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What's In Your Saddle Bag: A Chris Thread.
A while ago I did a thread about cycling on a budget, which was supposed to be helpful but turned into a rant. This, along with a thread I'll post in a few days, will go into the details of bike maintenance and repair.
A while ago I did a thread about cycling on a budget, which was supposed to be helpful but turned into a rant. This, along with a thread I'll post in a few days, will go into the details of bike maintenance and repair.
As an optional extra I suggested tools and somewhere to keep them. These are all optional so in order of importance. I'd suggest having them all, others may suggest more. it's a pain, but it means you'll be able to fix anything that could possibly go wrong.
99% of the time what will happen is a stone will work its way into the tyre and you'll get a flat. For the 5 minutes it takes to change it passing motorists will beep and shout, but mate what happens when you get a flat tyre? eh? well? STOP THIS CHRIS!
So we don't even need to think about saddle bags yet. A puncture repair kit and peg kit will cost about £1 each and easily fits in your pocket. Maybe you'll get a hole in your tyre that's so big that you'll risk the tube bulging through it, so you'll want a tyre boot.
This is just a few inches of an old tyre, to sit under the hole to keep the tube in place and prevent more debris from working its way in causing another puncture. I've NEVER needed to do this, EVER, but I still keep a bit because it doesn't take up much space.
And it's generally a good idea to have a multi tool. in case something rattles loose. one time I was riding home from town and my saddle suddenly went as I was going past Salford uni. i think somebody tried to steal it, as I keep everything torqued up right.
That would've been a very awkward ride home if I didn't have the correct hex key. So a multi tool (£10-20) is pretty much essential and will also fit a pocket. something with 4,5 and 6mm hex and a screwdriver should have you covered.
I notice more and more mechs now use hex heads I think 2 or 3mm, so maybe you need to think about that, but it's extremely unlikely that you will need to adjust your limit screws. There are also these star.. things.. torx.. is it? I need them for my brake pads.
But I can't see me burning through a brake pad on a ride home from town so I haven't bothered getting a new multi-tool. All bikes are different, so just see what your bike might need in an emergency.
It goes without saying that you'll need something to inflate a tyre. The two options are frame pumps and co2 canisters. I carry both, but tend to use frame pumps because we've only got one planet and that. I have a co2 canister for drastic conditions.
co2 is definitely more convenient, especially if you've got a long way to go and you have high pressure tyres, or there is no cover from the Manchester rain. Mine cost about a tenner iirc. word of warning wrap something round the canister while using. They get cold!
But I also keep a frame pump, because the whole co2 thing seems a bit wasteful. I can get away with the 50psi my skinny arms can manage. Maybe you can't. Frame pumps maybe also mount to the frame, hence the name.
If it doesn't, I got these off amazon. They're great, and you'll be pleased to know that they're unisex... (really...?) https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZEFAL-Doodad-Pump-Clip-Black/dp/B005I4GVQA/ref=pd_lpo_200_t_0/258-6500623-0043832?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B005I4GVQA&pd_rd_r=7a8e7b43-5748-41b7-b6b9-642552f8cdea&pd_rd_w=UnjqS&pd_rd_wg=FqY28&pf_rd_p=da0677f5-a47b-4543-8b54-10be576b8f26&pf_rd_r=6HN2ZDX8X9NND4ZGSMMM&psc=1&refRID=6HN2ZDX8X9NND4ZGSMMM
A spoke key helps. I've never had to use mine in the wild, but for the amount of space it takes up it really doesn't hurt to carry one.. especially if you use rim brakes.
You're now set to take on pretty much anything... but every so often you'll get out of your saddle to get away from the lights and hear a snapping sound. Your chain broke! But for £10-15 you can buy a chain breaker, put a quick link on and be on your merry way.
My current bike seems to eat chains, so I make sure to carry mine since I had to push it from Monton to Leigh. If it's a nice day, you can walk/scoot it home. don't wanna do that in January though. It's a simple enough job. I'd carry a few chain links, they're small, why not.
That probably makes for quite a bulky pocket, so I prefer to put it all in a saddle bag. I use the Topeak wedge. They're cheap, reliable, they've got a strap for a bike light, and a quick release so you can take it off easily if you're going to be leaving your bike for a while.
Since you've got loads of extra room, you might as well carry a spare inner tube, a set of rubber gloves and a rag. These make things so much easier, and the rag will stop everything from rattling around. I also keep a pack of ibuprofen and a couple of plasters in mine.
And I think that's pretty much it. Is there anything else you can think of? If you have other tips please tweet them as the replies we usually get are quite helpful, and if I've started keeping track too... sort of.
But one final point, under no circumstances should you leave anything by the roadside, be it a bit of tissue or an inner tube. This is a d*** move. Society has decided littering is a d*** move, and there is no special allowance for cyclists. We all manage it.
great point Harrie. i did a year or two before i bothered with any of this and i can confirm that while you shouldn't expect it, if another rider spots you pushing a flat, many will offer to sort it out for you :) https://twitter.com/tricyclemayor/status/1358159093626716161
