As a novice long distance rider I'm not quite sure what to take for the ride, apart from tools, inner tube, pump. I've been doing my training rides with a rucksack but would like to be free of that if possible. I know they recommend bringing waterproofs but that stuff is quite bulky. Any tips please!
Everyone has a different approach, but I'll tell you what I do:
2 large water bottles carried in cages on the bike. tube repair kit carried in small saddle bag. snacks and gels carried in jersey pockets. rain shell (only carry if the forecast calls for it) stuffed into jersey pocket.
There are two rest stops and a lunch break at regular intervals where you can refill water bottles and reload with snacks so DO NOT haul a whole day's worth with you from the start. I also have a small container that straps to my crossbar where it meets the handlebar stem, and I always have a few energy gels in it so I have them handy. Carry a light, water resistant shell if you need it. A waterproof jacket or poncho is pointless because you'll just get yourself wet sweating underneath it.
Don't plan for the long haul. It's a waste of your energy. Just carry what you need to get to the next rest stop and then restock. Anyway, that's my two cents.
this year I'm going to also carry a few extra spokes... Unfortunately my HED wheels use three different spokes between the front and rear.
Two hours into day two I dropped in behind my ride partner and noticed his back wheel flopping around. When we pulled over, we discovered two broken spokes on the drive side. I had to leave him to the wolves and continue solo. The good folks at Bike Soup spend hours running him around to different bike shops trying to find replacement spokes. They eventually found a shop that jury rigged some DT Swiss spokes and got the wheel as true as possible. Unfortunately by this time he was two hours from the sweep vehicle pulling the last of the riders off the road. They Bike Soup team ended up dropping him and his bike 20K from the finish line so he could ride his bike over the finish. His total kilometers on day two was just over 60 and he's still bummed about it.
Many people use seat bags to carry their patch kit, tools, cell phone, emergency cash, id and contact info. A $5 bill (or other thin, strong paper) can also come in handy as a tire liner should you get a bad nick in your tire. In addition to a spare tube I'll have a second tube in my overnight bag for day 2.
2 water bottles are recommended. I usually have one for water and one for a gatorade-type drink.
I also like to bring a list of the people I am riding for and the people who have supported me in doing the ride.
A small camera is also nice to have to capture a few moments along the route. Some of the scenes are gorgeous and it is a ride, not a race, so taking some time to enjoy the countryside is ok. Just remember to be considerate of the other cyclists when doing so.
It seems from reading the above posts that experienced riders seem to do similiar things for me :
in my small bag under my seat I have a small multi tool, three tire irons (I have never mastered the finger only method) a spare tube, a C02 cartridge and nozel, a small patch kit (if you double flat like I did yesterday) and an emergency $50 bill. After yesterday I am considering going to a slightly larger bag so that I can carry two tubes and two C02 cartridges.
In a small zip lock bag in my left side jersey pocker I have my phone, some money a credit card, my health card and a couple of Advil and Rebaxaset. In the right jersey pocket I have snacks and gels, I like Sport Beans. I figure one pack of snacks an hour so I take a total of 7 as they are small and it means I do not have to relly on the rest stops. This is perhaps where I differ from the above posts.
In the centre pocket I have a very small back up pump (for that second flat or if the C02 does not work) and, if the forcast calls for rain I have a very light cycling rain jacket that stuffs in.
Last year I started the day with arm warmers on that went in and out of the jersey pocket as the temperature changed.
Lastly on my bike I also carry two of the largest water bottles, I like the Camel Back bottles as well as two or three packs of the electrolite powder I like (in my jersey pocket) so that I can ride 5 hours or so only needing water as support.
The route is patrolled and each rest stop has bike mechanics, so unless you are running some really odd wheels or other strange equipment I am not sure about the need to carry anything like spokes. Perhaps leave the aero wheels at home and ride the training wheels
Thanks for the advice everyone. I feel more comfortable knowing what everyone else takes. Hopefully the weather will not call for the requirement of water proofs on the day and we can all enjoy a 'baggage' free ride! Cheers.
I'll need to take a few extras (I'm a diabetic), but other than that, what everyone says above sounds like a good idea, although I have no idea how to fix my tires, if need be, not that I have the strength in my hands to undo the quick releases to get the tire off anyway. I've never had a flat that needed more than air before. Oh well, at least there are others around to help if I need it.
Even if you don't know how to fix a flat I would make sure I had the necessary equipment to fix a flat with you so that when someone offers assistance (which I am sure they will) they don't also have to sacrifice their spare tube and CO2 cartridge.
So at a minimum I think everyone should have one spare tube in the correct size for their wheels, and an inflating device. I would also have a set of tire irons so that everything is ready for that good samaritan.
Lastly I am sure your local bike shop would be happy to teach you how to change a tube. I am told it is about technique not strength, but as I have no technique I get by on brute force and ignorance. If you don't have a bike shop that will help I believe the ride is running bike maintenance courses that will teach this skill. Check the events calendar.
Flatting is common and as I mentioned above I double flatted on Saturday so I would be prepared. Fixing a flat takes maybe 10 minutes if you have all the stuff; waiting for a van and then being driven to the next stip where their is a bike mechanic with tubes etc if you don't have the necessary parts could put a real damper on your day.
-- Edited by adiamond on Monday 2nd of May 2011 12:37:38 PM
Adiamond: I have all the parts to fix a flat, with correct tubes and such. My husband just got a flat this morning and showed me how to fix one, but since my accident, my hands and wrists just don't have the ability to fix a flat (I tried, but I have a lot of muscle/nerve damage). I wanted to go to a bike maintenance course, but they were either too far away or I couldn't get a babysitter for my 3 year old. Until this morning. I guess I can only hope that I don't get a flat, or that someone will be nice enough to stop and help me.
Ashley: Will take your advice and include my glucometer too, don't need that getting wet and being unusable when I have to test every hour while riding!
I am sure that someone will help you if you need it, though I have to say I think I only saw one person changing a flat last year on the 100 mile course. Getting to ride out in the middle of the smooth roads is less conducive to flats than riding on the gravel and pot hold shoulders that we train on.
For rain I really like my Sugoi Hydro jacket. It is really light and compact and easily stuffs into a jersey pocket. They are about $130. Last year on the 100 mile course it rained some of day one and most of day 2. I wore that jacket over a base layer and the ride jersey and had thin Sugoi arm warmers. I just let my legs get wet but if you are susceptible to the cold or rain you might think about a pair of knee warmers. Lets hope that by the time June 11 rolls around it will be too warm for full length leg warmers.
And bring extras for day two - I know with the crappy weather and awful rain on the Mile route, hands were frozen so it wasn't easy to open those ziplock bags (we ended up ripping them open closer to the end of the day).
So just pack some 'back ups' for day 2 (in your luggage), just in case.
