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.
MrPoldekrosmol Glad you had a positive experience. Some years ago I was living in Hanoi and stopped for a coffee on my weekend ride ( Vietnamese cà phê đen is the ultimate power booster!) and met young guy cycle touring and noticed he had no bell on his bike. So I gave him mine. He seemed delighted. So from the other side it made me feel good too and I remeber it as a small nice thing I did even after 15 years. The good memory certainly more valuable that a $3 bike bell!
Im only 18 and a soccer player in college (im American) so i don't have the time or money at the moment, but its for this very reason (as well as the freedom that i already enjoy in hiking) that i want to get into cycling sometime in the future. thanks for sharing!
Feels good to help fellow cyclist. I stopped once when I saw a BMX rider walking with a flat. Stopped and loaned him my pump to get him back underway. Luckily it was a slow leak and he wasn't far from his destination. I was far from my start but I did think about giving him my pump. Maybe I'll carry two in future, main and a pay it forward :)
@@mitchelloughman8382 you have the same last name as me. A nice Irish name. How do you pronounce it? My family says Lock-man but a lot of people say loffman or lowman.
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.
Definitely. Even rain, or worse light snow, hitting your eyeballs sucks the fun right out of a ride and reduces your visibility because you're squinting to avoid the pain. I purchased a cheap pair of Torege polarized sunglasses with several interchangeable lenses and a case for less than $20. Well worth it because sight is priceless.
Arthur Kirk I avoid polarized lenses for cycling because they can sometimes hide puddles and ice from your view and let me tell you hitting water you had no idea was there can be jarring to say the least I cannot even imagine what hits ice would be like
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.
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!
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I have a solar-powered one. I've only used it in a more conventional manner by plugging it in to charge it, but in theory the solar panel is a good idea. No idea how long it takes to charge though. The one time I tried it it didn't work, but I may have been doing something wrong (instructions are in Chinese).
JMS Solar powered ones are better suited for camping situations. They're not charging as fast as some power banks and worst of all, you need to have it, for best results, on direct sunlight. With power bank, you just stick both devices into your bag or backpack and keep riding.
putting your two spare tubes in a little plastic bag with the tubes in a little baby powder, preferably covered in a light coating prior to being folded up and placed in the bag, can prevent vibrations and other items in a bike bag from rubbing a hole or weak point into the tube. also helps with seeing a hole later, and the handling/sliding the tube into a tire while getting it on the rim. can be a bit dusty though in use.
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.
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
Phones are pretty attractive to thieves though. Having your phone stolen (or lost) might be the sort of situation where you need your emergency money. Ideally I like to keep my emergency money on my person.
If you get mugged or pick pocketed likely your phone/wallet is going to be the target. Plus you have your phone out and on display lots. Having a note tucked away on you somewhere discreet is unlikely to be lost or stolen even if everything else is and likely to be very useful in that event.
For endurance rides I find a USB battery essential, since a phone that's been tracking and instagramming for hours and hours might end up a worthless paperweight. It can also charge a headlight if, for whatever reason, it isn't fully charged when it's needed most.
1 - Bike lights. If it's near dawn / dusk I always pack 'em ... attached or in my pocket. 2 - Route map. If it's a long ride I make sure to download it ... or print one in the old days. 3 - Sunglasses. If it's a long sunny day these are essential ... and I always forget to bring them!
if youve lost money in your bars, blow hard up the other end and it'll pop out again. also, you can get a very small extremely light phone for £5 (not exaggerating- alcatel) that you can use just for riding, donsent matter if it get wet, broken or stolen, just keep a 5er credit on it and you dont have to worry about your iphone in a crash or rain storm
I usually leave my smartphone (bigger, heavier, much more likely to break, relatively short battery life) at home and take a cheap 'dumbphone' with me on bike rides. This phone stays switched off, unless there is an emergency. Nobody else has the dumbphone number. That way, I'm not disturbed by unplanned, incoming phone calls or text messages either.
regarding medical ID. I was hit by a car a few day s ago and had my calf severed. it was the first time in 5 years that I forgot my phone however I did have a medical ID bracelet on. oh yeah .. my helmet saved my life, so wear one
I got cleaned up at 40kph in 2017 by an idiot who was looking at his phone instead of the road The paramedics told me straight that if I was wearing a regular bike helmet, I would have been dead and the only reason my face was not full of glass is because I had my visor closed (I was wearing a full faced motorcycle helmet) Bike helmets are only good for low speed impacts, they can't handle the collision energies of anything over about 30kph If you value your life, wear a full faced motorcycle helmet and close the visor when riding through dust or rain It's heavier than a bicycle helmet and it might restrict your visual field a little, but it might just save your life in the event of a collision (be it a collision with a lamp post, the ground, or a car)
@@mwbgaming28 I can see the logic of a full face helmet but do we really need another reason for people to not exercise? Biking should be fun and unless your bombing down a mountain I think a good MIPS style (or the new WaveCell) helmet is enough. Especially if you're running lights, wearing bright colors and keeping your distance whenever possible. What I'm considering now is a good 360 degree camera. Why? Too many folks being hit and drivers running.
@@ArtzFenix not sure what you mean by giving people a reason not to exercise, I still pedal my bike, I just use a helmet that will provide orders of magnitude more protection in the event of a high energy collision I do have cameras on my new bike though, one forward facing and one rear facing (which I can also see from a display mounted on my handlebar)
I was taught to change tyres by a bike mechanic who was my friend's dad. He taught me to push the bead in to the center of the rim all the way around so that it is loose where I am pulling it off. Go around a couple of times and then I've always been able to pull it off with minimal effort with my fingers or palm. No risk of damage to the tube! No tools!
You mentioned being able to watch GCN videos on your phone for help and this definitely helped me on my latest Sunday. I recently got a new bike with disc brakes and during transport to my ride, I have to take off my front wheel for my bike to fit in my car. Well at some point my front brake lever was pulled which caused the pistons to come out causing my front wheel brake to pretty much be engaged the entire time. I used one of your disc brake maintenance videos to figure out how to reset the pistons. Thank you!
This is great guys and very helpful. The only things I would add to your 10, are a compact lock and keys for parking at the coffee shop and a small, light med kit. I seem to find a way to crash on my bike at least once every summer and the med kit is wonderful for easing the scrapes, bruises and stemming that unfortunate blood flow to the outside world. All of this stuff fits nicely in a small back pack and leaves my bike unencumbered by accessories.
Also single-dose packets of your favorite stomachache medicine. And a small bit of gauze - I got a bloody nose mid-ride yesterday in the middle of a wooded path, with nothing to stop it. :( - it's that time of year here where the weather cannot make up its mind if it's done with summer and waffles between hot and chilly, so the air is dry and filled with pollen.
I live in Australia and this is what I keep on my bike at all times Rear storage (just an old milk crate from 7-11) > Main battery (since it's an ebike) > Compact charger for the main battery > 12V air compressor > Puncture kit (including tire levers) > Tools (adjustable wrench, wire cutters and an Allen key set) > small first aid kit (you never know) > 1L of water > Solar phone charger > 4 spare tubes > 1 can of WD-40 > A pack of zip ties > A roll of duct tape Frame storage (2 large metal tins in place of the drink holder) > Snacks (a few chocolate bars) > Mini handheld 40ch UHF CB (I often go riding near the blue mountains in Sydney) > Tiny can of pepper spray > a few lengths of hookup wire (for field repairs to the electrical system) > A roll of electrical tape > Spare fuses So far I have never had to use my phone for anything other than playing music, I am prepared for just about any roadside emergency
@@ashfletcher1339 because the Australian government thinks it's a great idea to import people from a religious cult that want to kill you I need to defend myself against African gangs somehow
I've just recently got back into riding, and went with slime in my tubes, it's a little more expensive but saves money in the long term on buying repair kits, which means more goodies for my bike
At least one item of Fluorescent clothing. There are too many "stealth" cyclists about on the roads. You might have a nice flashing light, and your kit might be awesome and colour coordinated with your bike, but if you are not visable to other road users, it won't be long until you are colour coordinated with the tarmac... Please be safe on the roads lovely people 🤗
Whilst waiting to be picked up from a race where I completely ran out of inner tubes, I actually ended up relaxing on the side of the road, watching GCN on my cellphone. Great way to forget about all those other frustrations that come with that situation.
I'm in Bullhead City, and it was a pretty hot summer. A couple weeks of 120+, I didn't ride those. Now that the winds are kicking up, I stash my road bike for a mountain bike, and ride trails instead of to the river. Can't beat it. 350 days a year of perfect weather for cycling.
Holy shit that's hot! Here in Japan I had some great days up in the hills mid-summer in the middle of the day. Friggin' hot and humid but I prefer it so much to biking in the cold. It is about 35 degrees C here in summer, but with terrible humidity. I know many Americans who come here from Georgia or Texas and can't get over the heat.
There's near zero humity in the summer, so there's none of that to go through. Sunburns, heat exhaustion, and just soooo much damn sweat, though. I could never find a helmet I felt vented well enough.
Important Essential Thing NOT to do.. When you take gels, food, puncture patches etc out on a ride Please Do Not drop the empty wrappers everywhere.. There was a horrible mess left across Rural Ayrshire after the TOB race stage had passed by. Be Better than the Pro's, Take the litter home again or put it in the next bin you see, Don't leave a trail of litter behind. :-) Event organisers should be made to clear up the mess after the disrespectful Pro riders. Or even better, The Pro riders should set a better example by Not dropping litter in the first place...
so piling all the trash in one big dump is better than scattering it? am i supposed to bring my banana peels home too, and not pee or take a crap out on a ride? a pocketful of sticky gel wrappers and banana peels are not on my to do list. earth will survive my trash
@@jen3800 It's bad for the environment because it's made out of unnatural man made materials. We are going to end really soon because of nieve people like you. And human waste is different. That is natural and won't harm the environment
If you ride off road or in remote places I suggest a small first aid kit. It doesn;t have to be fancy. Mine consist of a small roll of gauze, a roll of tape, some ski wipes (also handy for cleaning up after repairs) and a few pain killers. A crash ten miles away from nowheres is more bearable if you can clean it, cover it, take some paracetamol and then head on.
I would have add one more item to the list... TOWEL I have freaking hyperhydrosis and I sweat like a men I need it and Im pretty sure some people need it too
In case of a break down, and you can't fix it or it is minus 20... and you need to leave your bike behind to get to your destination by foot, bus or taxi, I always carry a bike lock... mind you, I use my bike to go places, go shopping and commute to work... so being able to lock it safely is always my #1 priority!
I would add Lights to the list. Front and Rear (red blinkie). Easy to do since they are very lightweight nowadays and USB rechargeable for convenience. Daytime for "be seen", and at night to see by.
I've come to the point where I don't leave home anymore even during the day without a good rear light and a daytime running light on the front. Just as important as the helmet...
Also worth checking you tubes have the correct length valves on them. I swapped to my deeper rimmed wheels one day and hadn't checked the spare tube I carried and got a puncture. Nothing worse than the valve not poking through the hole!
question: weed and cycling,how much does it affect your body and fitness (vaporised,edible,smoked) all three variations and does it even affect you if vaped or consumed by edibles
AndronicasLion it does if u smoke it with a bong or a joint but it doesnt if u consume it by edible methods its not the weed that reduces lung preformance its the smoke.
I put my money in a small plastic bag along with a copy of my ID and any medical information folded up and placed in my saddle bag along with with my trye stuff etc. I even have room for chap-stick and gloves (rubber) a band-aid or two with cream. And trust me, the bag is small! P.S., I know this sounds weird, but I'm not a fan of red and black color combo. until now.... my Cervelo is red/white with some black. So my kits are red/black mostly.... I now I'm starting to like the colors because of you guys! I even bought your gear/kits! Keep up the great job and keep safe and PLEASE keep making these great videos for us!!!! Thanks!
The money here in Canada is made of polymer and can be useful if there is a big crack on your sidewall. You can always roll the bill around your inner tube and put it back in your tire and roll on.
A pair of latex or nitrile gloves weigh next to nothing and are great if you have to put a chain back on or repair a puncture. On longer rides I would always put a 'superlink' chain-joiner in the saddlebag, plus a universal mech-hanger. A group of us did the Lakes and Dales Loop (in Cumbria) in September and my friend managed to catch his arm on a bramble, causing his right foot to kick his rear derailleur into the spokes. If I hadn't had the hanger he would have been stuck 30 miles from our overnight stop with no means of riding his bike... Absolute gem, and all of 20 grams!
I sort of agree with mobile as no. 1 - I use mine for payment for my coffee/cake (saving taking change), a way of contacting if stuck, it has a roadid welcome screen with details (i also have roadid wristband) and I also put my roadid breadcrumb tracker on so that my wife feels happier when I am out on a bike ride, and a route guide. With a power pack lasts all day.
I'd add: spoke wrench, a rag, glasses, another tyre lever, patch glue x 2, balaclava, reading glasses and a map so you can discuss routes when you meet fellow riders over coffee.
Dave You'll definitely know how much you'll need your saddle bag when you get stuck on the roadside without it no matter how short your ride is. I had the same thinking till I was actually stuck with a broken presta valve 5 miles away from home with no money or a spare tubes... Had to walk the bike home lol. #Neveragain 🚶
I mount my tail light on my helmet using the clip and a small zip tie. I just "unclip" if I'm using that helmet in a race, for example. Otherwise, my USB chargeable taillight is always on the helmet.
In the late 80's me and a friend set out on a hot Essex summer's day. I had a racing cape in my back pocket just in case and was berated for it. By the time we got to Harlow and some 60 miles or so, the temperature plummeted as a rainstorm hit. Roads became rivers. My mate was incapacitated by cold. No cellphones back then so - I went to a house at his request and phoned us a taxi! He was later diagnosed with renal failure and had a successful transplant.
What I often do is that I just grind oats, dates and some flax seed together (sometimes adding some citric acid to make it pop), then mix in some water manually to turn it into a very thick dough, and shape that into a bar. It firms up a bit with time. Much faster than baking flapjacks. :)
Actually, if we're going to be picky, things that float weigh nothing. You mean everything has mass. Incidentally this is why I fill my tires with helium and tie party balloons to my frame.
everything in this universe has mass. you might be thinking of things that float are affected by buoyancy - the relative density of the water is greater than the thing floating on - or in, as a submarine - it.
Phone and ID are essentials for me, but so is the item I carry them in ... a ziploc/slider bag. Keeps 'em safe from sweat and precipitation, and the screen can even be accessed through the ziploc.
My top 10!!!! 10. Asthma Medicine 9. Chap stick 8. Hand sanitizer 7. Tire repair stuff 6. Mini first aid 5. FOOD! 4. Phone 3. Identification 2. Money 1. Water. These arent in order they just popped in my head and i wrote them down, the one i think y'all should've put in was the mini first aid kit i needed it today while i was doing a race clinic, i cliped the corner and went flying! I didnt have my first aid but my coach had one in the team van. Shout out to my bike team GS ANDIAMO!!!!
I recently swiped to tubeless tires so I'm not taking patches nor inner tubes anymore. I do carry a CO2 cartridge with head, multitool and a shredder to presta valve adapter just in case.
I carry all those, except the gels - that's why we have cake stops. I do also carry a spare quick link in case the chain breaks, and a couple of zip ties. I have never had to use them, but they are tiny anyway. I also carry a very small lock for the cafe stop. Wrapped in a zippable sandwich bag
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.
MrPoldekrosmol Glad you had a positive experience. Some years ago I was living in Hanoi and stopped for a coffee on my weekend ride ( Vietnamese cà phê đen is the ultimate power booster!) and met young guy cycle touring and noticed he had no bell on his bike. So I gave him mine. He seemed delighted. So from the other side it made me feel good too and I remeber it as a small nice thing I did even after 15 years. The good memory certainly more valuable that a $3 bike bell!
Im only 18 and a soccer player in college (im American) so i don't have the time or money at the moment, but its for this very reason (as well as the freedom that i already enjoy in hiking) that i want to get into cycling sometime in the future. thanks for sharing!
Feels good to help fellow cyclist. I stopped once when I saw a BMX rider walking with a flat. Stopped and loaned him my pump to get him back underway. Luckily it was a slow leak and he wasn't far from his destination. I was far from my start but I did think about giving him my pump. Maybe I'll carry two in future, main and a pay it forward :)
@@mitchelloughman8382 you have the same last name as me. A nice Irish name. How do you pronounce it? My family says Lock-man but a lot of people say loffman or lowman.
Wow
Wonder what kind of pump it was
1 water
2 inner tube
3 ID
4 a friend with all the rest
hahahaha facts! but then you can't gap them too much ;)
why is this so me
Pack mule lol
welp im screwed then
@@RagaWolf88 I use my sister for this lol
I usually like to take a flare with me so the chopper can find me and take back to base .
Oh my god , you as well??
Good to know I’m not the only one
GET TO DE CHOPAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! - Arnold Schwarzeneger
Ya me to and a spare chain
@@woofdog4219 I just carry my spare chain around the neck like Mr T
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.
I keep losing my glasses for some reason
Definitely. Even rain, or worse light snow, hitting your eyeballs sucks the fun right out of a ride and reduces your visibility because you're squinting to avoid the pain. I purchased a cheap pair of Torege polarized sunglasses with several interchangeable lenses and a case for less than $20. Well worth it because sight is priceless.
Arthur Kirk I avoid polarized lenses for cycling because they can sometimes hide puddles and ice from your view and let me tell you hitting water you had no idea was there can be jarring to say the least I cannot even imagine what hits ice would be like
@@liquidwombat Thanks for the heads up.
@@liquidwombat I see now that you're right. Sucks because I think even the clear and yellow lenses(night biking) are polarized.
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.
+Kyle Polansky presumably the latter has nothing to do with the former.
Global Cycling Network is that a oneplus 3 phone...:)
it sure is! Jon
Kyle Polansky The difficulty with a flat video is finding where to pump it up.
Kyle Polansky lmao my first puncture.... No youtube available so learn by doing
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.
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!
I also have a "Chain Quick-Link" in my bag. I consider the Helmet, lights, camera as standard equipment as part of the bike.
- 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.
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.
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.
100% I always carry 2 bottles on my rides : th-cam.com/video/VAh7TQbYDss/w-d-xo.html
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.
I leave one on my wheel just in case. It is a useful item.
You can modify a dust cap to do the job in a pinch...just cut the end off
shenava I use a bontrager pump with co2 cylinders on the opposite side of the mount. combined with ab adapter I keep in my saddle bag.
Thanks.I had one...in the house :(
Agree!!! I keep an adapter on the rear wheel valve. In case I have to change a tube, I could quickly reinflate at a gas station.
I never go for a bike ride without my bike.
panzerveps actually I have found it is unnecessary for some types of rides.
i once forget it ?????!!!!!
Once i went out for a 50 km cycle around the city. Only when I got back did I realize I forgot to bring my bike
panzerveps that's strange, I always do
Sometimes it's just "marginally slower than just walking": th-cam.com/video/7trIdY1assg/w-d-xo.htmlm4s
garmin/head unit! if it's not on strava it didn't happen
Is that the porn version? Or does it monitor heartbeat, PR, etc as you do it?
Asking for a friend.
And if it is on strava some e-bike wanker will cheat to get a better time...
i can;t afford one.. and data loss is the norm on garmins? use my phone for strava
I cheat on strava with my motorcycle
You know it dude! what would we be without strava!
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.
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.
Genius, think I'll order one soon.
Yeah also carrying one. Whole-day rides can easily turn into multi-day rides and having the means to charge your phone or lights is invaluable.
I have a solar-powered one. I've only used it in a more conventional manner by plugging it in to charge it, but in theory the solar panel is a good idea. No idea how long it takes to charge though. The one time I tried it it didn't work, but I may have been doing something wrong (instructions are in Chinese).
JMS Solar powered ones are better suited for camping situations. They're not charging as fast as some power banks and worst of all, you need to have it, for best results, on direct sunlight.
With power bank, you just stick both devices into your bag or backpack and keep riding.
Ye second that, handy if on a long ride and your phone battery ain’t the best at holding charge, I Velcro min to the bar.
Missed the house Key.
Just hide it somewhere in your backyard
What if I don't have a backyard?
@@alnett22 Swallo it then shit it out in a few hours
do what i do just use a brick
putting your two spare tubes in a little plastic bag with the tubes in a little baby powder, preferably covered in a light coating prior to being folded up and placed in the bag, can prevent vibrations and other items in a bike bag from rubbing a hole or weak point into the tube. also helps with seeing a hole later, and the handling/sliding the tube into a tire while getting it on the rim. can be a bit dusty though in use.
I usually take some plastic gloves so my hands stay clean if I need to sort my chain out and I then won’t spread oil around the bike.
Some makeup-remover toner on a little pad in a baggie will also take grease right off your skin. I just threw it in with my gloves, cause why not. :D
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.
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
just put your €10,- bill in your phone case, it always helps me out when I run out of energy. 👍
Phones are pretty attractive to thieves though. Having your phone stolen (or lost) might be the sort of situation where you need your emergency money.
Ideally I like to keep my emergency money on my person.
Where do you keep you're phone then if not on your person?
If you get mugged or pick pocketed likely your phone/wallet is going to be the target. Plus you have your phone out and on display lots.
Having a note tucked away on you somewhere discreet is unlikely to be lost or stolen even if everything else is and likely to be very useful in that event.
Not on but in?
Um, that was the joke.
For endurance rides I find a USB battery essential, since a phone that's been tracking and instagramming for hours and hours might end up a worthless paperweight. It can also charge a headlight if, for whatever reason, it isn't fully charged when it's needed most.
1 - Bike lights. If it's near dawn / dusk I always pack 'em ... attached or in my pocket.
2 - Route map. If it's a long ride I make sure to download it ... or print one in the old days.
3 - Sunglasses. If it's a long sunny day these are essential ... and I always forget to bring them!
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
Video suggestion: Top 10 useless thing to bring in a ride!
+Bruno Zub good idea!
Global Cycling Network
very nice idea! i agree!
Tongue firmly in cheek version please.
Geese. Don't take geese. They'd be rubbish on a ride. Also, don't take Dan's Hair Product cabinet unless you have a support vehicle.
if youve lost money in your bars, blow hard up the other end and it'll pop out again.
also, you can get a very small extremely light phone for £5 (not exaggerating- alcatel) that you can use just for riding, donsent matter if it get wet, broken or stolen, just keep a 5er credit on it and you dont have to worry about your iphone in a crash or rain storm
I usually leave my smartphone (bigger, heavier, much more likely to break, relatively short battery life) at home and take a cheap 'dumbphone' with me on bike rides. This phone stays switched off, unless there is an emergency. Nobody else has the dumbphone number. That way, I'm not disturbed by unplanned, incoming phone calls or text messages either.
After having a minor crash last night I would recommend adding First-Aid kit to the list.
Cheers.
regarding medical ID. I was hit by a car a few day s ago and had my calf severed. it was the first time in 5 years that I forgot my phone however I did have a medical ID bracelet on. oh yeah .. my helmet saved my life, so wear one
bikeanddogtrips hope you're doing better now! That does not sound like an enjoyable injury.
Ouch!! Hope you're better now.
I got cleaned up at 40kph in 2017 by an idiot who was looking at his phone instead of the road
The paramedics told me straight that if I was wearing a regular bike helmet, I would have been dead and the only reason my face was not full of glass is because I had my visor closed (I was wearing a full faced motorcycle helmet)
Bike helmets are only good for low speed impacts, they can't handle the collision energies of anything over about 30kph
If you value your life, wear a full faced motorcycle helmet and close the visor when riding through dust or rain
It's heavier than a bicycle helmet and it might restrict your visual field a little, but it might just save your life in the event of a collision (be it a collision with a lamp post, the ground, or a car)
@@mwbgaming28 I can see the logic of a full face helmet but do we really need another reason for people to not exercise? Biking should be fun and unless your bombing down a mountain I think a good MIPS style (or the new WaveCell) helmet is enough. Especially if you're running lights, wearing bright colors and keeping your distance whenever possible. What I'm considering now is a good 360 degree camera. Why? Too many folks being hit and drivers running.
@@ArtzFenix not sure what you mean by giving people a reason not to exercise, I still pedal my bike, I just use a helmet that will provide orders of magnitude more protection in the event of a high energy collision
I do have cameras on my new bike though, one forward facing and one rear facing (which I can also see from a display mounted on my handlebar)
I was taught to change tyres by a bike mechanic who was my friend's dad. He taught me to push the bead in to the center of the rim all the way around so that it is loose where I am pulling it off. Go around a couple of times and then I've always been able to pull it off with minimal effort with my fingers or palm. No risk of damage to the tube! No tools!
rear flashing light is a must for me on my rides!!
Sean
Yep! I got one that has a breake light to
You mentioned being able to watch GCN videos on your phone for help and this definitely helped me on my latest Sunday. I recently got a new bike with disc brakes and during transport to my ride, I have to take off my front wheel for my bike to fit in my car. Well at some point my front brake lever was pulled which caused the pistons to come out causing my front wheel brake to pretty much be engaged the entire time. I used one of your disc brake maintenance videos to figure out how to reset the pistons. Thank you!
Glad we're able to help, even out on the road!
In the absence of a tire lever I used the quick release lever to lift my tire off.
John-Patrick Hui Brilliant! Have never thought about that trick.
Nice!!!!
Nice tip, thanks.
Nice hack!
This is great guys and very helpful. The only things I would add to your 10, are a compact lock and keys for parking at the coffee shop and a small, light med kit. I seem to find a way to crash on my bike at least once every summer and the med kit is wonderful for easing the scrapes, bruises and stemming that unfortunate blood flow to the outside world. All of this stuff fits nicely in a small back pack and leaves my bike unencumbered by accessories.
Take a few band-aids, small tube of antibiotic ointment, and a foil pack of aspirin/ibuprofen.
Bad advice here. If you crash, just use your shredded clothing to staunch the bleeding and keep on cycling.
There's a lot you can put in a ziplock and tuck into a saddle bag or pocket, especially on longer rides.
Also single-dose packets of your favorite stomachache medicine. And a small bit of gauze - I got a bloody nose mid-ride yesterday in the middle of a wooded path, with nothing to stop it. :( - it's that time of year here where the weather cannot make up its mind if it's done with summer and waffles between hot and chilly, so the air is dry and filled with pollen.
You forgot the kitchen sink.
4:21 this was so use full omg like I never thought that thankyou for waking me up
And Matt Stephen's number one thing to take on a bike ride is....... toilet papers/rolls 🚾
Better taking paper or you will come home "sockless" XD
salvador gl 😂😂😂😂
+salvador gl 😂😂😂
Jovan Trail that comment should definitely be the comment of the week 🙂😂😂😂😂😂😂
That's so darn true lol
Torch lights and first aid kits are also important too. Specially if you're going for a long ride.
Always carry a quick link for your chain. It makes a chain repair so fast.
Mini folding backpack is a must. For take aways and storing shopped stuff.
I live in Australia and this is what I keep on my bike at all times
Rear storage (just an old milk crate from 7-11)
> Main battery (since it's an ebike)
> Compact charger for the main battery
> 12V air compressor
> Puncture kit (including tire levers)
> Tools (adjustable wrench, wire cutters and an Allen key set)
> small first aid kit (you never know)
> 1L of water
> Solar phone charger
> 4 spare tubes
> 1 can of WD-40
> A pack of zip ties
> A roll of duct tape
Frame storage (2 large metal tins in place of the drink holder)
> Snacks (a few chocolate bars)
> Mini handheld 40ch UHF CB (I often go riding near the blue mountains in Sydney)
> Tiny can of pepper spray
> a few lengths of hookup wire (for field repairs to the electrical system)
> A roll of electrical tape
> Spare fuses
So far I have never had to use my phone for anything other than playing music, I am prepared for just about any roadside emergency
Why do u have pepper spray?
@@ashfletcher1339 because the Australian government thinks it's a great idea to import people from a religious cult that want to kill you
I need to defend myself against African gangs somehow
I've just recently got back into riding, and went with slime in my tubes, it's a little more expensive but saves money in the long term on buying repair kits, which means more goodies for my bike
At least one item of Fluorescent clothing. There are too many "stealth" cyclists about on the roads. You might have a nice flashing light, and your kit might be awesome and colour coordinated with your bike, but if you are not visable to other road users, it won't be long until you are colour coordinated with the tarmac... Please be safe on the roads lovely people 🤗
I love #3. I've once got a flat at the top of a mountain after riding 1 1/5 hours and only had a pump with me and actually made it home safely
Whilst waiting to be picked up from a race where I completely ran out of inner tubes, I actually ended up relaxing on the side of the road, watching GCN on my cellphone. Great way to forget about all those other frustrations that come with that situation.
Best channel out there for tips about this crazy world of cycling!
shoutout to Arizona! perfect weather cycling, all year round. boom.
The Nerdy Cyclist except in the summer in Phoenix when the temperature runs into the 110 degrees fehrinheit and above !
I'm in Bullhead City, and it was a pretty hot summer. A couple weeks of 120+, I didn't ride those. Now that the winds are kicking up, I stash my road bike for a mountain bike, and ride trails instead of to the river. Can't beat it. 350 days a year of perfect weather for cycling.
Holy shit that's hot! Here in Japan I had some great days up in the hills mid-summer in the middle of the day. Friggin' hot and humid but I prefer it so much to biking in the cold. It is about 35 degrees C here in summer, but with terrible humidity. I know many Americans who come here from Georgia or Texas and can't get over the heat.
There's near zero humity in the summer, so there's none of that to go through. Sunburns, heat exhaustion, and just soooo much damn sweat, though. I could never find a helmet I felt vented well enough.
Thumbs up for zero humity
I keep a tourniquet in my saddle bag along with some tools and a patch kit. I've got a pump mounted on the frame with a hose clamp.
Important Essential Thing NOT to do.. When you take gels, food, puncture patches etc out on a ride Please Do Not drop the empty wrappers everywhere.. There was a horrible mess left across Rural Ayrshire after the TOB race stage had passed by. Be Better than the Pro's, Take the litter home again or put it in the next bin you see, Don't leave a trail of litter behind. :-) Event organisers should be made to clear up the mess after the disrespectful Pro riders. Or even better, The Pro riders should set a better example by Not dropping litter in the first place...
so piling all the trash in one big dump is better than scattering it? am i supposed to bring my banana peels home too, and not pee or take a crap out on a ride?
a pocketful of sticky gel wrappers and banana peels are not on my to do list.
earth will survive my trash
@@jen3800 It's bad for the environment because it's made out of unnatural man made materials. We are going to end really soon because of nieve people like you. And human waste is different. That is natural and won't harm the environment
I also live n a nice rural area and get fed up with the rubbish left behind. Bring a little trash bag to take it home why can't they
If you ride off road or in remote places I suggest a small first aid kit. It doesn;t have to be fancy. Mine consist of a small roll of gauze, a roll of tape, some ski wipes (also handy for cleaning up after repairs) and a few pain killers. A crash ten miles away from nowheres is more bearable if you can clean it, cover it, take some paracetamol and then head on.
I would have add one more item to the list...
TOWEL
I have freaking hyperhydrosis and I sweat like a men I need it and Im pretty sure some people need it too
Your on a bike ride, not hitchhiking on a Vogon ship.
In case of a break down, and you can't fix it or it is minus 20... and you need to leave your bike behind to get to your destination by foot, bus or taxi, I always carry a bike lock... mind you, I use my bike to go places, go shopping and commute to work... so being able to lock it safely is always my #1 priority!
British IDs look weird...
I would add Lights to the list. Front and Rear (red blinkie).
Easy to do since they are very lightweight nowadays and USB rechargeable for convenience.
Daytime for "be seen", and at night to see by.
gcn giving their opinion on Brexit with a fifty euro???
its probably only worth a £10 er now!!
Ah I agree with you on that one
dancoolcars, did you not mean to write £50? £100 to follow...
I thought the same!
Still only little movement in 2019
I've watched GCN at the side of the road after a mechanical. Good advice!
1. Cash for beer.
I definitely missed a small First aid kit.
Otherwise great List. Thx for sharing
remember to bring the bike, I was meeting a mate few weeks back and the drove to the meeting point forgetting the bike
Best way to remember the bike is use it to get to the meeting point in the first place.
First Aid kit. That is a must. I pack a first aid pouch with money, health info, my Id, house keys and hand wipes.
I've come to the point where I don't leave home anymore even during the day without a good rear light and a daytime running light on the front. Just as important as the helmet...
Also worth checking you tubes have the correct length valves on them. I swapped to my deeper rimmed wheels one day and hadn't checked the spare tube I carried and got a puncture. Nothing worse than the valve not poking through the hole!
question: weed and cycling,how much does it affect your body and fitness (vaporised,edible,smoked) all three variations and does it even affect you if vaped or consumed by edibles
N!kO Chan I think it doesn't have any positive impact at all in terms of health or performance.
Probably gonna get called out for this but it has been proved to lower lung function
Yusuf A. yes I know it does not I just want to know to what extent it is harmful and as for health thats why I use it :P
AndronicasLion it does if u smoke it with a bong or a joint but it doesnt if u consume it by edible methods its not the weed that reduces lung preformance its the smoke.
use cocaine instead for improved performance ;)
informative and always cracks a smile...thanks for finding a balance between fun and function!
I gotta take my wife's permission to ride.
Hahaha I found myself watching this GCN video on the side of the road waiting for my wife to pick me up because I'd forgotten a spare tube!
Good tips!
I was half expecting Dan to pull out a hair brush?
I put my money in a small plastic bag along with a copy of my ID and any medical information folded up and placed in my saddle bag along with with my trye stuff etc. I even have room for chap-stick and gloves (rubber) a band-aid or two with cream. And trust me, the bag is small! P.S., I know this sounds weird, but I'm not a fan of red and black color combo. until now.... my Cervelo is red/white with some black. So my kits are red/black mostly.... I now I'm starting to like the colors because of you guys! I even bought your gear/kits! Keep up the great job and keep safe and PLEASE keep making these great videos for us!!!! Thanks!
for girls a "stand to pee" device :-).
I did use my phone and watched GCN the first time I needed to change a tire. Nice job guys!
You forgot the kitchen zink.....
Stuff a couple of cotton balls in handle bar to prevent money from moving too far up. Love the GCN show, Thanks for sharing.
WTH I got all 10! No more no less.
The money here in Canada is made of polymer and can be useful if there is a big crack on your sidewall. You can always roll the bill around your inner tube and put it back in your tire and roll on.
Tail light
A pair of latex or nitrile gloves weigh next to nothing and are great if you have to put a chain back on or repair a puncture. On longer rides I would always put a 'superlink' chain-joiner in the saddlebag, plus a universal mech-hanger. A group of us did the Lakes and Dales Loop (in Cumbria) in September and my friend managed to catch his arm on a bramble, causing his right foot to kick his rear derailleur into the spokes. If I hadn't had the hanger he would have been stuck 30 miles from our overnight stop with no means of riding his bike... Absolute gem, and all of 20 grams!
Clothes. Don't forget your clothes.
LOL I thought the same thing...
Watch the first 5 seconds of the video again
Completely unnecessary. In Seattle we bike naked or just covered in paint all the damn time.
I'll never forget that time... Needless to say, it was embarrassing.
for the night ride i add lights and horn/bell to the list, for commute to work i add many things, include phone charger.
Bike computer...? If it's not on Strava, it didn't happen.
Just run it on your mobile phone, which, as we learned, is the most important thing to carry with you
I sort of agree with mobile as no. 1 - I use mine for payment for my coffee/cake (saving taking change), a way of contacting if stuck, it has a roadid welcome screen with details (i also have roadid wristband) and I also put my roadid breadcrumb tracker on so that my wife feels happier when I am out on a bike ride, and a route guide. With a power pack lasts all day.
Oneplus 3
I'd add: spoke wrench, a rag, glasses, another tyre lever, patch glue x 2, balaclava, reading glasses and a map so you can discuss routes when you meet fellow riders over coffee.
I have too much pride to ride with a saddle bag
yeah, I only put it on when I go for a really long ride. just to be safe.
Dave You'll definitely know how much you'll need your saddle bag when you get stuck on the roadside without it no matter how short your ride is. I had the same thinking till I was actually stuck with a broken presta valve 5 miles away from home with no money or a spare tubes... Had to walk the bike home lol. #Neveragain 🚶
That pride doesn't last long as you walk 5-10 miles home in road shoes and spandex.
I just don't understand how people use a saddle bag with a tail light. I ride a vintage frame, so it doesn't have 12 inches of seatpost real estate.
I mount my tail light on my helmet using the clip and a small zip tie. I just "unclip" if I'm using that helmet in a race, for example. Otherwise, my USB chargeable taillight is always on the helmet.
In the late 80's me and a friend set out on a hot Essex summer's day. I had a racing cape in my back pocket just in case and was berated for it. By the time we got to Harlow and some 60 miles or so, the temperature plummeted as a rainstorm hit. Roads became rivers. My mate was incapacitated by cold. No cellphones back then so - I went to a house at his request and phoned us a taxi! He was later diagnosed with renal failure and had a successful transplant.
Dear GCN. Quality over Quantity.
What I often do is that I just grind oats, dates and some flax seed together (sometimes adding some citric acid to make it pop), then mix in some water manually to turn it into a very thick dough, and shape that into a bar. It firms up a bit with time. Much faster than baking flapjacks. :)
Spare chain link (like SRAM quick link) can be useful and it literally weights nothing
The only thing that literally weighs nothing is nothing.
Actually, if we're going to be picky, things that float weigh nothing. You mean everything has mass.
Incidentally this is why I fill my tires with helium and tie party balloons to my frame.
everything in this universe has mass. you might be thinking of things that float are affected by buoyancy - the relative density of the water is greater than the thing floating on - or in, as a submarine - it.
***** Weight isn't synonymous with mass. A thing that floats still has mass but has no weight
Phone and ID are essentials for me, but so is the item I carry them in ... a ziploc/slider bag. Keeps 'em safe from sweat and precipitation, and the screen can even be accessed through the ziploc.
won't go on a ride without gloves.
My top 10!!!! 10. Asthma Medicine 9. Chap stick 8. Hand sanitizer 7. Tire repair stuff 6. Mini first aid 5. FOOD! 4. Phone 3. Identification 2. Money 1. Water. These arent in order they just popped in my head and i wrote them down, the one i think y'all should've put in was the mini first aid kit i needed it today while i was doing a race clinic, i cliped the corner and went flying! I didnt have my first aid but my coach had one in the team van. Shout out to my bike team GS ANDIAMO!!!!
Number 1 should be a helmet
Get into a bind and this thing is a life saver
What?! Mineral water didn't make number one?
Yeah! I've watched GCN videos at the side of the road to fix a number of things! thanks GCN!
50 euro note in England?
Where are these people,have they illegally imported euros to England?
I recently swiped to tubeless tires so I'm not taking patches nor inner tubes anymore. I do carry a CO2 cartridge with head, multitool and a shredder to presta valve adapter just in case.
Reny Vas good call on the valve adapter. I think ill start doing that too
I've never owned a mobile phone and never needed one either.
Backwards
either one needed never and phone mobile a owned never I've
Ditto. I keep waiting for this recent cellphone craze to die off.
Fair enough
"recent" Cellphones have been around since the 80's, I really doubt they're going anywhere.
I carry all those, except the gels - that's why we have cake stops.
I do also carry a spare quick link in case the chain breaks, and a couple of zip ties. I have never had to use them, but they are tiny anyway. I also carry a very small lock for the cafe stop.
Wrapped in a zippable sandwich bag
Helmet?
That would be mentioned at 3 seconds into the video.
it was presented as a part of the kit
Not always. Depends on risk assessment.
Why would you need two helmets?
Slime\scabs are the best option i found so far for patches :) My garmin should be on number one!!!