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

[hozn]

Good point, re: knife. I have considered getting one of these for keeping in the saddle bag: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PW56QG
(I’m sure there are cheaper options, but I was given one of these and it has lasted for years without dulling)

[ginacico]

@streetsmarts 177698 wrote:

Wow, I just checked out that multi-tool. That’s amazing!!
and a Torx driver for disc brakes!!

Yup. Next time you do a bike fix-it night, have someone show you the process to adjust your disk brakes. You probably have two adjusters for the inside & outside calipers (my brakes are Avid BB7s, YMMV). In general, the trick is to get them as close as possible to the disk, so the brakes have some grab, without rubbing (cuz that sucks). You may also have a barrel adjuster on the cable near the brake lever, to tweak the tension.

I have the Crank Bros multitool with a Torx driver etc. My problem is the drivers are really short, and it’s too dang awkward to get the thing inside the spokes to adjust the inside caliper. I got a Torx wrench with a long driver that I use at home for bike tuning. And if I have to adjust on the road, I just fumble around attempting to spin the adjusters with my thumbs.

This thread has been awesome as I’m prepping for a 2-week bike trip, hoping to upgrade a few of my tools in the kit!

[Judd]

@streetsmarts 177698 wrote:

Wow, I just checked out that multi-tool. That’s amazing!!
and a Torx driver for disc brakes!!
HA. I have disc brakes. I can …ummm… sorta adjust them. but someday maybe I’ll know what that’s for (adjusting calipers? just using a word I know is part of the disc brake system!! )
Chain tool included is cool. thanks!!

I need to replace the pads on my mechanical disc brakes. I’ll provide the instruction if you want to do the wrenching on my bike. It’s fairly easy. I learned how to change pads and adjust the pads as they wear by watching a few videos on YouTube.

[streetsmarts]

@Judd 177801 wrote:

I need to replace the pads on my mechanical disc brakes. I’ll provide the instruction if you want to do the wrenching on my bike. It’s fairly easy. I learned how to change pads and adjust the pads as they wear by watching a few videos on YouTube.

Yes. I’d love to. We will schedule offline!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[streetsmarts]

@ginacico 177797 wrote:

Yup. Next time you do a bike fix-it night, have someone show you the process to adjust your disk brakes. You probably have two adjusters for the inside & outside calipers (my brakes are Avid BB7s, YMMV). In general, the trick is to get them as close as possible to the disk, so the brakes have some grab, without rubbing (cuz that sucks). You may also have a barrel adjuster on the cable near the brake lever, to tweak the tension.

I have the Crank Bros multitool with a Torx driver etc. My problem is the drivers are really short, and it’s too dang awkward to get the thing inside the spokes to adjust the inside caliper. I got a Torx wrench with a long driver that I use at home for bike tuning. And if I have to adjust on the road, I just fumble around attempting to spin the adjusters with my thumbs.

This thread has been awesome as I’m prepping for a 2-week bike trip, hoping to upgrade a few of my tools in the kit!

Thanks ! I have adjusted my disc brakes (mech.) I know how to adjust the barrel adjuster but they’re really hard to get to. And the in and out …yep I’ve tried to do those but had a bike shop fix em for me. More time…more patience. I’m learning.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[n18]

Here is the tool I use. I was lucky enough to have paid only $8 for it when a bike shop closed(Hudson).

Features:

• 11 Function tool
• Chaintool, spoke wrench, phillips, flathead, T25 Torx, 2, 2.5, 3,4,5,6mm allen key
• Dimensions: 75x44x10 mm, 3″x1.75″x0.4″

[streetsmarts]

Thanks Gina! Actually I have already learned how to adjust my disc brakes in some ways – using the barrel adjusters and.. there is an “in/out” adjustment I’ve used too – that I can adjust with just a hex tool. I have much to learn though – looking forward.

[Author]

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