Three essential items

[grolyat]

A rack
A pannier (or two)
A purpose

 

[fullcycle]

1, mini pump
2, spare tubes
3, multi tool

 

[TheDoctor]

Padded shorts, a track pump, a Morph pump for on the bike and a multitool.
OK, that's four, but they're all well worth having.
Morph pumps aren't "get you home after a puncture on 50 psi (eventually)" so much as "get you back to normal working pressure while still retaining will-to-live".
Oh, and some decent lights and mitts / gloves.
Six things...

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Some great answers here

But you haven't put any answers?!

 

[Schmilliemoo]

I'm out looking for padded shorts

 

[Nebulous]

Two legs and a bike.

 

[User6179]

Pump
tubes
tyre
I carry a multi tool also but have never needed it !

 

[slowmotion]

1) Cash
2) Mobile phone
3) Credit card.

 

[SWSteve]

I'm out looking for padded shorts

I'm surprised no one has mentioned these when it comes to padded shorts, they seem to be the staple diet of this section

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

Pump
tubes
tyre
I carry a multi tool also but have never needed it !

I carry tube, pump and multi-tool. (Along with other stuff but that's more than three).

I HAVE had to use multi tool to straighten my saddle when it twisted round when I had an 'off'! Luckily, not had to use tube or pump on a ride yet. <shhhhhhh, don't let the P******* fairies hear me>

Top of list though has to be joy. It is great to be out, and, best of all, that bit is free!!

 

[User6179]

I carry tube, pump and multi-tool. (Along with other stuff but that's more than three).

I HAVE had to use multi tool to straighten my saddle when it twisted round when I had an 'off'! Luckily, not had to use tube or pump on a ride yet. <shhhhhhh, don't let the P******* fairies hear me>

Top of list though has to be joy. It is great to be out, and, best of all, that bit is free!!

Had a think about this and rather than what I carry the 3 things ive most needed are Spare tyre x 6 times
Toilet roll x to many to mention
Spare tubes plus pump obviously x 100

That's last 20k miles, used multi tool zero times on my own bike but plenty on my mates bikes :-)

I know I needed spare tyre 6 times because that's how many ultremo zx tyres ive used

 

[potsy]

1-Garmin
2-Mirror
3-Bell

 

[summerdays]

Ortleib panniers
Comfortable saddle
Bike computer

The panniers are just so useful to carry stuff in and reliable too - still going strong 5 years later with daily use (ok they don't look as pristine but they are still waterproof. The saddle as I have tried to ride on an uncomfortable saddle and it was awful and not just for the ride, my bum seems to find specialized saddles are suitable. The bike computer - well it can be demoralising at times, but it did make me aware that I was really getting slower and slower, so did a blood test, and then it was good to see the speed pick up gradually as the iron tablets had an effect, but it's also a good to see how many miles I've covered or to judge how long it will take to cycle somewhere based on the time. It doesn't rule me - just helps with a bit of information.

 

[Ozzrahog]

mobile phone (its a map, cycle computer, music player and emergency rescue tool all in one)
clothes appropriate for the weather
puncture resistant tyres

 

[Schmilliemoo]

Hi to you all

I've just put air in my tyres and I have to say it was a battle and a half to get em up to the required 110 psi. I'm thinking this would be very difficult with a mini pump. Are there any that are better than others?