If you ride your bicycle this season, be sure to pack all of the things that will get you home safe and sound. Nothing ruins a bike trip like breaking down miles from home and having no method of repairing the issue. Because bicycles are relatively simple, it is easy to carry supplies for the most critical repairs, and these supplies can save you time and money while providing peace of mind.
To begin your kit, you need a small bicycle bag. Some riders keep their supplies in a jersey pocket, but I prefer a small underseat bag to keep supplies constantly on hand without me having to remember them on my way out of the door. Bags like that can be purchased at almost every bicycle store for fairly little money, and are worth every penny.
Inside that bag, we need to fit a few things for the most common repairs. First, we need a multitool. Bicycle specific multitools are also commonly found at bike shops and are worth their weight in gold. It will typically have a few screwdrivers and allen keys to adjust your bicycle in the event of a misalignment, a small knife for making repairs or cutting tube patches, and a small wrench facility for pulling off wheels. Generally, I prefer to carry a small adjustable wrench, but if your bike is equipped with quick releases in front and back, you may get away with no wrench at all. If you have a recumbent, complete with the 12 feet of chain it often entails, it is highly recommended that you have a chain pin removal tool as well. Even through modern chains have quick releases on them, being able to make small adjustments or repairs is crucial in an emergency.
With the versatile multitool in place, you need only worry about the items you are likely to need to repair on the road. For the most part, that means tires. At the very minimum, your emergency kit needs a patch kit and re-inflating tool. Patch kits are less than $3, so there is no excuse to not have one. not only will they save you time on the road, but they will also save you money on tubes. I have patched tires so many times that they had patches on top of patches, and they still worked great.
The inflation capacity you choose is up to you. You can get a hand pump, which is guaranteed to work, but it can take forever to inflate a tire and it may not get you past the stage of “mostly inflated.” A compressed air cartridge inflator is almost instant, but if you use up all of your canisters, you are out of options. In my opinion, it should depend on how far you are going. Rides of more than 20 miles should require the hand pump. On bad roads in Philadelphia, I have blown 3 tubes in 12 miles, and it is unlikely that you would carry more than 3 spare cartridges. On a 20 mile club ride however, everyone probably has a few spare cartridges, so running out would probably not be a problem.
In selecting pumps, be sure to check that it mates up with your bicycles valves and that it can inflate the tires to operational pressures. On mountain bikes, this isn’t usually a problem, but high pressure road tires require a high pressure pump, typically with presta valves. It is embarrassing to have a flat out on the road only to find out that your pump is useless in that context.
Another thing you should pack is a keychain light. Even if you don’t intend to ride at night, you never know when you might get help up until after dark. If your bike doesn’t have a light, a small keychain LED will facilitate repairs or make you easier to see after a flat tire eats up the last of the afternoon sunlight. Bikes should always have night lights, and many states require them, but it pays to be prepared.
Finally, include things to repair yourself too. Advil for headaches, adhesive bandages for scrapes and falls, disinfectant, and a small lighter are all common first aid kit needs, and can fit into a compact bundle. In fact, all of these things should fit in a seat bag and still weigh less than 2 lbs.
Nothing ruins a trip like an unexpected breakdown. If you are well prepared, most breakdowns become short hold-ups instead of the end of the ride, making your life more enjoyable and giving you more bike time. Just knowing that I am prepared makes every trip just a little bit easier to take for me, and I hope you find the same with your kit.
