| When you are out on a cycling run, whether training or | | | | supply too fast. Keeping hydrated is crucial to ensuring |
| for leisure there's a number of items I would never | | | | you don't hit an energy dump. |
| leave the house without. | | | | Pump |
| Spare Tubes | | | | I'd never leave home without a good pump. I like the |
| I always carry at least two spare tubes with me. In my | | | | good old fashioned small quality hand pump. There's |
| experience punctures are like busses and come in | | | | not much that can go wrong with them and they've |
| twos. I've been saved plenty of times by carrying | | | | never let me down yet. |
| spare tubes and would feel vulnerable without them. | | | | Tools |
| Instant stick puncture patches | | | | A decent set of tools is essential to have with you. |
| Patches that require no glue and stick instantly are a | | | | Fortunately today, you can carry virtually everything |
| part of my cycling equipment I always take with me. | | | | you need in a fold up set. With the advances in bike |
| Just in case I use my tubes having another back up | | | | and tool technology, the days when you needed a |
| plan is always a good idea. They're easy to carry and | | | | mechanic's toolkit in a big saddle bag are over. A little |
| give me that extra reassurance when out. | | | | fold up set that slots nicely into a small saddle pouch is |
| Food | | | | more than enough to get you out of minor trouble. |
| Refueling is essential for a decent distance ride so I | | | | Mobile Phone |
| always carry a few things to give me an energy kick. I | | | | I always carry my mobile. If I get through both my |
| like bananas, easily to consume without making you | | | | spare tubes and have used all my instant patches, |
| thirsty like the serial bars tend to do. If I'm heading | | | | which would mean I've had eight punctures. Or I've run |
| through a number of villages where I'll pass some | | | | down a pot hole and buckled a wheel or suffered |
| shops, I won't carry too much extra rations. If I get | | | | some other calamity, I call the wife to come and |
| hungry I'll do a pit stop at one of the shops. | | | | rescue me. I've only had to call her once and she |
| Water | | | | came happily. These are my favorite items that I |
| At least two bottles for a decent ride after topping up | | | | consider essential to take on a bike ride. After years |
| before setting off. I tend to avoid the serial bars | | | | of cycling I consider them enough to get out of most |
| because they make you thirsty and use up your water | | | | things that could happen. |