me.

@Megabeth 22867 wrote:

What do you recommend someone have at all times…and what’s “nice to have”?

Everything you need to change a flat. (I usually prefer to simply replace the tube when I’m out, but a patch kit works, too.)

In this weather? Water, too. (I saw a number of cyclists out there this afternoon without water.)

[DSalovesh]

On-bike pouches don’t work out for me – several bikes, bad parking, forgetful… Everyday though, my backpack has a 3″x6″x1.5″ case for bike stuff, to wit:

• 1 spare 700c tube (the “right” size for one bike, workable on two others)
• 2 tire levers
• Self-gluing patches
• CO2 adapter and 2 16g cartridges (wrapped in old tubes)
• Multi-tool w/ chain breaker
• spoke wrench
• Rubber gloves
• Small bottle of oil
• Keys for the locking skewers on a couple of my bikes
• “Trixie” 15mm wrench / bottle opener (wrapped in “Gorilla” tape)
• Blackburn “Flea” light set
• Miscellany including web straps, zip ties, bailing wire, cleat screws, chain links & quicklinks

Also in the backpack I often carry at least a tiny U-lock (like, 4″ – just big enough to attach the bike to something when I dash into a store for a minute), a hand pump, and a more robust lighting setup if it isn’t already on the bike. This is far more than I really need, and in fact I often go months without even opening this kit, but I like the peace of mind that comes from knowing whatever I need to finish this ride somehow is probably with me.

[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).

[Author]

Replies