EDC: What's in your pockets?

My search bar isn't turning up a single thing, so I guess there’s just nothing to talk about today... 🤷

I was thinking—what kind of gear are you guys actually lugging around on rides longer than a mile or two? Because, according to Murphy's Law, you're guaranteed to blow a tire on some dirt path in the middle of nowhere where your phone has zero bars, the nearest farmhouse is 3.1 miles miles away, and even if you found one, it’s probably been abandoned since the nineties—all while you're sitting there with absolutely no tools on you. If you’ve got everything you need, then of course nothing goes wrong. It's just how it works. 😁

So, what's the baseline? A 10mm wrench, maybe a 15mm (or one of those multi-tools), a patch kit, a pump? What else?

I always carry a multi-tool for my bike (this specific one), a puncture repair kit—patches and sandpaper included—along with a compact pump. Honestly, you really shouldn't overlook carrying a spare tube as well. 😁

Air pump, spare bladder, plus mounting tools

My little roadside survival kit is basically just a multi-tool with everything from flathead and Phillips screwdrivers to a spare tire plug kit and some small plastic tire levers—plus a pump. It all fits right in a tiny pouch under my seat, or if I’m wearing a backpack, I just toss it in there. Obviously, I don't keep the pump tucked away in that little bag under the seat.🙂

Depending on your bike setup, if you’re dealing with quick-release skewers, you should carry a small wrench, a hex key set, a tire patch kit, a spare tube, and a pump.
Honestly, swapping out a tube is much less of a headache than trying to patch an old one, and the whole kit fits perfectly into a standard saddlebag.

I carry a wallet and a small hex key set. That’s it, even for trips over 93 miles. So far, I’ve dealt with one shredded tire—it was a lost cause with five or six holes, so I didn't bother patching it, just bought a new one—and two punctures. One was at a shop in 3.1 miles, and the other was at some random roadside mechanic. Because of all that, I’m still without a pump, patch kits, or anything else for repairs...

And you can't forget the steak 😁😁

Thanks, thanks a million...

So, after doing some serious thinking—and by that, I mean staring at my car in the driveway for way too long—I’ve come to a realization. The only thing actually capable of stalling my life is a blown tire. That’s it. Period. So, basically, all I really need to be prepared is a spare, some basic tools, and a decent pump.

As for everything else? Well, thank God for the Mastercard. 😁

analoglynx23 said:After running the numbers, I’ve concluded that a blowout is really the only thing capable of bringing my ride to a complete standstill.

There are plenty of things that can derail you, but a flat tire seems to be the most frequent offender. It’s also one of those situations where you might actually have a chance to fix it on the fly. Sure, you could snap a chain, crack a frame, or lose a brake cable, but at that point, there isn't much left to do except hope you're having some damn good luck.😁

You can improvise a lot of stuff out on the trail. You could even fix a split sidewall while running tubeless if you're crafty enough.
But hey, you've got a point...

If you aren't running tubeless, you definitely need to carry a spare tube and some stick-on patches (forget those old-school glue ones, they suck). Also grab some tire levers—especially if you're rocking non-folding tires—and a pump.

Personally, I usually just toss a CO2 cartridge and an adapter in my pocket along with a small set of hex keys (3, 4, 5mm). It all fits right in my jersey pocket, so I don't even have to mess with saddlebags...

Dana Reyes5 said:So many things can derail your day—I mean, really throw a wrench in your plans—but honestly? A flat tire is probably the most frequent offender. It’s one of those annoying little setbacks you can actually fix if you've got the gear, but man... some stuff just isn't that simple. You could have a snapped chain, maybe a frayed cable, or hell, you could even deal with a cracked frame. But when you hit a snag like that? There's nothing left to do but sit there and curse your damn luck.😁

Come on, come on... pick up the pace a little! 😁

Jeffrey Hall5 said:

I actually ended up picking up the exact same one at Best Buy last year, and honestly, it’s been holding up pretty well so far. 🙂

I picked this one up from Interspar, and honestly, I’ve got zero complaints. The material feels pretty solid—nothing flimsy about it—and it doesn't warp or bend even if you have to crank things down a bit tighter.

I don't bother carrying any tools with me.
I just use my hands😬

I mean, seriously, why even bother with a whole toolkit, hex keys, and all those other gadgets? If something gets stuck, you just loosen it up with your bare hands and call it a day. It's really not that deep.div>

wanderingbadger10 said:What's the point of having tools or hex keys? If something gets stuck, just loosen it with your bare hands.

Right, because if you're dealing with a hex bolt buried an inch deep in a hole, your fingers are definitely going to do the trick. Incredible logic there.
Is anyone else having trouble getting this forum to load, or am I just losing my mind?

The forum is working fine for me, but everything else is a total mess... 😁

I don’t carry a single tool with me. I mean, there’s no way any of these mechanical parts are just gonna snap off... right?

Not even a basic puncture kit... no 3-ply tire levers, no spare tubes.
The whole setup is basically designed for whatever disaster might strike, but honestly, I’ve never had a flat out in the middle of the woods or even on the highway. My current ones are pretty beat up, though—probably time to grab some fresh rubber soon.

If something actually does blow, I guess I'll just be pushing the bike for a bit... getting a little unplanned cardio in, I suppose. 😁

When I’m just cruising through town or driving around the outskirts, I don't carry much. If I'm heading out on a trip, though? I pack half the gear Jeffrey Hall5 posted photos of—a tire lever, two pry bars, a whole lot of faith in a merciful God, and the slim hope that there's a tire shop nearby before I finally pick up a small pump to mount on my frame. Might even end up stripping the chain.

Man, I could probably lug around a 14-inch fork for my pedals and stuff, but honestly? Seems like a waste of energy. Why carry all that extra weight when those parts aren't exactly going to snap that easily anyway? Still, a pump is a non-negotiable. I am definitely not looking to repeat that nightmare from this past summer—getting stuck right in the middle of nowhere in California with both my tubeless tires shredded into Swiss cheese, and the nearest tire shop was at least a two-hour hike away. But hey, I'll save the full story for the travel reports... 😁