Travelling Light

[vince]

Everything Road Bike related seems to be weight orientated,being a road bike virgin,coming from MTB i’m struggling as to where i’m gonna pack my luggage whilst out riding 😆 .My first concern is fluid,on the MTB i carry a camelback with 3 litres of drink plus a bottle on the frame and can easily get through this in a 3 or 4 hour ride.On the new Scott i have 1 bottle cage (another will be purchased very soon),on a warm day this wouldn’t last long at all.How do you lads manage on a decent ride ? I usually have a good selection of munchies in tow aswell,along with spare tubes,pump,multi tool etc.If you dig deep enough in my pack you will also find a whistle and survival bag(this was added after Gunner took us out in 3ft snow drifts across the moors,mid December :shock:) My aim is to travel light whilst out road riding(spare tube/pump@minimum).What are the essentials that “Roadies”never leave home without ???

[Steve Kish]

Mobile phone, my spares tubes etc. in my bottle cage, 500ml of water, couple of quid in change and my keys. Nice 3-pocket road jersey to carry it in.

I have been known to ask for a water refill along the way, usually after a wee! Can always stop and buy a Mars bar if I’m peckish. 😀

[HarryB]

I always travel as light as possible and have got it down to a fine art now. If I’m doing a shortish ride (I never do more than 30 miles) I don’t even take a pump.

I once cycled to Richmond and it was only when I got there that I realised I didn’t have my small saddle bag with me. So, no pump, patches, inner tube, multi tool. Nowt. It was a worrying ride home but it was fine.

My worst day saw me have six punctures in one day (and it was oissing down). I ended up calling the team car out. Paul from Westbrooks kindly came to me aid.

In my Fizik bag (size small) I have the following:

2 CO2 cartridges

1 CO2 head

2 inner tubes

Self stick patches

Multi tool

In my pockets I have:

Pump (only if I’m doing a long ride)

Montane windshirt (folds up tiny)

Energy bars/gels

Money and credit card

Fluid is very impprtant so I always have two bottles. I find this is enough for up to 60 miles unless it’s very hot. You can always stop and get drinks at shops/garages but I always take some Nuun tablets (pronounced noon). One tablet in a bottle of water makes a drink and you don’t even need to shake it.

If I’m doing a very long or very hilly ride or if it’s very hot I also take a few Hammer Endurolyte tablets to prevent cramp. I swear by Clif Shotbloks which are great for a little boost.

The lighter you travel the more you’ll enjoy it

[Gunner]

Vince, as Harry quite rightly says, “The lighter you travel, the more you will enjoy it”

I don’t know if you’ve noticed on our rides, but I very rarely take a backpack and usually only 1 water bottle, which often remains untouched.

Without wanting to get into all sorts of arguments, although fluid replacement is important there is a massive degree of “hype” surrounding both it and energy replacement. And unfortunately we as “modern consumers” tend be what we believe rather than what we are.

The human body is a remarkable regulatory device, always remeber that.

Pump, tube, patch kit, tyre levers, keys, mobile phone, £1 coin.

1 water bottle, and maybe a showerproof jacket.

If your bike is in good order, well maintained, what else do you need.

Allow fate to take it’s course. 😉

[mr-marty-martin]

i usualy travel very light, as i realy over heat…so only have my water proof jacket on long rides,

i vary froma saddle bag and using my pockets, but i like the saddle bag the best as i dont like stuff in my back pocket

i carry a pump,1 tyre lever,a punture repair kit, and a small mini tool, and since my chain snaped once riding my cross bike home from a race (about 10 mile away) and i had to push home i carry a chain tool.

also usualy a couple of energy gells, and a bar, which gets kept in my shorts…

[db]

Depends on the time of year. In summer I carry arm warmers & thin gilet if I think it could get cold. In winter just what I’m wearing + the Gilet. As for the drink I only take one (750ml) bottle out unless I’m planning to do more than 45 miles without stopping. Most longer rides end up in a cafe at the 1/2 way point where I’ll top up the bottle with tap water. The difference between road riding and MTB is you can call in a shop whenever you need food or drink. As for bike repairs the only things I carry is a mini-pump, 1 tube (+1 pack of glueless patches if on my own), Mobile phone. If I only have one drink bottle I use the other cage with one of these http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=BBBATOOL200

[Steve Kish]

Yup, same as my ‘bottle’ container – so handy!! 😛

[mr-marty-martin]

and on the other hand when im say 10 or so miles away from home, like riding to training i dont take anything… as in tools, pump etc

[Steve Kish]

Yeah, well being the new cyclo-cross sensation, you’d probably just run there if you punctured! 😉 😛

[mr-marty-martin]

thats what i had to do, ran it for about 5 miles, then there was a couple of miles of down hill and then a got a lift the last 2 miles 😛

[Steve Kish]

I used to have a great trick when I was time trialling – never carried a spare or pump. A folded £5 note taped inside my helmet or under the saddle.

If I punctured, just stood at the side of the road with the front wheel out and the unfolded fiver in my other hand. Longest I ever had to wait for a lift was about 90 seconds! 😀