Riding the Road: What to Bring on Your Ride

I mentioned in my previous post Riding the Road: Simple Rules and Common Sense to be prepared on your ride, but didn’t go too far into what being prepared actually entails. If  you’re new to the road (or getting back in the saddle), you may ask: “What should I bring with me?” How do you know what’s too much, and what exactly to bring to be prepared for what may happen? The list is actually quite small but full of things that can save you a lot of headaches when you’re 20+ miles away from home (or civilization).

What to Bring: The Bare Essentials

1. Helmet
   Yes, you have to wear a helmet. Although I believe the proponents of going helmet free have a point (More cyclists on the road means fewer accidents. No helmet means less pressure and more cyclists), the safety risks outweigh the benefits. Find a helmet you like and you won’t feel goofy. I personally like Giro helmets, which can be found to fit any budget. They cool well and offer good protection (not to mention, most of them look nice too).  Find one you like!
2. Hydration
   Make sure you stay hydrated, because riding home dehydrated not only sucks, but is dangerous. You can use either a Water Bottle (don’t forget the cage) or go for a CamelBak which will also give you room to hold extra gear. In any event, make sure you bring enough for the ride.
3. Tool Kit
   True, it’s hard to do any serious bicycle maintenance on the side of the road, but you should definitely be prepared to fix any minor problems on the fly. Here are a few things that you should carry:
   • Multi-Tool - For performing your maintenance
   • Seat Bag – To hold your gear
   • Tire Levers - For changing flats
   • Spare Tubes or a Patch Kit (I prefer tubes, patch the old one at home)
4. Frame Pump
   To air up your tires after you change the tubes.
5. Cash
   Just in case you stop somewhere that doesn’t take cards. Or (God Forbid) to help out with gas money in the event that you need a ride home.

What to Bring: The Extras

1. Eye Protection
   I strongly suggest investing in some sunglasses not only for sun protection, but also to protect your eyes from wind and debris (especially if you wear contacts)
2. Gloves
   Gloves can take a lot of the bite out of road vibration, and help prevent blisters and callouses.
3. Computer
   Cycling computers range from incredibly simple to ultra comprehensive. You can go with a base model like this Cateye CC-RD300W or go all out with something like the Garmin Edge 705 that measures cadence, heart rate, and has a full GPS.

Each rider will ride with something different, depending on their desires, skill level, and ride conditions. What do you ride with? Let us know in the comments!

And don’t forget to check out our post on Road Basics: Riding the Road: Simple Rules and Common Sense.

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Related posts:

1. Riding the Road: Simple Rules and Common Sense
2. 5 Reasons You Should Ditch Your Car and Ride a Bike
3. How Can We Make Cycling Safer For Everyone?
4. 4 Ways to Enjoy Cycling Today
5. 5 Common Cycling Mistakes You Should Avoid