Something that you might possibly need one day, but have never used it and in reality are never likely to use while riding?
I used to carry a shock pump, but that was in my early days of suspension
Have a big old Leatherman that I often carry, but have never used, albeit it could come in useful
Spoke key, but never used on the trails
So nothing too bizarre, I'm sure someone will have something ridiculous
A set of brake blocks for an XT cartridge V-brake lived in my CamelBak from about 2009 until 2014. Hadn't had a bike without discs all round since 2004! It finally left my pack when I came across a family out for a ride and the mum had no front pads left, had some Clarks cartridge pads installed on it and the XT ones fitted well enough to get her back to the car! Saw them again a year or so later and they were still working fine, bought me an ice cram as a thank you.
Currently it's probably the CO2 adapter seeing as I haven't used cartridges for well over a decade. Think it has a core tool in it as well so that's probably why it's still in my pack.
I also used to carry a shock pump and a Leatherman. I don’t any longer.
Two spare pads. Never used them, but having gone through a rear pair in one ride on a wet gritty day, next ride was interesting.
I always used to carry a flattened piece of toothpaste tube - just in case I had to patch a rip in a tyre.
Tempting fate, but: anything to do with fixing a puncture (CO2/tube/patches/levers). I've not had a flat while out on the trails (that I could be arsed to fix) in years and years, and even if I did, I very much doubt I'd be able to get the tyre off/back on anyway. I still carry it all, mind.
<p>A five pound note. Lives with my multi tool (and piece of tooth paste tube😀). Given that I can pay with my phone and I can’t even buy a pint post ride for less than 5 quid, what’s the point!?</p>
@the-muffin-man I've been carrying a piece of toothpaste tube for over a decade and never had to use it! 🤣
I carry a rope emergency spoke on all day rides.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/spokes/fiber-fix-emergency-replacement-spoke/
I carry a rope emergency spoke on all day rides
I've been riding my 50lb ebike on some seriously rocky stuff for the last 8-10 rides with a missing rear spoke 🤣
A compass and a foil blanket. Luckily never needed either.
A five pound note
Not just me then 😂
A five pound note. Lives with my multi tool (and piece of tooth paste tube😀). Given that I can pay with my phone and I can’t even buy a pint post ride for less than 5 quid, what’s the point!?
I was laughed at last week by 3 friends for having cash as an emergency. They weren't laughing when we got to the third ferry in our 4 ferry ride only to find it only takes cash. Fortunately I had enough for all of us.
My most obscure spare is a cut down earth pin from a 13 amp plug
I have an emergency cassette tool. It works by levering against the frame, and comes with a little plastic thing to protect the chainstay. TBH I can't really imagine a situation where I'd need it. Broken spoke might be one, but I don't carry spare spokes, and I'd probably just tape it to the one next door. If I'm changing a cassette, I'm at a bike shop, and they tend to have cassette tools.
I did cable tie the plastic bit to a tyre which was haemorrhaging a tube despite a toothpaste tube boot (sacrificing some actual toothpaste as it was a multi-day ride) once.
A 26" inner tube.
Seem to use a lot of foil blankets though.
My most obscure spare is a cut down earth pin from a 13 amp plug
I'm intrigued
I used to carry a condom. Never had a chance.
I used to carry a condom
As well as your Thermos, sandwiches, corn plasters, telephone money, dandruff brush and animal footprint chart? You never know....
I carry a rope emergency spoke on all day rides.
> https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/spokes/fiber-fix-emergency-replacement-spoke/
What wheels do you ride that you expect this would be necessary in case of a breakage?
A few sheets of bog roll in case of, well you know. Not required it yet.
Two tealights and a lighter....
I used to carry a few front/rear sized spokes inside a section of rubber tubing wrapped with duct tape inside my handlebars, never had any need to use them though.
Two tealights and a lighter….
Travel chain wax kit?
I used to carry a sharp knife commuting, after I had a bunjy cord wrap around my hub and had to find some broken glass to cut it off.
i used to carry a bit of tooth paste tube for tyre splits! But I realised I can save a bit of weight now by swapping it for one of those plastic five pound notes. 2 birds with one stone etc!
Out on a ride a few weeks ago and someone's cassette lock ring came loose. Asked if anyone had some pliers, (idea being the pointy ends might just poke into the castelations to get a little torque on it) one lad whips out a full size pair of plumbers slip joint wrenches!
Worked a treat, but honestly, WTF! 🤣
Valve core removal tool. Saved some guys ride in Bellingham, whose shock was losing pressure.
Toilet paper and hand sanitizer, also used that but only on myself.
I carry a chainsaw.
Not one with a motor like.
A hand powered one.
Very rarely used it, but have used it.
Spare seatclamp, weighs sod-all, but if you've ever had one of those mid ride moments where you've said "I hate having to touch things like this when i'm out, just in case - CRACK- something like this happens", you'll understand.
I actually used a plastic fiver to cover a friend's split tyre a year or so ago. I stood by when he fitted a new tyre when we returned to ensure I got my money back.
^ This might be a whole other thread we should start, but I'll add: complete Thule roof rack and bike carrier.
I carry a rope emergency spoke on all day rides.
> https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/spokes/fiber-fix-emergency-replacement-spoke/
Used mine in anger on a friend's bike on a 2-week tour in Iceland.
All my bag stuff is useful:
Most useful is my Russian Bag (Pillow case and cord) the amount stuff carried in that is unreal.
Folding saw.
Knife.
Sketchbook and pens.
Spare seatclamp, weighs sod-all, but if you’ve ever had one of those mid ride moments where you’ve said “I hate having to touch things like this when i’m out, just in case – CRACK- something like this happens”, you’ll understand.
My finest bodge ever - seatclamp QR release snapped - a rummage through the Camelbak and chain tool repurposed into seatclamp bolt!...
Dunno if it's obscure, but I carry a small curved nosed pliers on most rides.
Use it fairly often as well.
finest bodge ever – seatclamp QR release snapped – a rummage through the Camelbak and chain tool repurposed into seatclamp bolt!…
Bravo!
This deserves a thread of it's own.
A little wrapped message from my daughter that she sneaked into my hip pack when I wasn't looking. I don't know what it says as she said it would keep me safe if I didn't open it (it's been about a decade, still not opened).
i found a 3.5mm hex key in my saddle bag when i swapped to a new saddle bag a couple of years ago.
The old saddle bag was probably the 10th saddle bag i've had since the 3,5mm allen key was last needed.
Or, indeed, since the thing that the 3.5mm hex key fitted was actually discontinued...
There is actually a 3-4 year break when i didn't ride a bike and sold almost everything bike related that i owned, except one MTB and (apparently) a 3.5mm hex key.
I'm guessing only the long standing roadies, now in their late 40's and older will know what a 3.5mm hex is used for.
I actually used a plastic fiver to cover a friend’s split tyre a year or so ago. I stood by when he fitted a new tyre when we returned to ensure I got my money back.
Were you riding in Yorkshire? 😉
Some of my mates ride with very little or even nothing.
Some rides I'll have a full 20l Evoc Trail FR
They take the piss out of me
They don't laugh as much when I'm in a warm dry jacket and it's raining
Or have a warm top to put on at the pub night ride
Or when their one water bottle doesn't cut it on a hot day
Or when they burp their tubeless and want a tube and some levers
Or when they are nursing one red bar home and I've swapped my battery (only carried on long rides)
Tiny pill box with 2 aspirin.
