What tools and spares do you actually need to take on your bike rides? And how do you even store them all? Spare inner tubes, a multi tool, a pump, puncture repair kit, quick links for your chain, tyre levers… there’s a lot to consider! Manon goes through what you really need for every ride, then compares bike bags, pockets and other tricks to carry everything!
00:00 Intro
00:27 Bare essentials
03:21 Optional extras
06:28 How to carry everything
Useful Links:
Everything Cycling. All In One Place 👉 https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com
GCN+ | Every. Unmissable. Moment. 👉 https://gcn.eu/9I2
Download the GCN App for free 👉 https://gcn.eu/app
Visit the GCN Shop 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnshop
Join the GCN Club 👉 https://gcnclub.com
GCN Training Plans 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcntp
What else do you take on every ride? 🚴 Let us know in the comments below! 💬
If you liked this video, be sure to give it a thumbs up 👍 and share it with your friends!
Watch more on GCN…
📹 Bar Bag vs Saddle Bag 👉 https://youtu.be/fkwvnlT6x7Q
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/editorschoice
📹 Or why not check out our Features Playlist 👉 https://gcn.eu/gcnfeatures
🎵 Music – licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Seconds – Jones Meadow
Way Out – Jones Meadow
Stand – Jones Meadow
#gcn #cycling #roadcycling #roadbike #bike #bikes #bikelife #bikeride #biketools
📸 Photos – © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency
The Global Cycling Network (GCN) is the largest online cycling channel in the world, bringing together a global community of road cyclists to celebrate everything that’s great about the world of cycling.
Our videos bring fans compelling daily content including expert tutorials, techniques, training, racing, cutting-edge bike tech, unparalleled behind the scenes event coverage, humour, entertainment, and more.
Presented by ex-pro riders, GCN offers a uniquely qualified insight into the world of cycling, and most importantly it’s fuelled by our passionate and enthusiastic fans – everyone who makes up the GCN community. We also bring the latest and greatest tech to your attention, showcase the best places in the world to ride and get exclusive access to events and races.
Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside Cycling
Thanks to our sponsors:
Pinarello Bikes: https://gcn.eu/Pinarello
Zipp Wheels: https://gcn.eu/Zipp
Topeak Tools: http://gcn.eu/Topeak
Canyon Bikes: http://gcn.eu/-Canyon
Pirelli Tyres: https://gcn.eu/Pirelli
Orbea Bikes: http://gcn.eu/Orbea
Vision Wheels: http://gcn.eu/Vision
Wahoo Fitness: http://gcn.eu/Wahoo-Fitness
Park Tool: http://gcn.eu/-parktool
Elite Bottles: https://gcn.eu/EliteBottles
Whoop Fitness: https://gcn.eu/Whoop
Selle Italia: https://gcn.eu/SelleItalia
SiS: https://gcn.eu/ScienceInSport
Zwift: https://gcn.eu/Zwift
Shimano Wheels: https://gcn.eu/Shimano
DMT Shoes: https://gcn.eu/DMT
Silca: https://gcn.eu/Silca
MET Helmets: https://gcn.eu/methelmets
Strava: https://gcn.eu/strava
ShadowStand: https://gcn.eu/ShadowStand
Watch our sister channels:
GCN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gcntech
GCN Racing – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnracing
Global Triathlon Network – https://www.youtube.com/@gtn
GCN Italia – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnitalia
GCN en Español – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Français – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnenfrancais
GCN Japan – https://www.youtube.com/@gcnjapan
GCN Training – https://www.youtube.com/@gcntraining
Global Mountain Bike Network – https://youtube.com/@gmbn
GMBN Racing – https://youtube.com/@gmbnracing
GMBN Tech – https://www.youtube.com/@gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network – https://www.youtube.com/@embn
43 Comments
What else do you take on every ride? 🚴
The thumbnail will haunt me in my dreams.
Sorry to disagree with you but those mini pumps are useless a frame pump or better yet CO2. Tubes yes TPU get very small, and are ideal. A multi tool in 30 years of riding Ive needed one once as a chain breaker. Tubeless repair kit anyone running tubeless on a road bike frankly is a dolt.
I'm wary of carrying anything hard in my pockets duch as a multi tool pump etc as I think they could cause injury if you come off.
Great video and in time for me returning to cycling in my 60s.
Putting an inner tube inside a latex glove is a great tip. Thanks!
Good list. The best way to figure out what you need to carry is to just ride and see what you need. All of what said here is good. I usually have a bike light, lock all the time. With all my stuff, I just use a backpack and have for over 10 years. It gives me some space I pick something up from a store or restaurant while riding. I mostly do urban exploring kind of rides with an occasional back country road ride.
Si favorite – Zip Ties!!!
I like to reserve my bar bag for on-trail repair tools & supplies. Since my bike is pretty much set up for bikepacking, it keeps me from searching through my frame pack and panniers (if I have them along) making an already stressful situation worse. My kit is basically on point with Manons' suggestions!
Is Manon wearing some extra poundage , probably just me
I would strongly warn against carrying tools and pumps in your Jersey pockets if you come off they can do so much damage to your spine let your bike carry your kit for you.
Only needed rivet tool for my chain once – it didn't work – decades ago, Specialized, kept slipping off the rivet. Fortunately close to a bike shop. When I compared it with my other rivet tools, I realised it wasn't me. The pin was badly designed. Replaced it in my bag. Lesson: test each tool before you need it.
But, over many decades, my toolkit has let me help lots of other people. I have a pack for each bike on each bike.
Tyre levers in winter: add cold shrinks the tyre a bit and hardens the material to make it harder to get off than in summer. Quite apart from wet, grit, cold hands.
I'd always put patch on the punctured tube as well as using spare tube. In old days, fitting the spare gave time for the glue to get tacky and dry off ready for contact with patch
Missing: USB charging cable and a fold flat 3-pin plug – very important to call from hospital A&E or cardio department where nobody can charge a phone; quite apart from that embarrassing call home for rescue if tyre slashed by knife blade on road or wheel broken. Remember your heart medication and contact details in case you get held up, eg by crash and injury. Ask me how I know all this! A bottle can hold most essentials. Some bikes have storage in the downtube but, in event of something big, ambulance might, quite reasonably, only grab your saddle bag
I always take 4 sheets of paper towels folded to fit a plastic sandwich bag in my jersey pocket. Good for runny nose, nosebleeds or finger wipes.
Great video , l would add 1st aid kit for rider! A few bits and pieces can be life saver.
I simp for Manon👉👈
I carry pretty much as you recommend, but always two tubes and three for a long ride (200Km plus), when I also carry a spare tyre, which I've never had to use, but I've seen another rider in need of one. That was in the first third of a 220Km ride, so I didn't offer my spare. I have helped out with spare tubes. I pack a camel-back type bag which has a water bag, plus a bottle with electrolyte water. Not keen on CO2 bottles for the obvious reason.
eyelash!
Remember to always close the seat bag after use. Once, after changing a tube, i forgot to close the zipper. My multitool fell out after a few hundred feet. I heard the clunk when it hit the ground, felt behind me to check if the bag was open. And started to circle back to look for the tool. The very next car coming down the road "found" it. He managed to get a flat on the hex key. I payed him some money, i think $40 for a patch but probably should have paid a lot more as tire plugs are supposed to only be temporary, and you normally gotta change at least 2 tires when you do.
It's always a good idea to carry a bit of bathroom tissue paper, just in case. You never want to have to exit the woods minus your socks!
Regarding multitools. Don't just buy one and put it on your bike instead practice using it by servicing your whole bike using just the multitool. That way you discover which important tools are missing on the multitool as none of them are perfect. Many multitools for example don't go above 6mm Allen/Hex, but a surprising number of bikes now go up to 8mm or 10mm in the crank fittings. Same for the larger Torx sizes. When you see you don't have everything you need on the multitool then add the missing tool to your pouch for peace of mind. In addition to the multitool (with built in chain breaker), I also carry chain pliers, a small plier wrench (to help break tyre beads on tubeless & 10mm MTB suspension pivot nuts ), proper screwdrivers (multitool ones are tricky to use), a knife and a proper spoke key.
For someone who's doing long ride every week mine is ,
2 tube
2 size allen
Mini pump
Invisible bike stand(for pictures)
Mini string bag(for shopping on way back)
Quicklink on my keyring
This is a really good primer for what and how to carry necessary things. But one thing was left out – a small first aid kit. We've all crashed and ended up with some road rash. Since we don't have a medical car to ride up to for treatment we need to have be prepared to deal with minor injuries on the road. I crashed and ended up with a 6 x3 " road road rash on my lower leg that was full of gravel. I used my water bottle to wash it off and had some antibiotic, a few 3×3's, and a bandage roll to patch things up while I limped home. The Dr at the emergency room said that doing so probably saved me from significant infection and scarring. And if you don't have to use it on yourself, you may be able to help a friend on a ride. There are may good small kits available or make your own as I do. Keep up the good work !
Always take a good few quid on a long ride- or your card… It may get you out of a right hole…
I hate how bike bags don't have reflectors on them. It would be so obvious – red reflectors on saddle bags, white reflectors on steering bar bags. As it is, I have to go on ridiculous engineering adventures to mount reflectors. Reflectors – perhaps the most underengineered piece of bike tech in current existence.
I know I shouldn't say this, because inevitably it will happen…… Almost 16000 klms on my Scultura 5000 running with Conti GP4000 & now GP5000 tyres – NEVER.HAD.A.PUNCTURE…. I can't put it down to anything special, other than that I do not ride in the rain.
Wet wipes. You forgot the wet wipes.
I put tape around one of my levers. Easier & much smaller
Again wonderful tips from GCN. Thank you, very much appreciated.
Spare nipples?
Cycplus Tiny Pump Cube – very small rechargeable electric pump. Good for a couple of 700 x 32C tyres up to about 60psi As quick as a gas canister, less effort than a mini-pump. I carry a pump too, just in case 😁
Always cary your Id and medical information….literally saved my life ❤️🩹🙏🏼
Great, useful video, thanks. I also carry a very basic first aid kit, just antiseptic, tube of sterile wash and plasters. Very useful when I crashed on a chalk road, result, a few nasty cuts and miles from any help. I also have a few cable ties for emergency repairs.
2 problems with punctures; most punctures i've seen are bec the spokes his pierced the rim tape. 1 can bring an extra rim tape, but how does 1 replace it by the side of the road? The other puncture, is "snake bite" puncture bec 1 has under-inflated. Usually this happens if you've punctured on the road, replaced the tube, & there is no way 2 use a handy pump to pump your tire optimally. Your next puncture will probably b a snake-bite. I've had a both snake bite & spoke pierce thru before, thankfully the latter was close to home & i could easily fix it, but i've heard of other guys who had 2 fix it by the side of the road. That was no fun!
Hi Don't forget a first aid kit.
Iloveyou manon
My slightly sarcastic response is my Brompton C-line with a borough bag holds it all and a decent sized shopping list of things too! Nothing in the pockets! I'm teasing of course, the fast road bikes pass me like I'm hardly moving!
100% on a pump. I've been stranded with CO2…..
Nice vlog on the need to take with you! Everything though? What about a tiny bike-lock cable against opportunity theft when nJoying a quick coffee stop and legally obliged front and rear stick on LED in case the ride lasts longer than planned after dusk? hmmm
Your right idol it make sence
good
Another one I picked up from a mate: take one of those fish-shaped soy sauce packets you often get with sushi, and fill it with lube. It's a really handy size and the nozzle means it's easy to apply too.