What to take on a big day out on the bike

The perfect list of what to take really depends on the type of riding you plan to do. If you’re going Mountain Biking, then the final list will be different than for a day cruising around the coast stopping at cafes.

To get you started, here is a list of the general items you should take on pretty much any bike ride:

Inner tubes and patches

You don’t want to be trying to patch up an inner tube by the side of the road so always carry at least one spare tube that you can just swap in. You can patch the punctured tube up once you’re warm and dry at home. Make sure that the valve length is correct for the rims you’re riding and the tube is the correct width for your tyres. It’s still a good idea to carry some self-adhesive patches as well though, just in case you have an especially puncture ridden ride.

Tyre levers

A pair of plastic tyre levers make getting a tight tyre off the rim to fix a flat far easier. Look for ones that are stiff, hook onto the spokes and that clip together. Avoid metal ones as they can easily damage your rims. Be careful if you use the levers to put the tyre back on as it’s easy to damage your new inner tube.

Mini-pump / CO2 canister

Mini-pumps are a must. They aren’t as nice to use as a good floor/track pump and won’t easily get up to high pressures, but they are easy to carry and will get your tyre up enough to get you out of trouble.

For riders who want fast, high pressure on the go - check out using CO2 canisters. They will blast your tyre back up to the highest PSI levels in no time which makes them perfect on Mountain Bike rides or group races.

Multitool

A multitool should have a range of allen keys, screwdriver and torx heads that will allow you to adjust all of the important bolts on your bike. Your handlebars, stem and seatpost clamps are the most likely candidates for tweaking.

Mobile phone

You will be using it for Strava and finding interesting spots to stop, but it is also an amazing piece of technology in an emergency situation.It should be fully charged when you set out and protected from the elements. Have an I.C.E (in case of emergencies) number stored in the contacts and ensure that any security locks are switched off. Be aware if you’re using the GPS on your phone, this will drain the battery very fast.

Card and cash

Aside from the coffees/beers; you might find you need spares from bike shops on route, some sugar/energy to get you through that last 10km or as a last resort to get you home.

Food

Make sure you have enough food to fuel your ride or - if you’re on a long ride or sportive where you’ll need more food than you can carry - enough food to see you to your first planned refuelling stop. Even if you’re just out for a short session, it’s advisable to have an emergency gel in your pocket just in case you’ve misjudged the route, have a mechanical problem that takes a long time to fix or haven’t taken in enough fuel before the ride.

Showerproof jacket

Modern jackets fold down easily and are small enough to fit in a jersey pocket. It’s easy to get chilled if the weather turns or when stopping to fix a