Essentials -

[Old Proflexer]

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

[Gordo]

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.

[Matno]

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...)

[kiwi]

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....

[Sprucey]

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

[zulu]

  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.
[smiley=beer.gif]

[Dennis]

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]

[Carbon_Angus]

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.

[jimbo]

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.

[Thunderchild]

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].  

[pedro]

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.

[GaryF52]

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.).  

[Sprucey]

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

[Mr.Ed]

   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.  


     

[Matno]

Mosquito repellent? Heck. That stuff just gives you an excuse to go slow!

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...