How to carry your kit

[Tin Pot]

There is a lot of lists for beginners of what to take with you on a ride. Water, clothing tools and tubes ect.
But how do you carry it all. A camelbak seems to be a popular choice. But I do not like wearing backpacks when riding if I can help it. I just feel they make my back sweat to much and I get too hot and uncomfortable.

What are the best ways to carry the kit on the bike or is a backpack really the best option. Is a backpack something I will just get used too over time

Forget water until it's the height of summer.

Forget clothes, check the forecast.

Backpacks bad for your back when riding, imho.

I didn't take anything on leisure rides only had one problem in two years: when the crank fell off!

Commuting, where I don't really have a backup plan and time is of the essence, I set off early enough to cope with a puncture with everything in my jersey back pockets;

1x inner tube
2x levers
4x emergency patches w. sandpaper bit
1x chain tool
1x pocket pump
1x emergency lock
Allen key set
Section of spare chain
Smartphone, charging cable, cards, keys, ID

The really important advice is to change a tube at home, maybe you'll find it easy, maybe you'll snap five levers like I did. Either way, you're better off with the practice

 

[derrick]

mostly shared cycle routes and quiet roads but I am hoping as the year goes on and the weather gets better to go on longer rides and maybe include some easy tracks

Most of my riding is social club rides, I have a small saddle bag with multi tool that includes a chain breaker, tyre levers, co2 x 2, universal derailleur hanger, my jersey pocket 1 inner tube, 1 small lock, mobile phone, the second water bottle carries another inner tube and a thin shower proof jacket, I take that lot on every ride from a 20 mile to a 100 mile plus rides, Have only had to use the chain breaker once on a mates bike, so not bad for the amount of time i have been riding.

 

[mjr]

Don't put hard tools in your jersey back pockets: you really don't want to land on them if you come off. Use a bag, even a tiny saddlebag or bottle cage bag.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Don't put hard tools in your jersey back pockets: you really don't want to land on them if you come off. Use a bag, even a tiny saddlebag or bottle cage bag.

^^^^^ I know someone whose cycling was effectively ended by the damage caused to his spine by a small mobile phone. Only soft items in your pockets.

 

[Apollonius]

For what it is worth, I carry all I need in a Vittoria bottle-cage zip-up. In it, I get two pumps (one CO2 and a Topeak mini) two tubes, three tyre levers(two plastic, one metal) some Park Tools self-adhesive patches with a scraper (vital), a couple of quick links, and a Park Tools chain-cracker. Mobile phone in soft case and plastic bag in pocket of jersey. £20 note in jacket pocket. I like to travel light.

 

[Smurfy]

Long rides:
Two bottle cages, everything else is in a seat pack and a camelbak copy with the bladder removed (water is heavy, so using the bottle cages keeps the weight off my back and on the bike)

Short rides:
One bottle cage and a seatpack with tubes and tools inside

 

[nickyboy]

^^^^^ I know someone whose cycling was effectively ended by the damage caused to his spine by a small mobile phone. Only soft items in your pockets.

My cycling tops have a sort of side pocket. That's where I put my phone for exactly that reason. I can still get at it if, for, example, someone calls me. But if I have an off and land on it probably the worst it will do is a cracked rib

 

[Jody]

Forget water until it's the height of summer.

Forget this advice Its handy to have a drink even if its just a small amount in a bottle. Some people can get away without drinking when exercising, but depending on how far you ride and how much effort you put in you will need a drink at some point.

 

[mjr]

I carry at least a 400ml drink bottle even in winter, but prefer ones with a full cap so I'm not wrapping my lips around mud splatter.

 

[Tin Pot]

Forget this advice Its handy to have a drink even if its just a small amount in a bottle. Some people can get away without drinking when exercising, but depending on how far you ride and how much effort you put in you will need a drink at some point.

No, you won't.

It's a fantasy that people need water to exercise.

There is no "some people" about this, we're all humans. Unless you set off dehydrated, or it is hot weather, there is no need for water.

 

[mjr]

There is no "some people" about this, we're all humans. Unless you set off dehydrated, or it is hot weather, there is no need for water.

Depends how much you usually drink and how long you're out, surely? Even just town and back is nearly an hour pedalling and I often like a drink during that.

 

[Tin Pot]

Depends how much you usually drink and how long you're out, surely? Even just town and back is nearly an hour pedalling and I often like a drink during that.

Check out the OP - we're not talking about century rides here.

Seriously, if you feel you need water in just an hour's effort, check out the science; Tim Noakes is your top guy there.

It's most likely because you were under hydrated before you left or because you have been taught to "need" water.

 

[mjr]

Tim Noakes the more-extreme-than-Atkins ("Banting") fan?

But I'm saying a drink's nice, not that it's needed in an absolute science sense.

 

[Jody]

There is no "some people" about this, we're all humans. Unless you set off dehydrated, or it is hot weather, there is no need for water.

As Mr Jay pointed out it depends on time and intensity. There are other factors also. I'm not getting into an argument about it but its bad advice to tell people to leave all fluids at home. The OP is also riding a MTB, possibly off road and at no point stated that he is going out for an hour. Have you tried riding and hour or two after having mud, grit and dirty water flicked into your mouth? Dry mouth and just want a sip? Its a bottle in a cage with a little bit of water in it

 

[Tin Pot]

You can take a picnic and a bottle of Pimms if you want to.

- Taking water is not necessary.

Advising newbies to take stuff they don't need is bad advice. The mountain of gear and clothing some people take discourages cycling.

A. Take enough kit to deal with reasonably likely incidents:

1. Puncture
2. Chain fail
3. Seat/brake adjustments etc.

B. Do not take kit to deal with unreasonable incidents:

1. Hospitalisation from chronic dehydration
2. Sudden and instant desertification of the British countryside
3. Zombie invasion