In My Saddlebag
By Andy Rice.
A brief guide to being prepared for club runs and other day rides.
Essentials for a Club run
- Your VCC ID tag fixed to your bike (if you're a paid-up member and have not received yours, please contact Mick)
- Cash - at least £5 for your tea and cake!
- 2 spare inner tubes
- Puncture repair kit
- Tyre boot patches
- Tyre lever(s)
- Var (bead jack) if you struggle getting the last bit of bead over the rim
- Pump – that actually works! Options are:
- Mini/pocket
- Frame-mounted
- Mini-track
- CO2 Inflator
‘Cos you never know what might happen
- Multi tool with a chain tool
- Spare chain link
- Phone
- Cash - £20 note for emergencies (and a tyre boot if desperate!)
- Credit card – for bigger emergencies (or buying everyone tea and cake…)
- Cable ties – six small ones will fix quite a lot of things
Nice to have just to be prepared
- Rain Jacket
- Light weight, for unexpected showers, wind protection
- First Aid kit, including:
- A couple of dressings, small bandage, tape, antiseptic wipes, steri-strips, plasters
- Disposable gloves – blood and oil protection
- Map or photocopy of where you are going (phones don’t always work)
- GPS (Garmin or similar)
- Cleat covers for the tea stop
- Bars or gels