Most riders casually jump on their bike and go for a ride without undergoing any preparation at all. Not that a cyclist needs to have a half hour routine in place before setting off, but preparation in the sense that the bicycle is equipped with the tools required to get back on the road in the event an accident or unforeseen challenge occurs. More than 99% of the time your ride will be incident free, but for the other 1% of rides, it is better to be prepared instead of stranded far away from home.
A suitable comparison would be with driving a car. Almost every car has a spare tyre and jack in the boot in case a flat tyre occurs. Some drivers also stock some spare water, oil or other lubricants as well. Just as a car can get a flat tyre, so can a bicycle. In fact, there is a higher chance of a bicycle getting a flat tyre, so cyclists should naturally be prepared for this happening and carry the necessary items to get the bike back on the road.
A pump and patch kit are easy items to store on a bike. These two items should be sufficient to deal with the majority of flat tyre incidents. If your terrain could potentially result in major tyre damage, then having a new tube with you is also a tremendous advantage. A modest tool kit should contain a tyre lever, a spoke wrench, and some allen keys which fit your brakes, cranks, and stem.
The second most common problem cyclists encounter is a broken or dislodged chain. Carrying a chain breaker in the event that your chain snaps will naturally be a big help. Although not as bad as a flat tyre, chain issues can still be annoying, especially if your ride home is mainly uphill and you can not coast along. If you are riding at night, then a small torch will be handy to help you fix the aforementioned issues.
Finally, a basic first-kit never goes astray. It could be a few band-aids, or maybe some bandages and tape, but any cover is certainly better than riding while blood is dripping down your body. All of the necessary items can easily be fitted inside a backpack, while some specialised cycling jerseys may have available storage pockets. But it is even better if you can use a small seatbag or something on the bike so that you never forget these items and they are always ready and available when you need them.
A suitable comparison would be with driving a car. Almost every car has a spare tyre and jack in the boot in case a flat tyre occurs. Some drivers also stock some spare water, oil or other lubricants as well. Just as a car can get a flat tyre, so can a bicycle. In fact, there is a higher chance of a bicycle getting a flat tyre, so cyclists should naturally be prepared for this happening and carry the necessary items to get the bike back on the road.
A pump and patch kit are easy items to store on a bike. These two items should be sufficient to deal with the majority of flat tyre incidents. If your terrain could potentially result in major tyre damage, then having a new tube with you is also a tremendous advantage. A modest tool kit should contain a tyre lever, a spoke wrench, and some allen keys which fit your brakes, cranks, and stem.
The second most common problem cyclists encounter is a broken or dislodged chain. Carrying a chain breaker in the event that your chain snaps will naturally be a big help. Although not as bad as a flat tyre, chain issues can still be annoying, especially if your ride home is mainly uphill and you can not coast along. If you are riding at night, then a small torch will be handy to help you fix the aforementioned issues.
Finally, a basic first-kit never goes astray. It could be a few band-aids, or maybe some bandages and tape, but any cover is certainly better than riding while blood is dripping down your body. All of the necessary items can easily be fitted inside a backpack, while some specialised cycling jerseys may have available storage pockets. But it is even better if you can use a small seatbag or something on the bike so that you never forget these items and they are always ready and available when you need them.
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