K2 / Proflex Riders Group
General => Tech Forum => Topic started by: Old Proflexer on January 06, 2004, 12:54:13 pm
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bought a new pack for xmas and noted that it's a bit larger and heavier than my two year old pack that never seemed to have enough room for all my goodies that i like to bring along.
i was wondering if any of you would like to share:
what 'essentials' should one bring along in a pack to make it thru a ride?
(besides water and/or the ever popular margarita mix)
i was looking at my stash of money, tums, spare tire, tire irons, pump, alien, shoelace (tournequet) etc., and took stock of what i really need versus all the garbage that i carry, and realized that a lot of the stuff was for emergencies that i've never had. other people have had such issues and i've usually stopped and shared my extra stuff but with my new years resolutions, that will be no more.
anyone care to share a list of of what one would consider 'essentials' versus
'that's nice to have but not really necessary for the average rider to carry?
so, what you got in your pack
OP
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I would consider the following things essentials:
Water, Pump, Alien, tube and small patch kit, and bit of food. In the winter time I would add a set of rain gear: jacket and pants. I also almost always carry a small first aid kit. I put my stuff in a Camelbak HAWG.
If free riding I would add pads.
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Although I love my Alien, it's probably overkill. There are LOTS lighter tools out there. On my road bike, I carry a Ritchey CPR13, which has pretty much everything I need, and weighs a lot less. It's strictly for emergencies though since it's a pain to actually use. I still carry the Alien on the mountain bike though. It's just too practical. I've considered getting a Crank Bro's 17 though (or whatever it's called).
Also carry:
Mini Pump
First aid kit (basically some bandaids)
Lighter (you never know when you might get cold!)
Water purifier (it's a charcoal straw - superlight, and it's been in there so long, I forget it's there).
Spare tube
Glueless patches.
Cell phone (I know, I know, but it has saved me some major headaches. Plus, I like to call my buds from the middle of a beautiful ride and rub it in their faces. Motivates them to ride with me more often...)
Red blinking light.
Whatever food I think I'll need. Usually just an energy gel or bar. I prefer to eat a lot right before a ride...
Several zip ties of various sizes. (Never leave home without them!)
And occasionally:
camera
arm pads
sleeping bag (I can actually fit my 10 degree bag in my HAWG - I've only done it once though. Great fun!)
And sometime in the future:
.300 Winchester Magnum. (only during deer season of course. I've been dying to combine my two favorite outdoor activities. Just haven't had the chance, what with all my firearms being 2700 miles away from my current home in the People's Republic of New York).
Since I usually do morning rides, I pretty much never bring extra clothing, but some of the stuff I'm wearing at the beginning of a ride often ends up in the Camelbak by the end!
Sheesh. I thought this was going to be a short list! Guess I'm more of a Boy Scout than a minimalist. (After all, I AM currently a Scoutmaster. Too bad not one of my scouts has a bicycle...)
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sheesh.....8mm and 10mm combo wrenches 4/5/5.5 or 6 hex hex key to fit cranks,small flat blade screw driver,chain breaker,pump.light jacket,pucture repair kit.tyre levers, maybe a choc bar and some $2 coins
oops yes sprucey reminded me i ussually have a tube too! looks like i am the Sparta....
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For shorter rides I use a Camelbac Blowfish and for longer I use 35litre Lowe Alpine Contour event pack.
I carry as standard:-
Spare tube (or two)
Plastic tyre levers
Multi allen key tool with flat and cross head screw driver blades.
Park chain brute tool and also some SACHS/SRAM powerlink connectors.
Park super patch self adhesive patches.
Roll of electrical insulating tape
Spare zip ties
Cut open plastic toothpaste tubes - great for tyre boots/internal patches when tyre is split.
Topeak Morph pump.
Cell phone
20pence peices for payphones.
MapAll this lives permantly in the Camelbac which I just pick up each time I ride.
If I go with larger group I alwaya take a mountain First aid kit whicj includes swiss army knife, silva compass and space blanket, night lights and lighter (used for back country skiing as well) - This attaches to the shoulder strap of the pac.
GPS - Garmin Excel Summit
For day long rides - add extra clothing layer/waterproof/camera etc.
For night riding - (once a week at the moment) - head torch.
Sprucey
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:) I would like to tell everyone about a little thing that may save a life. A space blanket. It folds up very small, costs $2, reflective, and very warm if you need to spend a gold dark night outside.
I had one when a buddy crashed and broke two vertibre (sp) in his neck, couldnt move him so had to stay 8 miles from any roads, sent the other guy we were riding with and due to fog & mist rescue had to be done by hiking in to get us. 18 hours on the trail with only what you brought it was a life saver.
Just buy one and throw it in your bag and when you need it it will be there.
8) [smiley=beer.gif]
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Here's what I carry in my great K2 hydration pack (in addition to water, of course):
Crank Bros. multitool
Crank Bros. alloy pump
Crank Bros. speed lever
Brave Warrior crash kit
a few bucks
driver's license
doctor's business card
health insurance card
cell phone
some chain links
spare tube
patch kit
energy bar(s)
wow, that's a lot more stuff than I thought I carried with me.
as for leaving stuff at home that one has never used, you know that you will need whatever it is the day that you don't bring it with you!
[smiley=groucho.gif]
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i also bring along some Advil and Sudafed
on epics i toss in my Leatherman and Vicoden.
the space blanket is a great idea, you never know when or where it may be needed. i am going to get me one of those.
i've blown thru tubes, patch kits, broken spokes, chain..even a headset disaster on the 857, that's when i never leave home w/o all of it. on group rides we will divvy out some items like tools, pumps, etc, theres not much sense with that much overkill.
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I use a Blowfish and carry the usual stuff listed above.
What I don't see above is Duct Tape.
I wrap my pump or co2 carteridges with it depending on which bike, road or mountain. Duct Tape is great because you can use it as a boot, general repair, tape someones arm to the body (did that for someone who separated their shoulder) and repair leaks in your camelbak bladders. I got 2 bladders patched with duct tape and they're still going strong. ;D
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Can't add much to what has already been listed, but here are a couple. A leatherman Wave (or any other needle nose with wire cutter tool), Torx tool that comes with disc brakes[Remember when we needed it Matno?], duct tape wrapped around a 4 mm allen tool, velcro tape, old toe strap [priceless], pocket chain saw [the one with real teeth]when clearing trails, extra rear and front skewer on really long expeditions [my buddy had a set on a tough 6-hour ride. THe other bud who broke his rear skewer was just a little bit glad. He would of had to walk about 10 miles to the closest road], dog mace and hunting knife for cougars[its better than nothing, a friend of mine in Oregon started carrying a 9mm after a black bear encounter].
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The only item I like to carry that no one has mentioned is oil. I carry a small container of lubricant to apply to a noisy part or for the chain.
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In my Camelbak I carry :
Food
A light windbreaker
Alien
Tiny bottle of lubricant (Actually chainsaw oil)
A few links of chain
Patch kit. (Fits in a 35mm film can)
pump
compact binoculars
In summer I might add a tube of sunscreen.
I carry a spare tube and tire irons in an under seat pack.
I'll have enough room left over to carry a few extra goodies if I need to ( swim trunks, towel, camera etc.).
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Lipstick, mascara, spare set of tights, s/towels on a monthly basis, contaceptive pi.................
Oh God, wrong bag, wrong forum - what a mistake!
Seriously, I have heard that woman's sanitary pads/towels are supposed to be briliant as wound dressings - they are sterile, absorbant and have a waterproof outside so can be easily taped over an open wound. I have read about this in several areas.
Whilst on the theme - matches / match box stored in a condom to keep them dry - be prepeared, never leave home with out one!
Sprucey
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some very good things listed here, some I will add to my pack, such as emergency blanket.... but, ...did anyone say
MOSQUITO REPELLENT ?
We do not have many skeeters here in Nevada, however when I go over the Sierra ridge to the west side of Tahoe, LOOKOUT ! I got swarmed bigtime once, thousands of tiny needles piercing me. Was going back to car when a nice passing rider offered repellent. Saved my ride. Now I keep a can of my own in my "ready" bag.
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Mosquito repellent? Heck. That stuff just gives you an excuse to go slow! 8)
Actually, it can come in handy. Probably easier to just spray yourself at the car before you start your ride, but the sweat might wash it off. I am "blessed" ??? in that I hardly sweat (even on an exercise bike in the gym!) and mosquitos seem to naturally avoid me. On top of that, even when I do get bites, they are barely noticeable when I get them, and they rarely itch afterwards. Maybe growing up in the swamps and drainage ditches of the muggy Texas coast caused me to mutate somehow??? I don't complain though...
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Matno,
Must be nice to naturally repel skeeters.
The mosquitos aren't bothering you because they are chasing me ! I attrack them somehow.
My allergists gave me a repellent. 3 drops under the tongue every day in the spring.
I do get slimey when sweating alot with repellent on, and it does kind of wash off, thats why I carry it with. But only in certian areas. I prefer slimey and sweaty to loads of itchy red bumps.
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Forget the insect repellent, but never leave home without the mountain lion repelent and certainly don't wear the ' musk de rabbit' aftershave that wifey bought you for Xmas. I also agree with Sprucey that condoms are a good idea but I can't figure out why you'd put matches in em, maybe it's cheaper than the studded ones.
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I think your all missin the point. This is selfish and stupid. Yes we need more efficiency and streemlining, but not at the cost of future loss. No it might not have happened yet, but that is the point of emergancy kit. And emergancy kit should never be a selfish one. What happens when you do slice youself and are bleeding to dealth and need a tournequet. oh, you decided as you had'nt needed it for so long it was obsolete - bollox, oh and you now have velcro shoes, no ties in your short, how would you like it if a blasted past shouting @@@@you, mine's for me..............no we can't help everyone all the time, and I dont want you to carry the world on your back, but don't just think of yourselves all the time.
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I dont think that was the point here. I think the idea was to bring everything you need for the ride you plan to get you back home safe & sound with as little discomfort as possiable. If i find I dont have something I need or anyone in my group needs I seem to get it throw it in my camelpack and have it the next time.
Just my opinion. 8)
[smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif]
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well,
thank you all for the great input - but in the end i guess i'll just have to pack what i think i need most and leave the things such as mosquito repellant, pepper spray, 9mm at home.
my essentials -
tums in a film cannister
alien
shoelace
spare piece of tire about 2" x 4" cut from an old tire
mini pump (may replace with a C02 unit)
presta / shraeder adapter
tube
patch kit
tire irons
mini first aid kit including bandaids, needle and thread
3 links chain, xtra connector
heavy duty paperclip (repaired a derailler for "BOB" with one and got him home - jockey pulley bolt/nut broke)
small vial of oil (moly oil)
money
photo of drivers license and health card
small bottle of visine for contact wearers
trail maps (plastic coated)
i am going to toss in some zip ties from input here and a torch lighter
dennis seemed to have a bag similar to mine in components
i appreciate all your comments - now if i could just find a good way to carry my bow for the spring pig hunt
OP
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i think this has been a valuable thread .I am sure everyone has seen an item and thought "thats a good idea"Its not selfishness that causes people to be unprepared...most of us dont have any use for our kits 99 times out of 100......OP i spose your bow is a big compound thing??????
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same model as this - Martin Pride XRG Left Hand
I have a pride for my younger stepson as well, a Rage for my older stepson and picked up a good used MV2 on Ebay that i bid on and ended up with outside of the system.
(http://www.martinarchery.com/bows1997/pics/bows/m28xrga.gif)
Pride
(http://www.martinarchery.com/bows1997/pics/bows/m80gs.gif)
Rage
(http://www.martinarchery.com/bows2002/bowpics/mv2m.jpg)
MV2
If i could make a quick release Bow holder for my 4500 - I'd have a whole new way of hunting - many animals just stare at you as long as you are moving but as soon as you stop - they'll take off. It would certainly be good to get me into areas that I wouldn't or couldn't take my Landcruiser into - some manufacturers make them for ATV's and maybe i'll see about converting one of them.
OP
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I think this was a good post as well. I would never have thought of bringing an emergency blanket. The paperclip is good too.
I just recently took a lot of stuff out of my kit because I realized I didn't need it. I just tried to adjust everything on the bike with what I had and eliminated anything I didn't use.
Thanks to everyone for all the input.
Trevor
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I've never been bow-hunting, but I've often thought of going deer hunting on the Proflex. Too bad school has prevented me from hunting for the last several years. (That and having an anniversary that coincides with the opening weekend of the elk hunt - what was I THINKING?!!)
Personally, I think it would work best to carry the bow (or rifle in my case) on my back. Mounting it to the rear of the bike would make dismounting difficult, and mounting it in the front would make singletrack difficult to negociate. There's probably not an ideal way to carry a weapon on a bike, but oh how I want to try it out! (For that matter, I just want to go hunting. I left all my gear out west when I moved to the People's Republic of NYC and I'm really getting the itch. Next fall is a definite possibility though. I'll have a much lighter schedule then.
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OP, you share a relationship with Attila ??? [smiley=laughing.gif]The Huns perfected the fighting art of shooting an arrow accurately from a horse and the type of bow shape you use was designed by the Huns.
[smiley=beer.gif]
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Wow! Shoot AND ride at the same time? That would be impressive! ;)
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what sorta size we talkin OP..hard to tell from the pics.....
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most bows are 31-36" in length - some types (not these) go to about 40". Long bows and takedowns can go to 60".
I'm Russian - half cossack. We know how to ride, pillage and hunt,
it's in the heritage and in the blood.
Yes, there are several reasonable ways to carry a bow on the back while moving, and it would be best to use the bike as transporatation and scouting and not for 'road hunting' - but i've considred it with a gun on the reservations i elk hunt on in arizona. many times throughtout the season the apaches will close areas to motorized traffic for fire reasons so guys have to hoof it in and out - now toss a mountain bike into the mix and that would open up new possibiliities.
problem tho is the apaches want all game taken out and off the reservation 'whole' - that's why one has to be careful where you drop a kill and be able to get it out in one piece - makes hunting there a little more thoughtful. i usually pull the back and third row seats out of my landcrusier and winch the beast into the back (spreading out a tarp to cover the interior)
i've hunted there and other states for years, snagged 11 elk in the last 5 seasons and only a couple of times have had to piece meal it out. one bull was in a couple miles and it took me 6 trips and a day and a half out and back to my Landcruiser.
for the most part - i hunt solo.
OP
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a man of rare talent indeed........ :)
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What about chest wounds? A punctured lung is not uncommon for bikers-either from a branch or broken rib. A petroleum soaked gauze compress is the only way to stop a "sucking chest wound" from suffocating you, right or wrong?
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Depends on how fast you get it over the hole - if the hole is even visible on the surface. More likely the hole would be internal (i.e. from a fractured rib), in which case, there's not a lot you can do, short of inserting a chest tube with negative pressure (i.e. suction). If it's an external puncture, chances are, you wouldn't be able to plug it up before air got inside, in which case you'd just be holding air in, and not allowing the lung to expand. Punctured lungs can be very not fun. Had one on a pediatric patient just a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately, it was in a controlled situation and not a trauma (the surgeon nicked it while putting in a central line, which is not uncommon, but still a mistake!)
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Wow it happens too fast to make use of the compress! The negative air bit reminds me of "The Three Kings" scene where the only way a soldier was able to stay alive was by a large needle inserted through the chest with a valve on it to release trapped air. Dramatic scene but maybe not true to life, actually it's the only truly memorable part of the whole movie!
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i can actually think of a way to create a vacuum but not for very long ...and the time it would take to make up the......hmm now only my new pack was a bit bigger...I wonder wot every one else carries..... ;)
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I keep a small tube of Neosporin or Triple antibiotic in yf first aid kit. I use it for first aid of course, but I also us it for lip balm, skin chaffing and such. I also use it for parts lube if needed. Saved my rear once when my clipless pedals fouled out, and once on a rusty chain.